The spirit of charitable work and community care is on vibrant display throughout our region, especially once the holiday season begins in earnest with donation drives, corporate volunteerism and a call to help those in need of extra care. South Jersey Biz is proud to showcase two dozen nonprofits operating locally and throughout the state to be the vehicles of positive change and impactful efforts that facilitate lasting change.
ACCSES NJ
Driven by a mission and passion to empower people with disabilities by connecting them to meaningful employment, ACCSES NJ taps into its established nonprofit network to help its clients get hired. The organization isn’t just actively dedicated to creating a more inclusive workforce one person at a time: Its team and supporters are also ardent advocates for more career opportunities and avenues in not just The Garden State but throughout the country as they work together to dismantle systemic and social barriers.
Beacon of Hope
Beacon of Hope, Inc. (BOH) is a nonprofit in Mount Holly founded by Pastor Darlene Trappier. After overcoming homelessness at 19, Darlene established BOH in 2010 to provide food, clothing, shelter and life skills to those in need. Co-led by Pastor Torrence, who values commitment and community, BOH embodies a shared mission to not only help others avoid the hardships its own teams once faced but also offer hope and support to struggling families and individuals.
Burlington County Animal Alliance
When Lorraine Schreiber founded the Burlington County Animal Alliance (BCAA) in 1999, it was a small foster-based volunteer organization rescuing dogs from local shelters, and has since developed into a network of more than 50 local volunteers. In addition to shelters in Burlington and Camden counties, BCAA also partners with shelters and rescues in southern states. Since its inception, BCAA has found homes for over 10,000 dogs and cats, and 100% of BCAA’s proceeds go toward helping animals in their care. BCAA recently celebrated 25 years of rescue—a huge milestone—with a dog-friendly family picnic.
Camden Center for Law & Social Justice
The Camden Center for Law and Social Justice (CCLSJ) is a collaborative initiative between the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, the Diocese of Camden and lay ministers to promotes justice for Camden and Southern New Jersey’s underserved individuals. Partnering with HNCM and the Bishop of Camden, the organization provides essential legal services to immigrant and impoverished communities, focusing on domestic violence, family law and immigration services. CCLSJ also conducts educational events, offers advocacy and training, monitors immigration legislation, and engages with officials to promote fair policies.
Checking for Charity
The team behind Checking for Charity proudly own their ambition and aim to make the world a better place. And they’re doing so by positioning their competitive hockey tournaments and events as vehicles of change, maximizing the final monetary donation they’re able to raise for the organizations and causes represented at its professionally run events. The nonprofit ensures that 100% of every fundraiser’s proceeds go to the represented charities and, to date, has expanded to the West Coast, hosted 15 tournaments since 2009 and raised $417,900 for charities since its inception.
Community Foundation of South Jersey USE SUPPLIED LOGO
Community Foundation of South Jersey allows area residents to maximize impact throughout the region by giving those looking to donate the ability to create funds for the issues they care about. Funds range in size, but currently the foundation helps philanthropists give to over 90 different funds for various causes. Some of these funds include the Haddon Heights High School Top 10 Scholarships Fund and the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey Council Fund.
Haddonfield | (856) 528-3385 | CommunityFoundationSJ.org
Coriell Institute for Medical Research
This Camden-based nonprofit aims to advance biomedical research. It also promotes educational initiatives, including the Annual Science Fair held every March, which showcases the best scientific works created by South Jersey students in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties. Featured projects span scientific fields including biochemistry, botany, computer science, math, health, medicine, physics and zoology. Winners move on to the Delaware Valley Regional Science Fair, where they have the opportunity to continue on to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Friends of the Burlington County Library
The countywide nonprofit supports the Burlington County Library through fundraising and membership dues. It funds essential services like the Museum Pass Program and initiatives such as Storywalk as well as library events and activities, in addition to raising funds through book sales and special events. Its team promotes library services and recruits volunteers. They also advocate for public library funding and policies and support outreach efforts, enhancing the overall library experience for patrons in South Jersey.
Community House of Moorestown
Housed on a Main Street manor evoking the grandeur of a bygone era, the nonprofit proudly serves the civic, social and recreational needs of Moorestown and neighboring communities with a dedication befitting its past as a true community center. And impassioned donors, volunteers and local residents have been eagerly supporting the vibrant meeting area, event space, nonprofit host and sprawling grounds for the past century, reflecting its place as a community cornerstone still achieving its original purpose of bringing neighbors together.
Kiwanis Club of Mount Laurel
Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, and every one of this local chapter’s events and fundraisers are rooted in ensuring children have a place to thrive, prosper and grow. From local cleanup efforts and charitable efforts to hosting kid- and family-friendly events that reinforce a sense of happy, healthy community while providing area youth with outlets encouraging their creativity and curiosity, members embrace the organization’s mission of giving back and answering the call to serve others.
Let’s Create Together Foundation
The Mount Laurel-based organization embodies the spirit of thinking globally and acting locally, with an eye on improving not only its place in Burlington County but also extending that effort internationally to bring about positive change within African communities. The foundation’s focus on a number of health care initiatives, like sickle cell disease family assistance or providing clean drinking water, as well as its educational ones helps members deliver on their mission to be catalysts of impactful, lasting change that transcends borders.
Mental Health Association in New Jersey
This statewide association works to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and substance-use disorders through advocacy, education, training, services and addressing the systemic root causes exacerbating individual struggles. Just as it has for the past eight decades, the association breaks down stigmas and other barriers preventing people from seeking the treatment they need, and continues to build a strong foundation of support and services for not only those in need of help but also their loved ones.
NJ Credit Unions Food Cooperative
This is the inaugural year for the cooperative, co-sponsored by three credit unions including First Harvest Credit Union. The initiative was created in the spirit of partnership and cooperation, has quickly become a community-driven effort gaining two dozen other credit unions’ support, and is a response to the troubling rise in food insecurity affecting more than one in 10 New Jerseyans—and more than 13% of children in the state. The initiative has launched more than 75 food collection hubs, with the additional goal of raising awareness about food insecurity while building a stronger sense of community collaboration that makes a lasting impact.
Outdoor Club of South Jersey
Established in 1967, the Outdoor Club of South Jersey is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the exploration and enjoyment of South Jersey's natural environment. Activities include hiking, bicycling, kayaking/canoeing, cross-country skiing, backpacking, camping and trail maintenance for fun, fitness and friendship. The Outdoor Club of South Jersey welcomes new members of all ages and abilities to join year-round. Membership funds pay for insurance and other club overhead, while activities are all led by volunteer members of the club.
Pathway into the Community
Since 2020, this nonprofit has provided high-quality, person-centered support services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) by promoting inclusion, independence and individual development. It’s driven by a vision of creating a more inclusive society, and members take a holistic approach encompassing every aspect of life, from personal growth to community engagement. By collaborating with families, caregivers and local organizations, Pathway’s team strives to build a network of support that empowers individuals with ID/DD to thrive and fulfill their potential.
The Philawell Foundation
Karen Cohen, a retired Philadelphia educator, founded the nonprofit in 2024 after a transformative journey to Madagascar. Following her father’s passing in 2022, Karen traveled to South Africa and Madagascar, where she connected with local guides, Theo and Andres. Together, they continue to improve the lives of the Antandroy people by providing essentials and clean water. Philawell has since built two wells and begun work on a third, with ongoing efforts to support both the community’s needs and sustainable change in Madagascar.
Preservation New Jersey
Fierce and proactive advocates for the state’s historic sites since 1978, the preservation organization promotes New Jersey’s economic vitality, sustainability and heritage by educating its neighbors about the rich and diverse communities that have always comprised the statewide tapestry. Among its most visible projects is the annual 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in NJ list, which the organization curates as the catalyst for change necessary to both promote the importance of those remarkable sites and bring more attention to the challenging reality of preserving history.
Rancocas Nature Center
The center opened its doors in 1977 and has tirelessly promoted environmental education and stewardship ever since. With year-round on- and off-site programming designed for all ages, a team of teacher-naturalists expertly tailor their messages to their audiences, while the Westampton-based center’s location on 210 acres within Rancocas State Park grants immersive access to three miles of hiking trails through diverse habitats like meadows, forest and wetland for an up-close lesson in the importance of protecting and respecting the world around us.
RSVP Volunteers
The nonprofit impacts the lives of preschoolers to seniors with its education and wellness programs, offered both virtually and as in-person volunteer programs. Local businesses can partner with the organization through annual sponsorships, as event sponsors, or EITC/CRA credits. A large focus is on its My Free Tutor virtual math tutoring program and STEM career presentations, as its members aim to combat declining scores and students’ struggles with grade-level proficiencies through its free programs with volunteer instructors providing educational assistance.
Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey
This home away from home for families with children whose life-saving treatments require long hospital stays operates within a number of South Jersey health care systems, and has been their supportive environment in difficult times since 1983. It recognizes the mental benefit of rest and emotional refuge to both a medically fragile child and their family members, and since its relocation in 1998, offers not only a number of family suites but also a family cinema, a parents’ gym with a nearby kid zone, a marketplace and an accessible playground.
South Jersey Artist Collective
The South Jersey Artist Collective embraces art as a medium of collective impact and awareness. It recently received a New Jersey Council for the Humanities grant for its program Rooted in History: South Jersey Art Traditions, an ambitious community art initiative illuminating the rich cultural heritage of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape people through the creation of a collaborative Wampum belt. It’s currently looking for a partner organization in Gloucester County for a South Jersey Artist Collection location to host artist studios, classes, gallery shows, and a space for area artists to connect, network and amplify their impact.
United Way of Gloucester County
United Way of Gloucester County partners with various regional agencies and organizations to maximize its impact. This year, the new Leadership Gloucester County (LEAD GC) Program partnered with Rowan College of South Jersey and Gloucester County to create a hands-on leadership development and community engagement experience. It will run monthly sessions from September to May, focusing on government, the tourism environment and leadership skills. Another new program is the Live United Mini-Grants, providing 19 local nonprofits operating on a smaller scale with $1,000 of funding to help expand services involving health, education and financial stability.
Volunteers of America, Delaware Valley chapter
Functioning as a social service agency based in Camden, Volunteers of America’s Delaware Valley chapter provides the most vulnerable in the region with a variety of resources. These services include care for those experiencing homelessness, reentry aid for those leaving incarceration, permanent and supportive housing aid and resources, and specialized services for those with developmental disabilities or brain injuries. The operation utilizes 400 qualified professionals to help 13,000 of those in need throughout the area.
Women Who Never Give Up
The Moorestown-based organization is driven by a strong sense of social justice and human rights as it assists families seeking justice in the criminal legal system. Its team has fought for systemic change for more than two decades, and its leadership and members possess years of experience identifying and correcting key areas of necessary reform to improve equity within the prison system. Armed with their own knowledge and experience, the team educates families, the public and elected officials on how to bring about justice-focused changes and why society as a whole will benefit from.
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Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 14, Issue 11 (November 2024).
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