The Journey Newsletter April 2015

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 APRIL 2015

THE JOURNEY This edition: January - April 2015

BOARD SPOTLIGHT We would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Board of Trustee members that have joined Family Service Association.

Richard Harlan, Cheryl Schwartz, & Theresa Watts, we’re so happy to have you a part of our team. We’re a better agency through the many contributions made by those within our community. Best wishes to all!

BUBBLES FOR AUTISM Family Service Association joined in for Bubbles for Autism Day on Wednesday, April 1st. Bubbles for Autism Day was a great way to bring awareness and perspective to what many families are facing.

We had agency-wide participation. This was a great event!

If you’d like to learn more about Autism, please visit FACES 4 Autism, a local chapter in Atlantic County at http://faces4autism.org/.

CASA SERVICE PROVIDER RECIPIENT Family Service Association and Cindy Herdman Ivins have been selected as the Service Provider of the year by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

The agency will be recognized on Thursday, May 14 at 5:30 pm at the Tropicana Casino & Resort. We are so appreciative of this special recognition by our community partner.

Inside this issue: Volunteer Appreciation Month

2

Bargain Boutique

2

Top 40 Under 40

2

Neighborhood Builders/ Client Assistance

3

Community Garden

3

Upcoming Events

3

Connect with Us

4

Page 2

THE JOURNEY VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month. Volunteerism is an enormous part of making progress in strengthening communities across America. During this month, we celebrate those who dedicate their time to be stewards and leaders of our community through volunteerism.

We value our volunteers commitment to our mission. National models put the value on a volunteer hour at about the rate of $22.00 dollars per hour. In the course of one year, we are given approximately 15,000 hours by the community. The total economic impact to our agency is about $330,000 dollars.

I would like to personally thank every volunteer who has helped us this year. We could not do it without you.

If you’re interested in volunteering with our agency, please contact Torrina Bennett-Michael at (609) 569-0239 x1160 or torrina.bennett-michael@fsasj.org.

Warmly, Cindy Herdman Ivins, President/CEO

BARGAIN BOUTIQUE THRIFT STORE The Bargain Boutique is now accepting donations. The grand reopening will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2015 from 10 am - 4 pm. This massive cleanup was done by a host of volunteers and a wonderful non-profit agency, A Future with Hope, who assisted in the construction. A big thank you to Benjamin Lagana who led the efforts on the clean-up project. Ben ensured that 200 bags of clothes were bagged and weighed in preparation for the donation pick-up.

We hope you can join us for the grand relaunch!

DAWN BELAMARICH: “TOP 40 UNDER 40” RECIPIENT A big warm congratulations to Family Service Association’s own, Dawn Belamarich.

Dawn was nominated and received the great honor of being named “Top 40 Under 40” business people by the Greater Atlantic City Jaycees. The award annually recognizes 40 individuals under the age of 40 who are among southern New Jersey’s most accomplished young business men and women who have been making headlines in their field and who share a commitment to business growth, professional excellence and the community. The top 40 are chosen by a six-person selection committee from among all the people nominated. Awards were presented to the 40 honorees on March 13 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. Dawn, we’re so proud of you!

Page 3

THE JOURNEY FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION SELECTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDER RECIPIENT Family Service Association of Egg Harbor Township was recently selected as a 2014 Neighborhood Builder by Bank of America. Family Service Association will receive $200,000 in flexible funding and leadership training from the bank.

The funding will be used to hire another full-time staff member to assist individuals and families in job development and skill building, as the recent casino closures and lingering effects of Hurricane Sandy impact employment opportunities in Southern New Jersey.

CLIENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS AWARDED Family Service Association recently received client assistance funds in the amount of $11,000 from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, Phase 32, in partnership with The United Way. These funds will be used to help keep families in their home and for utility assistance. Applications will be taken through the Spruce and New Day Family Success Centers.

COMMUNITY GARDEN SUSTAINABILITY GRANT AtlantiCare’s Growing Green Initiative awarded Family Service Association and the Spruce Family Success Center a grant of $500.00 towards its community gardening initiative.

We are very excited about this partnership! The garden is a great way to build a healthy community and support our agency mission.

UPCOMING EVENTS 11th Annual Charity Golf Tournament & Youth Clinic Friday, May 29, 2015 Mays Landing Country Club Mays Landing, NJ 12 PM – 6 PM Touch-A-Truck 4 Saturday, September 26, 2015 Cardiff Shopping Center Egg Harbor Township, NJ 11 AM – 3 PM

THE JOURNEY Agency profile: Family Service Association is a multiservice, not-for-profit, United Way agency that serves over 8,500 children, adolescents and adults FAMILY SERVICE ASSOC IATION

annually. As the needs of the people in this commu-

Corporate Headquarters: 3073 English Creek Avenue, Suite 3 Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

nity have become evident, Family Service Association has responded by providing premier services.

For over a century, the agency has served southern

Phone: 609-569-0239 Fax: 609-569-1942 Cindy Herdman Ivins, President/CEO

New Jersey with a creative administration and service delivery structure with programming that benefits children and families.

We’re on the Web! www.fsasj.org

Family Service Association's service areas include behavioral health, anti-poverty, child welfare, and strengthening families and communities.

Join Us on Social Media: www.facebook.com/fsasouthjersey

Mission:

www.twitter.com/FSA_of_SJ

Strengthening Individuals and Family

CALL CENTER STATISTI CS (JANUARY 1, 2015 -MARCH 31, 2015) Access processed 270 phone calls for the time period of 1.1.15 through 3.31.15. Out of those calls, 20% were provided with appointments and the remainder were given referrals to other agencies.

This activity supports our Agency Values of: Accessibility:

All are welcome to find hope and healing

Communication:

By mutually sharing information and ideas, we empower our community with knowledge Great job, Access Staff!