Category Archives: Photos

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 June 24 2010 

JBJSF ANNOUNCES NEWEST PROJECT

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

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 May 14 2010 

Surprise Visit by Tiger Woods to Youth and Staff at Project H.O.M.E. and Hopeworks n’ Camden

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. On Monday, May 10th, 2010, both organizations received a surprise visit by Tiger Woods at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs in Philadelphia. He was in the area to visit Aronimink Golf Club, site of this year’s AT&T National. The purpose of Woods’ visit to the Center was to learn first hand about both organizations and how they are helping their city’s youth through innovative educational programs. Tiger visited Project H.O.M.E.’s College Access Program and an Adult Learning class as well as with Hopeworks’ youth who shared their experiences and goals with Tiger.

Tiger Woods Suprise Visit With Project H.O.M.E. and HopeWorks n'Camden
Above: From L-R – Tiger Woods; from Project H.O.M.E.: Sister Mary Scullion, Executive Director; Caprese Harmon, graduate of the CAP program; and Tomika Brown, College Access Program Coordinator

Tiger Woods Suprise Visit With Project H.O.M.E. and HopeWorks n'Camden

Above: Woods visits with students from Hopeworks n’ Camden; From L-R – Sean Dougherty, Ramon Alverado, Jonathan Lugo, Tiger Woods, and Luis Solis

To read the press release, please Click HERE

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 October 21 2009 

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation Partners with SAP to Build a Playground in Camden, NJ

The design process began in September when the children of the school were asked to put their dream playgrounds down on paper. Their dreams quickly became a reality when KaBOOM took their drawings and created a unique playground based on their ideas. From the colors, to the equipment, the final side projects and the murals, the playground was created based on the needs of the school and the dreams of the children. The equipment that was previously on the site was over 30 years old and was torn down a few weeks ago to make way for the new state of the art play structure. The children were no longer permitted to use most of the old equipment due to the repair that was needed.

Over 1,000 children ranging in age from 5-12 years old will utilize this playground year round. Members of the community pitched in by not only volunteering their time but also donating equipment, food and supplies for the build day. By working together, there is a great sense of pride and accomplishment that will greatly enhance the relationship between the school and the community.

In addition to the playground, other projects were also built and installed during the build day. Those projects included numerous benches and murals, greening and planting new flowers, as well as recycling bins – a first for the elementary school which has been accompanied by a program to teach the children the importance of recycling.

 

Children from RC Molina Elementary School
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 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.
Pilar Hogan from Saint Josephs Carpenter Society, Helene Pierson with Heart of Camden, and Jon Bon Jovi
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