NJBIZ announced that Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Jersey has been selected as a finalist in the Programs (small organizations) category in the inaugural Nonprofit Innovation Awards Program for their Duffel Bag Project that the Community Foundation of New Jersey raised funds for in late 2007. The Nonprofit Innovation Awards Program recognizes and celebrates New Jersey’s 501(c)(3) organizations, executives, board members and volunteers who are demonstrating innovation in their daily operations.
The generous donors of the Community Foundation granted over $30,000 for CASA to create and purchase personal duffel bags for the over 6,000 children who go through the New Jersey foster care system every year. The duffel bags were specially designed for CASA, as they zipper into flat, small squares so that caseworkers can conveniently store, transport, and give the bags to the children when they are taken from their homes and placed with strangers. The duffel bags replaced the standard garbage bags that were previously used by the children, so with duffel bags of their own, children can travel with dignity and avoid feeling stigmatized.
We appreciate our donors who used their charitable funds to make a difference for so many deserving children.
See our article “Helping Foster Kids Travel with Dignity” for more information about this fundraising program.