September 2 2010
Almost one year later – two of the lots cleaned & greened during the Camden GreenUP in 2009
Visit the Camden GreenUP photo album for before, during, and after shots of some of the lots that were cleaned & greened by the great group of volunteers who came out to support the effort!
August 9 2010
On June 29th, 2010 one of the homes that the Soul Foundation has helped to rebuild was sold to Angela (pictured above, taken at the closing table). When SJCS spoke with Angela, a nurse’s aide, following her first weekend in her house, she had already painted some of the walls to make the home feel more like hers! She specifically chose this house because of the hardwood floors that funding from the Soul Foundation allowed Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society to install. Her son has terrible asthma and she was excited to find a house with the hardwood floors.
A buyer has also been identified for another home that the Soul Foundation helped restore. Luis has been working with the SJCS program for over 5 years, with the goal being to buy a home. A security guard, and currently living in the basement of his mother’s house in Camden, he is excited to be buying this house which will allow him to reunite his family. The SJCS is working with Luis to buy this house next week by taking advantage of home buyer assistance programs.
With these two houses sold, that leaves one of the Soul Foundation supported homes left to go which SJCS will now be working on full time. All of the demolition has been completed, which was performed by a majority of volunteer crews. SJCS has already identified a buyer for this house, a family who has been working with SJCS to prepare for this next step in owning their own home.
Congratulations to all of our new homeowners – we know it has been a long process and we salute your perseverance and vision!
The photo above includes new homeowner Angela, with her friend, Rosie (mortgage counselor for SJCS) and Richard, owner of Collegiate Title Agency, where the closing took place
To learn more about Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society, Click HERE
July 8 2010
Held at a beautiful private estate in Radnor Township, Pa., the event welcomed an intimate crowd of 300 for a VIP reception and rousing live auction.
Following the auction, guests were greeted and welcomed by Woods, who spoke about the importance of both organizations and the work they do to help underserved young people and families. Woods then welcomed legendary rocker Jon Bon Jovi to the stage for a thrilling acoustic set, featuring hits “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
Notable auction items at Rock FORE Charity included an array of golf, sports and music-themed packages, including an exclusive golf trip for four featuring a golf outing and Q&A with Tiger, and a one-of-a-kind Bon Jovi VIP front-row concert experience that includes a meet and greet with Jon and a personalized autographed guitar.
Tiger and Jon first joined forces for charity in 2003, when Bon Jovi headlined Tiger Jam VI, a benefit concert event which raises funds for the Tiger Woods Foundation. Jon and Tiger reunited for Tiger Jam X, which the band also headlined. Most recently, Tiger spent time at Project H.O.M.E., a community partner of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. While there, Tiger toured the facility, met with program participants and interacted with the youth from Hopeworks in Camden.
About Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation: Founded in 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing about positive change and helping the lives of those in need ONE SOUL AT A TIME. The JBJSF transforms lives and neighborhoods through funding and the creation of programs and partnerships that support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. For more information visit www.jbjsoulfoundation.org.
About Tiger Woods Foundation: Since 1996, the Tiger Woods Foundation has reached more than 10 million young people by delivering unique experiences and innovative educational opportunities for youth worldwide. Specific programs of the Foundation include the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a one-of-a-kind, 35,000-square-foot education facility custom-built for the underserved youth of Southern California; Tiger’s Action Plan, a collection of curricula distributed to students nationwide; and the Earl Woods Scholarship Program, which provides students with a demonstrated financial need and a proven commitment to community service a scholarship renewable for up to four years. In addition to its original programming, the Foundation also awards grants to youth-based organizations around the world.
July 1 2010
The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation was selected by the AT&T National golf tournament as one of the recipients of the proceeds from this event. In addition to the Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia and the Tiger Woods Foundation, the JBJSF will be one of the charities featured throughout the week-long golf tournament, held June 29 – July 4. In keeping with the mission of the JBJSF, we are continuing to forge partnerships and build relationships in our community. In working with the Tiger Woods Foundation, the JBJSF has identified two organizations in our grant portfolio that will also benefit from this event: Project H.O.M.E. and Hopeworks in Camden, NJ. Students from both programs were on hand at the JBJSF Tent to hand out to speak to tournament attendees about their programs.
Students from the Harold Honickman Entrepreneur Program promoted their business ventures by featuring their merchandise (bumper stickers, buttons, t-shirts) and giving out promotional materials including buttons made exclusively for the event. They were spreading the message that together, Project H.O.M.E. and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation along with other community partners can end the cycle of homelessness in Philadelphia. The Harold Honickman Entrepreneur Program provides youth with opportunities to learn practical business skills through the creation of their own businesses. This competitive program pairs students with mentors from the business community as well as providing workshops and start-up funding for business projects proposed by the teen participants. Students learn introductory business skills, including creating and producing retail items, and meet regularly with their mentors, who offer guidance, support and professional advice on the direction of the business.
Hopeworks students were on hand to showcase their website design programs that they run.
Hopeworks trainees were passing out the 2010 Edition of the Hopeworks Camden Street Map. Hopeworks trainees worked on the map of Camden in several ways including design, layout and the selling of ads for the map.
Please visit our Photos section to see pictures from Jon’s visit with the students at our tent at the AT&T National Golf Tournament.
June 24 2010
Speakers at the ceremony included Cordella Hill, Executive Director of Covenant House Pennsylvania, Deborah McColloch, Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), and Emily Riley, Executive Vice President of the Connelly Foundation. Also present at the groundbreaking were Mimi Box and Heather Poole, JBJ Soul Foundation, and Kim Flaville, Connelly Foundation, as well as representatives of other partners and contractors who have been involved in the development of this project.
The development will consist of 10 two-bedroom units of affordable housing. All units will contain a shared kitchen, bathroom and living area. Additionally, plans include outdoor recreational space, a lounge, laundry facilities and offices for program support staff.
The Rights of Passage homes are a direct response to the growing need for transitional housing for young adults in Philadelphia. Covenant House alone serves more than 500 young people every year through its Crisis Shelter, with limited resources for transitioning them to independence. This expanded Rights of Passage program is the final piece of Covenant House’s continuum of care that provides youth with both the joy of independence and the stability of a safety net.
“We are so excited to finally have this project underway,” said Hill. “What started as a dream eight years ago is finally becoming a reality. This is a truly monumental day for homeless youth in Philadelphia.”
“The demand for special-needs housing in Philadelphia is high,” said McColloch. “OHCD is pleased to help provide these young adults with safe and affordable housing.”
“Jon Bon Jovi and I visited a youth shelter in Nashville, TN while he was visiting there while on tour. Talking to the youth there made us aware of the many obstacles they encounter in trying to get into safe and affordable housing. Philadelphia’s estimate of the number of teens who are living in highly mobile situations is staggering. We are glad we are now able to be part of the solution for this youth population”, said Mimi Box, Executive Director, Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.
Councilman Frank DiCicco, who strongly supported the development but was unable to attend the event, added, “The First District welcomes such a unique and necessary housing opportunity. Homeless youth in Philadelphia can rely on the care and expertise of this transitional housing team.”
The Rights of Passage Program requires all residents to be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week, participate in life skills classes, attend to daily chores, complete three or more hours of community service each month and pay rent. After care is also provided to recent graduates.
“This program provides a well-rounded education that will continue to serve residents long after they leave,” said Hill. “We are grateful to our funding and development partners for helping us to create our vision.”
About Covenant House
Since 1999 Covenant House has been providing faith-based services to children suffering on the street. They are dedicated to providing youth with unconditional love and absolute respect. Covenant House works to protect and safeguard children everywhere. For more information, please visit their website: www.covenanthousepa.org
