News

Jefferson Awards Recognize Excellence in Volunteerism

From the EMT to the T-ball coach, New Jersey is full of volunteers who spend countless hours helping to improve their communities.  The State of New Jersey, in fact, puts the number somewhere around 1.5 million, with these volunteers giving more than 170 million hours of their time each year.…

Madison “Adopts” Union Beach, Provides Summer Camps for Youth

April 17, 2013 For most kids, summertime is something to look forward to after the long months of winter: a reprieve from school, homework, and being cooped up inside. But for the kids of Union Beach – most of whom saw their homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy – this summer will come with some hardship. …

Glamour Recognizes AGFAF Scholarship Winner

April 16, 2013 The Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund (AGFAF) has made a world of difference for several young women from the politically-turbulent nation since 2008, and now Glamour is taking notice.  The fashion and lifestyle magazine recently named Noorjahan Akbar, a scholarship recipient of the fund, one of its 2013 “Top Ten College Women” list. …

Self-Taught Criminologist Takes on Newark Crime

April 16, 2013 The Community Foundation is among many foundations and community organizations that have long worked to alleviate Newark’s chronic crime problem.  Funding the Newark Police Foundation has been a highlight, as has supporting programs such as “Operation Ceasefire” and “Community Eye”, both described below.…

Turning Illiquid Assets into Charitable Giving

We often say that giving involves more than just dollars.  Time, talent, and other resources help maximize the impact of one’s giving.  Well it turns out there is also wide variety in the “dollars” one may give, in this case to donor advised funds.…

Impact 100 Readies $133K Grant

April 8, 2013 Last year we told you about Impact 100 Garden State, a newly-formed organization being incubated at the Community Foundation of New Jersey.  Click here for that article. The group’s goal is relatively simple.  One hundred New Jersey women each donate $1,000 to the fund and then vote for one nonprofit organization to receive a $100,000 grant. …

Hurricane Sandy’s Impact on the Environment

April 1, 2013 We’ve seen the devastating impact Hurricane Sandy has had on countless New Jerseyans, their homes, and their communities.  But just what impact did the storm have on our state’s natural environment?  What wildlife was impacted the most?  And what is the likelihood that different habitat will return? …

How to Get a 7th Grader to Write… in the Summer

April 1, 2013 Seventh grade. Essays. Summer school.  Any middle school kid might consider these to be various forms of short-term punishment. But for over 500 New Jersey middle school students, essays are no longer the stuff of ruined weekends and vengeful English teachers.…

Redefining & Ranking Health in NJ

March 27, 2013 Your county’s health status is now a matter of public record. A national study by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks health by county, and the scores are in. For the fourth consecutive year, the healthiest county in New Jersey is Hunterdon County, followed by Morris, Somerset, Bergen and Middlesex counties.…

Too Rich, Too Soon?

March 25, 2013 The lottery, an inheritance, or a brilliant business idea – coming into great wealth quickly can happen at a moment’s notice.  In some cases, it starts with elation; in all cases, it ends with the need for responsible planning.…