Category Archives: Editorial

October 19 2009

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation Expands Commitment in Camden, NJ

This funding enabled the mobilization of hundreds of volunteers through the governments United We Serve website for the Camden Community lot stabilization program they named GreenUP, which cleaned and greened more than 81 lots (141,000 square feet of vacant land). The final phase of the GreenUP program had volunteers planting shrubs and more than 50 trees in the Lanning Square neighborhood on October 19th, 2009.

This first commitment to Camden’s neighborhoods preceded Jon Bon Jovi’s announcement that the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation will invest in affordable housing projects in Camden with two long time community cornerstones,** St. Joseph Carpenter Society and **Heart of Camden. Both of these organizations have been hard at work for many years improving the housing stock in Camden and also offering many necessary supportive services to assure success in homeownership.

Photograph: Pilar Hogan from St. Joseph Carpenter Society, Helene Pierson from Heart of Camden, and Jon Bon Jovi

Through an extensive exploration with residents of the community a human capital plan was developed to accompany the redevelopment plan. The Cooper Lanning community named “Community Stabilization” – the vacant land stabilization, community gardens, improved housing stock, and the creation of affordable housing – as a priority. We are pleased to join Camden residents and participate in both the lot greening and the development of affordable housing.

**Photograph At Top of Story: Residents and Community Organizers Yolanda, Keith, and Sheila with Jon Bon Jovi*

To read the Gloucester County Times story about this event, please click HERE

To read the Catholic Star Herald’s story about this event, please click HERE

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October 8 2009

International Donations Now Available for Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

We are happy to announce that international supporters may now contribute online! Our donation pages can now accept credit cards from anywhere in the world. Thank you to everyone for your patience while this development was made. Thank you to our online donation partner, Piryx, for making this possible!

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October 6 2009

Jon Bon Jovi Speaks at World Habitat Day

Secretary Shaun Donovan of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme, UN-HABITAT, co-hosted the program which was intended to help promote affordable housing and sustainable urban development. The program included a video message from President Obama among the speakers.

According to the United Nations, more than 100 million people in the world today are homeless. Millions more face a severe housing problem living without adequate sanitation, with irregular or no electricity supply and without adequate security.

Worldwide, more than 2 million housing units per year are needed for the next 50 years to solve the present worldwide housing crisis. With our global population expanding, however, at the end of those 50 years, there would still be a need for another 1 billion houses.

Raising awareness and advocating for change are the first steps toward transforming systems that perpetuate the global plague of poverty housing. World Habitat Day serves as an important reminder that everyone must unite to ensure that everyone has a safe, decent place to call home.

Jon Bon Jovi’s comments about the work of the JBJ Soul Foundation and our work in the communities across the country was punctuated by a call to action. He encouraged all to become part of “The Power of WE” and to get involved, at any level, in revitalizing their communities.

CLICK HERE to read a copy of Jon Bon Jovi’s speech from this event

Jon Bon Jovi with Dr. Anna Tibaijuka and Dr. Judith Rodin

             <img src="http://wordpress.jonbonjovisoulfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/imported/editorial-photos/1254933698.45289.UNWHDHonoreephoto-200x150.jpg" title="UN WHD Honoree photo" alt="UN WHD Honoree photo" />

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September 25 2009

Camden Community GreenUP

With GreenUp now in full swing, we wanted to tell you where we are and where we’re going. We had a hugely successful GreenUp kick-off event on September 14, 2009. With your help, we managed to:

Recruit & Deploy over 50 Volunteers
Clean and Green 13 Vacant Lots; and
Spark Excitement for GreenUp with a Media Event with Mayor Gwendolyn Faison.

Check out media from the event at camdengreenup.org

** GreenUp** will be moving to other vacant lots over the next few weeks. Look out for other volunteer opportunities in the weeks ahead. But for right now, we want you to “save the date” for the GreenUp closing event on October 19, 2009, when we will “clean and green” across three city blocks in Lanning Square, an effort that will culminate in a party to celebrate what we have been able to accomplish in just a few short weeks.

Look out for more information on this event shortly!

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August 31 2009

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Our team grows stronger when you join the line-up. Thank you for your interest and desire to help:

JBJ Soul Kitchen
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Soul Kitchen! Volunteers are essential to making our mission at Soul Kitchen work and are the lifeblood of what we do. We have 2 types of volunteers: those in need and those who want to give back to their community. Please note that those who are volunteering work in exchange for a meal are our priority and will be given the available volunteer spots first. While we are excited about the number of people who want to volunteer to give back, we have a limited number of spots available and also try to reserve them for those who live in our community. We want to encourage everyone to volunteer in your own communities in order to make a difference in your town. You can also help by joining us for a meal, engage in conversation with those you are seated with and leave enriched by the experience of paying it forward.

Please click HERE to fill out your information & someone will be in touch with you shortly.

Oasis Center
Our Community Partner, Oasis Center in Nashville, TN, is in need of your help!

Most Urgent Needs: Street Outreach (Updated January 8, 2016)

-36 new bed pillows (need ASAP)

-Breakfast cereal (cold type), regular/large boxes and individual small boxes too

-Hand warmers/Foot warmers

-Belts (men’s especially, size 28 and up)

-Deodorant

-Small sizes shampoo, conditioner, soap

-Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

-Small hand sanitizer

Rain ponchos
$5 gift cards to McDonald’s, Burger King, Sonic, etc.
Flip flops (for use in the shower)

We have a special need for tents for youth living out of doors. Gently used is fine, but please, no damaged or tents that need repair.

Note: This list has been updated to reflect the highest priority needs. If you have any questions about donations, contact Kate at kstone@oasiscenter.org

For more information and a complete list of donation needs, please visit their website OasisCenter.org

Rebuilding Together
200,000 volunteers donate their time and talents to Rebuilding Together annually to make sure their neighbors live in a safe and healthy home. With their help, and the help of corporate partners, skilled trades associations, and government and non-government organizations, 10,000 projects are completed each year. Their volunteers make a direct and lasting impact on their community.

If you would like to volunteer with Rebuilding Together in your community, please visit their website by clicking HERE.

Philadelphia, PA

Project H.O.M.E.:

Volunteers are vital to our work and our community. Project H.O.M.E. relies on the commitment and passion of volunteers in all of our sites and programs. They offer a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. Come discover how your unique skills and ideas can make a difference in the Project H.O.M.E. community. Please visit their website for more information on how you can get involved!

Project HOME’s program – Hub of Hope – is in need of new white socks. If you can donate, please send to: JBJ Soul Foundation, 1635 Market Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and we will bring them to the Hub of Hope.

Covenant House, PA

The young people of Covenant House need your help. There is no way that we could successfully do this work without the ongoing support of you, our generous supporters. For more information on how you can help visit covenanthousepa.org

If you, or someone you know, are a youth in need of assistance in Philadelphia, please call our outreach team at 888.829.1249, a 24/7 hotline. Or contact Covenant House International, 800.999.9999, a nationwide 24/7 hotline for runaway and homeless youth.

Detroit, MI

If you’d like to volunteer your time and energy to help with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation build projects in DETROIT please contact:

SANDRA COBB
Director of Volunteer Services and Faith Relations
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – DETROIT
(313) 521-6691 extension #107

United We Serve

Serve.gov is an online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own. Use Serve.gov to help you do your part, there are many ways to get involved. America’s foundation will be built one community at a time – and it starts with you.

Serve.gov is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

For more information on how you can get involved, please click HERE

As volunteer opportunities arise, information will be posted here on how you can lend your hand, your time and your soul to our mission.