Crunching Numbers
$250,000
The approximate amount that Deborah Hospital Foundation raised for cardiac care with its 18th Annual Red Tie Gala fundraiser, held Nov. 11.
Eleven
How many years WCRE has been holding its annual Thanksgiving food drive, with 2023’s efforts delivering more than 250 bags of food and $3,700 in supermarket gift cards and donations to the Samost Jewish Family and Children’s Service Food Pantry.
16
The number of Stockton University scholarships that will be funded by the OceanFirst Foundation’s recent $40,000 donation.
103,000
The number of jobs that the country’s private-sector employment increased by in November, according to that month’s ADP National Employment Report.
46.4%
According to a December study by the U.S. Money Reserve, The percentage of New Jersey residents who are concerned about inflation.
Six
How many public board members were appointed to the newly created New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority last month.
350,000
The estimated number of the state’s roughly 1.9 million hourly workers poised to directly benefit from the Jan. 1 minimum-wage increase to $15.13 an hour, which exceeds the 2019 goal set by both Gov. Phil Murphy and legislature.
$269,739
The amount that the New Jersey Conservation Foundation paid for a 180-acre cranberry farm inSouthampton. The farm is being preserved as open space for public recreation.
Breakdown
A newly signed bill intends to help unemployed veterans begin a new civilian career.
What Happened: When Gov. Phil Murphy signed S2764/A4361 into law Jan. 8, it established the four-year VETeach Pilot Program within the New Jersey Department of Education.
What It Means: The creation of the pilot program aims to resolve two widespread employment issues: reducing the high rate of unemployment among the region’s veterans of the United States Armed Forces who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, by enrolling them in a 36-month teacher preparation program to receive their teacher certification, while simultaneously ensuring a high-quality teacher workforce. Under the bill, up to four public universities will be selected to enroll veterans.
What’s Next: Supporters of the bill’s passage see it is an opportunity to create a pathway to educator roles for those looking to shape the future while simultaneously approaching the civilian chapters of their lives as a way to offset today’s dearth of academic instructors. “Given the criticality of our teacher shortage, which is projected to intensify in the coming years, this bill presents an opportunity to leverage the skills and experience of our qualified veteran workforce by expediting their transition into teaching roles,” said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, a former U.S. Marine sergeant. “This legislation will streamline the path to teacher preparation, certification and employment, enabling our veterans to extend their service commitment and continue to shape our future by educating the children they once risked their lives to protect.”
On the Move
On Dec. 19, it was announced that Gibbsboro resident Lisa Dutterer has been named the new COO for the nonprofit palliative- and hospice-care organization Samaritan. Cherry Hill-based law firm Malamut & Associates announced that Danielle Drew, Esq., has joined its labor and employment department, where she will focus her practice on employment law. Duly Noted Cooper University Health Care recently hosted a retirement ceremony for Colonel Kirby R. Gross, MD, FACS, to celebrate his 21 years of distinguished service as a U.S. Army trauma surgeon. Inspira Health has announced that two of its clinical leaders were presented with nursing leadership awards from the Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey. Assistant nurse manager Brittany Knestaut, B.S.N., R.N., was honored with the Aspiring Nurse Leader award while nurse manager Barbara Conicello, B.S.N., R.N., earned the Administrative Supervisor award. South Jersey Industries has approved Timothy “Tim” Lowry to senior vice president and general counsel.
