Category Archives: Editorial

April 14 2015

The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, the Peoples Pantry (Inspire NJ), and Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation Join Forces to Form the B.E.A.T. Center

Located in the Silverton section of Toms River, N.J. and accessible by public transportation, The B.E.A.T. Center will serve as an “one-stop shop” catering to the urgent needs of the community by connecting residents to resources such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program also known as food stamps), affordable healthcare and tax preparation services, as well as access to a community food pantry, meals for at-risk children and seniors, and culinary training program.

“As food lines grow longer across our 133 programs in Ocean County and 1 in 10 of our neighbors struggle with hunger, we continue to build collaborative partnerships to expand our food distribution while also providing services for families that help shorten the line. Bringing our complementary programs and services under one roof at The B.E.A.T. Center will leverage our strengths and change lives in Ocean County,” said Carlos M. Rodriguez, Executive Director of the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The B.E.A.T. Center will also house the second location of JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant where diners can pay for their meal by making a minimum suggested donation of $10 each or volunteering. One hour earns volunteers a dining certificate for them and up to four family members.

“The B.E.A.T. Center is a unique model and today’s announcement is the beginning of something great. At the Soul Kitchen, we see each week how food brings families, and communities, together. So we were excited for the JBJ Soul Foundation to join with the FoodBank and The Peoples Pantry to offer several services under one roof—it helps make our diners’ lives a little easier. One meal at a time, we hope to make a sustainable impact on hunger in Ocean County,” said Jon Bon Jovi, chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.

Ocean County is New Jersey’s fastest growing county and was “ground zero” for Hurricane Sandy. According to FEMA, over 40,000 structures in the county were damaged or destroyed in the storm – 55% of the state’s total. The creation of The B.E.A.T. Center is in response to the reality that today, more than two years after the storm, there are still thousands of families that are still struggling to regain housing, financial stability and to overcome food insecurity—and they are turning to local agencies in record numbers for assistance. The impact of this collaboration is projected to provide $5 million in support to families in need in its first year.

“Of all of the lessons learned from Sandy, the most jarring one was how financially stretched our middle class neighbors are. This collaboration will allow us to continue our work and provide the services that are so desperately needed and deserved by this underserved demographic,” said Patricia Donaghue, Executive Director of The Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ).

One of The B.E.A.T. Center’s goals is to also establish a strong, visible presence in Ocean County that will raise hunger awareness, attract volunteers and advocates, and encourage food donations and financial support. The B.E.A.T. Center is being launched with initial philanthropic support from The David Tepper Foundation.

“We are excited to contribute to the launch The B.E.A.T. Center,” said David Tepper, founder of The David Tepper Foundation, “This is a unique partnership and a fresh approach to meeting the needs of communities that were hard hit by disasters like Superstorm Sandy and where families are still struggling to recover. We believe that The B.E.A.T. Center can become a model to help families attain food security and financial stability.”

“It is with great honor that we welcome the B.E.A.T. Center to Ocean County. This endeavor has been two years in the making and is needed more now than ever. It has been a privilege for my office and myself to be a part of it,” said Thomas F. Kelaher, mayor of Toms River, N.J.

The B.E.A.T. Center grand opening will take place later this year. For more information and to learn how to help, please visit TheBEATCenter.org.

To view photos from this event, visit our Photo Gallery

To view a video of Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bongiovi speaking on the importance of creating The B.E.A.T. Center, visit our Video Gallery

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The B.E.A.T. Center

To view photos from this event, visit our Photo Gallery

To view a video of Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bongiovi speaking on the importance of creating The B.E.A.T. Center, visit our Video Gallery

“Whether you need access to a food pantry, want to learn about health care benefits or social services, or even receive training through our culinary program, this is a place where everyone is welcome. It is in the true spirit of collaboration that we, the community benefit.”

– Jon Bon Jovi, Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

Toms River, NJ (May 10, 2016) – The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ) and Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation announced today the opening of The B.E.A.T. Center (Bringing Everyone All Together) – a place where families and individuals can access food, job training and resources to help end the cyclical causes of hunger in Ocean County.

This “one-stop shop” will serve as a FoodBank satellite location that includes a food distribution center, production kitchen for at-risk children in after school programs, culinary skills training program and resources such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program also known as food stamps), healthcare and free tax preparation, as well as the permanent home of Peoples Pantry, a client-choice model food pantry and a second location of JBJ Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community restaurant where diners can pay for their meal by making a minimum donation of $10 or volunteering to work in the kitchen and restaurant.

“The B.E.A.T. Center functions like a 21^st century town square where programs and services are brought together and where the community can gather to get help and give help,” said FoodBank Executive Director, Carlos Rodriguez. “We know that there are 1 in 8 people in Ocean County who struggle with hunger. We support 134 feeding programs in Ocean County and the need for resources beyond food is critical. We aim to shorten the food lines by providing a variety of resources that lead to financial health and well-being. Having all of that under one roof is a game changer.”

Ocean County is New Jersey’s fastest growing county and was “ground zero” for Hurricane Sandy. According to FEMA, over 40,000 structures in the county were damaged or destroyed in the storm – 55% of the state’s total. The creation of The B.E.A.T. Center is in response to the reality that today, more than three years after the storm, there are thousands of families who are still struggling to regain housing, financial stability and to overcome food insecurity—and they are turning to local agencies in record numbers for assistance.

“Of all of the lessons learned from Sandy, the most jarring one was how financially stretched our middle class neighbors are. This collaboration will allow us to continue our work and provide the services that are so desperately needed and deserved by this under served demographic,” said Patricia Donaghue, Executive Director of The Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ).

Ocean County Hunger Facts:

1 in 5 Ocean County residents are low-income (200% of poverty) or poor (at or below poverty) – that’s $15,000 for a family of 4.

71,300 residents, or 1 in 8 people in Ocean County receive food and benefits.

Seniors make up 21.4% of the population compared to the 14.1% statewide.

Nearly 13% of New Jersey’s veterans live in Ocean County.

There are 134 feeding programs in Ocean County. Programs include Pantries, Mobile Sites, Soup Kitchens, Shelters, After School and Back Pack, Senior Food and others.

The impact of this collaboration is projected to provide $5 million in support to families in need in its first year. One of The B.E.A.T. Center’s goals is to also establish a strong, visible presence in Ocean County that will raise hunger awareness, attract volunteers and advocates, and encourage food donations and financial support. The B.E.A.T. Center is being launched with initial philanthropic support from The David Tepper Foundation, and a generous grant from the OceanFirst Foundation.

“We are excited to be involved in the creation of the B.E.A.T. Center,” said David Tepper, founder of the David Tepper Charitable Foundation, Inc. “This is a unique partnership and fresh approach to meeting the needs of those members of our community that are suffering economic hardship. The B.E.A.T. Center brings a combination of critical yet basic services under one roof and provides our citizens with a central location where they can get the help they need. It’s a tremendous concept and we are confident that facilities like the B.E.A.T. Center can become a model to help families attain food security and financial stability.”

The B.E.A.T. Center is now open to the public. It is located at 1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ, and is accessible by public transportation. For more information and to learn how to help, please visit www.thebeatcenter.org.

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March 3 2015

Monmouth County’s 180 Turning Lives Around, Inc. Breaks Ground on State’s Largest Safe House for Victims of Domestic Violence

To ensure the protection of those it serves, the location of the safe house is kept confidential. The new shelter, located in Monmouth County, is slated to open by year’s end, and will be able to house 45 women and children at a time, up from 25 at its current location.

“Over the past five years, we have had to turn away more than 400 women and their children who needed our help. We simply don’t have the room,” said Anna Diaz-White, Executive Director of 180. “By doubling our capacity, we are in a position to help so many more people in our community.”

When violence forces individuals, children and families to leave their homes, the shelter is a safe haven. Families stay for a period of 30 to 60 days in this temporary home where adults and children can begin to heal, recover, and rebuild their lives. It provides residents with counseling, advocacy and assistance in finding permanent housing. Art therapy and counseling are available for children.

The new facility is designed with 12 individual family bedroom suites with private baths, a communal kitchen, dining and living areas, a teen “rec” room, creative art studios, counseling rooms, and a computer/library resource room. A children’s play area and serenity garden complement this new serene environment.

The shelter will serve victims of domestic violence in Monmouth County, which continues to rank third in the state for reported domestic violence incidents. In New Jersey, an act of domestic violence happens every 7.29 minutes, and is the largest cause of homelessness in the United States.

The State of New Jersey has been a long-time partner in addressing domestic violence and sexual assault through strong laws and funding services for victims and their families. The Christie Administration has been a strong supporter of domestic violence and sexual assault programs throughout New Jersey.

“As a former Monmouth County Sheriff, I have seen the terrible toll domestic abuse takes on families firsthand. Today, we are taking strides to show those affected by domestic abuse that they are not alone at this difficult time, that there is a place where they can find safety, support and the tools for self-sufficiency,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “As we work to combat domestic abuse and assault, 180’s steadfast dedication ensures that shelter is available when the unthinkable happens.”

“I am extremely proud and thankful to our Board of Trustees, supporters and donors. Their tireless efforts have made this day possible,” said Diaz-White. Among the major donors of the Capital Campaign are Verizon Foundation, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the James and Faith Knight Foundation, and New Jersey Natural Gas.

180 Turning Lives Around is pleased to once again partner with Verizon Wireless – a relationship that began over 15 years ago through the HopeLine from Verizon program.

“Verizon Wireless is proud to support the construction of the new safe house, and in turn, continue its support of the great work of 180 Turning Lives Around which serves so many families in Monmouth County,” said Andrew Testa, Public Relations Manager, Verizon Wireless New York Metro. “This partnership will help us continue our efforts to end domestic violence by supporting local agencies and ensuring that domestic violence survivors in the New York Metro region are getting the support and safe housing that they need.”

HopeLine from Verizon connects survivors of domestic violence to vital resources, funds organizations nationwide and protects the environment. Since the program launched in 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 10 million phones, donated more than $21 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies across the country, and distributed over 180,000 refurbished phones to domestic violence survivors.

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has partnered with 180 for over a decade, providing funding for 180’s 2NDFLOOR® Youth Helpline, and assistance to 180’s clients through the JBJ Soul Kitchen.

“The JBJ Soul Foundation’s purpose is to ease the burdens of homeless families and provide funding for programs that help those affected by poverty achieve independence and self-sufficiency,” said Jon Bon Jovi in a prepared statement. “180’s Safe House provides the tools for homeless victims of domestic violence to begin to heal and recover. We are proud to support the building of a new safe house in a community in which we already work that will help ensure that families who reach out for shelter aren’t turned away because of lack of space.”

NJNG and 180 Turning Lives Around have been working together since the charity’s earliest years in the 1970’s with funding support provided for 180’s programs, lending executive staff and leadership to the Board of Trustees and Advisory Board, and volunteers for fundraising events.

“For far too long domestic violence has been something that people didn’t want to talk about,” said Kathleen T. Ellis, Chief Operating Officer of New Jersey Natural Gas. “But when one in four women suffers from domestic violence and three out of every four people knows someone who is a victim, we can’t stay quiet any longer. Thankfully there are people like Anna and exceptional organizations like 180 Turning Lives Around that are doing something about it. They are making a difference where it is needed most – in the lives of individuals and families who need help. That is what today is all about, and New Jersey Natural Gas is proud to support their important work to end domestic violence in our communities.”

The Faith and James Knight Foundation are long-standing supporters of 180’s services for survivors of sexual assault. Their ongoing commitment has allowed us to provide rape survivors with a 24-7 hotline, counseling, and accompaniment at all area hospital emergency rooms and police departments. They were among the first to come forward and support our safe house capital campaign so that victims of domestic violence have a welcoming place to begin to rebuild their lives.
“The Faith and James Knight Foundation is committed to improving the lives of women and children in our community,” said Fran Lobl, Vice President of the Faith and James Knight Foundation. “As a supporter of 180 Turning Lives Around for over 15 years, we are pleased to contribute to the building of a new safe house that will accommodate more survivors of domestic abuse and violence.”

“Participation in our Capital Campaign has been tremendous. We have already raised more than three-quarters of our $7.65 million campaign goal,” said Diaz-White. “It is our hope that the rest of the funding will come through members of our caring community who believe, as we do, that everyone deserves a safe place to call home.”

180 Turning Lives Around, Inc. is the sole provider of domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and intervention in Monmouth County for nearly 40 years. Its mission is to end domestic violence and sexual assault in our community by providing crucial and comprehensive services to individuals and families affected by these issues by providing advocacy, leadership, shelter, counseling, art therapy, transitional housing and access to an extensive network of community resources. For more information visit 180nj.org

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February 24 2015

JBJ Soul Kitchen Sponsors Spoon Full of Hope in Monmouth County

“Union Beach, like so many other hard-hit communities in our area, is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy,” said Jon Bon Jovi. “We recognize that by supporting Spoon Full of Hope, we are not only providing families with a hot, nutritious meal in a warm, welcoming setting but also providing hope to those who are still rebuilding their lives.”

JBJ Soul Kitchen Sponsors Spoon Full of Hope in Monmouth County

JBJ Soul Foundation offered to help re-open Spoon Full of Hope after the program lost its funding last summer. The community restaurant follows the JBJ Soul Kitchen’s model as there are no prices on the menu and you could be seated with someone you may not know. It is not a “pay-what-you-can” model, instead patrons can either pay a minimum donation or volunteer an hour of time to earn a dining certificate for a meal that will feed the volunteer and up to four family members. Since reopening, the restaurant has served an average of 70 meals per night, with 50% of meals served to patrons who volunteered as payment.

“We owe a heartfelt thank you to Jon, Dorothea and their amazing staff at JBJ Soul Kitchen for the guidance, opportunity, support and encouragement,” said Gigi Liaguno-Dorr, project manager for Spoon Full of Hope. “This sponsorship is a true blessing that will empower, uplift and enable our community to continue to help each other pay it forward.”

Carl Williamson, pastor of Gateway Church of Christ said that he was excited for the opportunity to partner with Spoon Full of Hope to re-open the community restaurant. “Whether it’s helping a person in-need or someone who is just willing to volunteer to help others, we believe that creating a family-like atmosphere is key to bringing our community together.”

Spoon Full of Hope is the passion project of Liaguno-Dorr, who is the owner of JakeaBob’s Bay. After Hurricane Sandy she relocated the storm-ravaged restaurant to a temporary location naming it JakeaBob’s Off the Bay. She also devoted her time volunteering and distributing meals in Union Beach and later partnered with Gateway Church of Christ in 2013 to open the community kitchen.

“I had seen the need, witnessed the struggles and knew something had to be done. I wanted to create a warm and welcoming environment where neighbors could laugh, cry and encourage each other to keep on pressing forward,” Liaguno-Dorr said. “A helping hand, a hot meal, a friendly face, a conversation and hope—these are life’s most rewarding pleasures.”

For more information, please visit Spoon Full of Hope Community Restaurant’s website and Facebook page.

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November 19 2014

Jon Bon Jovi Receives Marian Anderson Award

Both musically and philanthropically, Jon Bon Jovi’s work honors the spirit of America and salutes the principles that define our nation. Self-reliance, optimism, and community are key concepts he embodies, not just in his music, but also in his charitable efforts. These common threads have resulted in millions of dollars raised while bringing heightened awareness to the issues of homelessness and hunger that adversely impact our society. As Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing about positive change and helping the lives of those in need “one SOUL at a time,” he focuses on the issues of food and shelter for individuals and families experiencing hunger and homelessness. In the Philadelphia region, the Foundation has supported a range of organizations, including Project HOME, Covenant House, Rebuilding Together and Northern Children’s Services, as well as Heart of Camden and Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society in Camden, NJ.

Jon Bon Jovi Receives Marian Anderson Award

According to Nina C. Tinari, board chair of the Marian Anderson Award, “Jon Bon Jovi exemplifies the spirit of the Marian Anderson Award, which is to honor an artist whose leadership benefits humanity. We are honored to present him with this award in recognition of his many philanthropic contributions, especially those here in Philadelphia.”

Jon’s opening remarks reflected on the privilege of being named recipient of the Award: “I am deeply humbled to be here tonight to accept this award. I do so fully aware of the rich and powerful legacy of this honor and the many iconic figures who have stood here before me. Each of the recipients of the Marian Anderson Award made great contributions to the arts, of course – but they used their GIFTS to seek change in our society and culture. Marian Anderson, Dr. Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier – these great men and women were all blessed with tremendous artistic gifts and were all role models in the truest sense of the word. Although they were recognized for their gifts – – we celebrate them for their actions.”

Hosting last evenings gala was award-winning comedian Wanda Sykes. Performing during the prestigious event was rock band The All-American Rejects (performing an acoustic set); British singer-songwriter and Grammy Award-winner, Estelle; American actor, singer-songwriter, and record producer Jon Batiste of Stay Human; as well as 18-year-old Philadelphia violinist Sean Bennett, recipient of the Award’s Young Artist Study Grant, who this past summer attended the world-renowned Interlochen Summer Arts Camp.

In his remarks, Jon spoke about when the Soul Foundation [jbjsf.org] was founded: “We truly could not have known the lives we would touch or the impact it would have. It is the shared belief in the basic dignity of the human soul and HOW with a little hope and opportunity people from all walks of life have the potential to ASPIRE to greatness and along the way INSPIRE others.”

“It is such a special evening because the Marian Anderson Award Gala is the one night of the year in Philadelphia when we celebrate the unique capacity of the artist to change the world, “ said Tinari. She added, “This event allows us to celebrate the spirit and accomplishments of Marian Anderson and fulfill her intentions to support young, talented artists, like Sean Bennett, so that he and others like him will get the instruction needed to reach their full potential.”

The Young Artist Study Grant program (YASG) is administered with the support of Marian Anderson Award partner, the University of the Arts, and is also made possible through a new partnership with Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. YASG is designed to support high school-age artists who have financial challenges. Funds raised through the annual award gala help support this initiative and benefit over 20 students each year.

ABOUT THE MARIAN ANDERSON AWARD
The Marian Anderson Award was created in 1998 to celebrate critically acclaimed artists – individuals who have used their talents for personal artistic expression and whose body of work has contributed to our society in a singular manner. It is named in memory of the legendary singer and distinguished Philadelphian, Marian Anderson. Previous honorees include Harry Belafonte, Gregory Peck, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Quincy Jones, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Sidney Poitier, Richard Gere, Maya Angelou and Norman Lear, James Earl Jones, and Berry Gordy.