Category Archives: Archive

July 8 2013

Bon Jovi Donates $1 Million to Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund

To view all the photos from this event, please visit our Photo Gallery

Many of our Community Partners and friends are still in need of help after suffering the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy. All donations received through this campaign will go directly to assist them in rebuilding. If you would like to donate to the JBJ Soul Foundation Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Fund, please click HERE

Below is the full press release from the event:

BON JOVI DONATES $1 MILLION TO HURRICANE SANDY NEW JERSEY RELIEF FUND

Donation will add to the Relief Fund’s efforts to assist organizations involved in home repairs and rebuilding projects throughout New Jersey communities

(Sayreville, NJ) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, rock legend Jon Bon Jovi and First Lady Mary Pat Christie announced a $1 million dollar donation from Bon Jovi to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, chaired by Mrs. Christie. The ceremony and announcement of the donation took place at the Sayreville Borough Hall with New Jersey’s First Lady Mary Pat Christie, Governor Chris Christie, musician Jon Bon Jovi, Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O’Brien and members of the Sayreville community in attendance.

“This incredibly generous donation from Bon Jovi to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund will go a long way in the rebuilding process,” said Governor Christie. “From day one, Jon has been one of the most visible faces for Sandy recovery here in his hometown of Sayreville and throughout the entire state. On behalf of a grateful people, I thank Jon and Bon Jovi for all of the great work they’ve done for New Jersey.”

Bon Jovi is a native New Jersey band and was among the all-star line-up for 12/12/12: The Concert for Sandy Relief. In the days immediately following Hurricane Sandy, Jon Bon Jovi toured his hometown of Sayreville, spoke with residents, and witnessed the massive damage firsthand. The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair, is active in the ongoing Hurricane Sandy recovery process working with federal, state and local officials to direct donations and resources to local recovery efforts and those in need. This one-million dollar donation by Bon Jovi to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund represents the band’s ongoing commitment to the people of their home state and to rebuilding a stronger New Jersey together.

“Natural disasters spare no one,” said Bon Jovi frontman, Jon Bon Jovi, a Sayreville native. “But you can’t imagine the devastation, destruction and despair until Mother Nature takes aim at your hometown. This is bittersweet; it’s heartbreaking to see our fellow New Jerseyans so affected by the ravages of Hurricane Sandy but we’re happy to make this donation and offer real, substantial help to the residents of Sayreville and the nearby, low-lying communities as they rebuild their homes and lives.”

The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund is a non-profit organization that raises and distributes funds to organizations supporting the recovery and rebuilding efforts of New Jersey communities impacted by the storm. The Relief Fund’s priority is to work with community-based non-profit organizations to ensure funds support initiatives such as mental health services, economic development, financial counseling and assistance for those who have lost homes and jobs, mold remediation, and home repairs. Fifty one grants have been awarded to date totaling $11 million, with the next grant cycle to be announced later this week.

“Thousands of New Jersey residents, including many here in Sayreville, still haven’t returned to their homes. This donation will help the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund ‘fill the gap’ between the cost of repairs and other aid received by homeowners to restore or reconstruct their homes,” said New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie. “The generous support we continue to receive from so many around the world and especially from homegrown heroes like Jon Bon Jovi will help fellow New Jerseyans complete the work necessary to make their homes livable.” Mrs. Christie stressed, “We are so grateful to Bon Jovi for the love and commitment they have toward their home state and for this charitable donation to the Relief Fund.”

About the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund
The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund distributes funds to organizations that support the recovery and rebuilding efforts of New Jersey communities impacted by the storm. The Relief Fund aims to make a sustainable, long-term impact and has awarded 51 grants totaling $11 million, to date, for home rebuilding, mold remediation, mental health support, economic development, and financial and legal counseling. Donors interested in making a contribution can visit the Fund online at www.SandyNJReliefFund.org or make an immediate, one-time $10 donation directly to their phone bill by texting “SANDY” to 20222. Message and data rates may apply.

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June 18 2013

JBJ Soul Kitchen to Participate in National Dine Out Day

The Fund supports organizations that aid in the recovery and rebuilding efforts of New Jersey communities impacted by the storm. Soul Kitchen will be donating 50% of the proceeds from the 21st to the Relief Fund, so bring your family and friends out to support two great causes!

JBJ Soul Kitchen to Participate in National Dine Out Day

For more information on National Dine Out Day, please visit: nationaldineoutday.com.

Soul Kitchen is closed on Wednesdays so we will be supporting this program on Friday, June 21st

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May 22 2013

Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi and the JBJ Soul Foundation Honored at ACE Gala

With Jon on tour with Bon Jovi in Europe, he was unable to attend in person but recorded a video acceptance and message for ACE founder, Henry Buhl. “I would like to take a moment to thank Henry Buhl – 21 years of serving his community. Giving people who were once homeless the opportunity and a hand up. As we all know, ACE offers work training programs, education, welfare, drug & alcohol counseling, as well as offering the homeless the hand up that they need. I proudly support ACE and all of their endeavors” said Jon Bon Jovi. “I want to thank Henry Buhl and the ACE Program for this wonderful evening and for honoring the JBJ Soul Foundation.”

Mimi Box, Executive Director of the JBJ Soul Foundation, accepted the award on stage on behalf of Dorothea, Jon, and the JBJ Soul Foundation. During Mimi’s acceptance remarks she noted that “the job readiness and social skills learned while at ACE will benefit participants for a lifetime”.

The JBJ Soul Foundation is honored to have received the Ace Humanitarian Award for our work in the community.

Photo: Mimi Box, Executive Director JBJSF; Dorothea Bongiovi, Program Manager Soul Kitchen; Heather Goldfarb, Marketing & Events Manager JBJSF; Zeet Peabody, Executive Chef Soul Kitchen; Ryan Timmons, General Manager Soul Kitchen

For more information on ACE and the work they do in New York City, please visit their website: ACENewYork.org

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April 15 2013

VA, HUD and Jon Bon Jovi Announce “Project REACH” Grand Prize Winner

“This contest tapped into a community of software developers who rose to the challenge to use mobile and information technology in support of our mission – to better serve Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The result is a robust and scalable tool for caregivers, social workers, and anyone who wants to help homeless Veterans access the support and physical care they need.”

The Obama Administration has made ending Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 a top priority, undertaking an unprecedented campaign partnering with HUD and hundreds of community organizations to dramatically increase awareness of VA services available for homeless Veterans and Veterans at risk of becoming homeless. This cooperation has helped reduce the estimated number of homeless Veterans living on our streets by nearly 17 percent, since 2009.

“We’ve come to rely on smart phones and tablets to access information and now we can apply this same technology to help people find a place to sleep or direct them to medical and other vital services,” said Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan. “This mobile app represents another high-impact collaboration between HUD, VA, and key partners in our shared effort to end Veteran homelessness in 2015.”

Project REACH sought creative and cost-efficient ways to use open data from VA, other government agencies and the private sector to locate valuable resources for the homeless in any locality across the country.

VA and its partners announced the five finalists at Health Datapalooza in Washington, D.C. on June 5, 2012. They were: Binary Group, Arlington, Va., who developed “Homeless Connections; John McCarthy, Forest Hills, N.Y., with “Reachous”; J.J.AppCo., with “Hero”; Makani Kai Tech, of Kihei, Hawaii, with “Help Beacon”; and Qbase’s app. The finalists were given time to improve their apps based on feedback from beta testers volunteering at Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, N.J.

“The origins of Project REACH stemmed from the visible need for a simple, user-friendly, comprehensive application that would allow us to direct our Soul Kitchen diners to other resources in the community. Thanks to the VA, HUD, HHS and the contest participants, we now have the application ‘Homeless REACH’ which will aid resource providers and communities around the country in helping those in need,” said Jon Bon Jovi, musician and Chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation.

THE JON BON JOVI SOUL FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH THE VA, HUD & HHS AS THE VA LAUNCHES DEVELOPER CHALLENGE

Photo: From the Soul Kitchen, where the project REACH developer challenge was announced in March 2012, Jon Bon Jovi demonstrates how efficiently a care provider will be able to access information about other resources for those in need.

“VA appreciates the great work of our partners in the project and the commitment made by talented people to address one of the nation’s most important challenges,” said Jonah Czerwinski, director of VACI. “This will make a big difference in the lives of people who need help.”

“Homeless REACH” received the highest score from judges who evaluated the five finalist submissions based on factors such as sustainability, scalability and completeness of information made available to people helping Veterans and others experiencing homelessness. The winning app provides easy access to essential information about health care, housing, employment and counseling, among other vital services, through the use of advanced mobile technology. “Homeless REACH” can be downloaded for free through the Android Market and the App Store.

All five of the mobile app finalists created under Project REACH are available for download at http://www.innovation.va.gov/program-reach.html

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February 28 2013

A Place At the Table – One Nation. Underfed.

The film interweaves these personal stories with insights from experts, ordinary citizens, and activists. We strongly urge everyone to watch this film to see the real faces of hunger in America today and to hear their stories. This films Executive Producer, Tom Colicchio, was a Guest Chef at JBJ Soul Kitchen and is an advocate for healthy lunches at schools. His wife Lori Silverbush Colicchio directed this film along with Kristi Jacobson.

Photo: Tom Colicchio & Lori Silverbush Colicchio at Riverpark following the screening of A Place at the Table on 2/27/2013

The film calls on everyone to take their place at the table. Visit the A Place at the Table Take Part page today for more information on the film.

We hope you will see the film, spread the word, and take action. Together WE can make a difference…one SOUL at a time.