Spotlight on: Parker Family Health Center

Impact 100 Jersey Coast members at the groundbreaking of Parker’s new building in Red Bank

By Janet Mazur Cavano

Where do you turn when you have no health insurance or cannot afford a doctor visit?  For more than 20 years, residents in Monmouth County have counted on Parker Family Health Center (Parker) in Red Bank to provide free, routine medical care. In fact, since it opened 22 years ago, the organization has served some 175,000 patients, many from the county’s Latino and African-American population. Open six days a week, with a largely volunteer staff, including doctors and other medical professionals, Parker treats 9,000 patients annually. 

In recent years, Parker has outgrown its Shrewsbury Avenue facility. In fact, since 2021, patient enrollments have increased an astounding 25 percent. This spike is attributed to Covid-related loss of health benefits, increased outreach efforts and more community partnerships. The result?   A building bursting at the seams.

With a limited number of exam rooms, only two physicians can work at a given time. Likewise, there are no consultation rooms, forcing patients to provide sensitive intake information in exam rooms or non-private spaces. Nor is there a proper multi-purpose area and patients awaiting Covid vaccines have actually lined up outside, no matter the weather. 

Thanks to a 2021 $107,500 grant from Impact 100 Jersey Coast, however, Parker has begun the initial phase of a major upgrade on its building. This will include new examination rooms, telehealth and social service spaces and a large, multi-purpose room that will be used by its staff, board, volunteers, patients and the community at large. 

“We will be able to expand our physical footprint,”’ said Suzy Dyer, Parker’s executive director.  “It has been a real struggle when we are seeing the demand for our services increasing; we need the space to meet that increased demand!” 

With the  Impact 100 grant providing seed money and heightened public  awareness, Parker recently broke ground on an extensive, $5 million capital project to further complete  its expansion. This includes a two-story structure that will be connected to the existing building  as well as  additional parking spaces

“Impact 100’s contribution early on definitely highlighted our work,” Dyer said. “They believed in Parker – our leadership and our vision – and kick started our campaign.” 

What Parker may have lacked in physical space, they have not lacked in medical professionals who regularly volunteer their services.  “We have amazing doctors – cardiologists, orthopedics, pediatricians. . . there are also retired doctors and retired nurses, and they all come here! It’s pretty amazing and speaks to the fact that there is a real need and people recognize it.”

Parker also recognizes the need for community education and plans to offer workshops on issues such as diabetes, hypertension, nutrition  and mental health, once the expansion is completed. The intention is to make such sessions available to the community at large. As well the plan is  to conduct such sessions in the attendees’  native language – Spanish, Portuguese or English.

“We need to meet people where they are and where they feel most comfortable,” Dyer explained. “Language can be a barrier.” 

The target date for the plan’s completion is within the next 12 to 15 months. Dyer notes that while the project is ambitious, it is expected to be financially sustainable in the long run.

“There will always be a need in our community for a real safety net,” Dyer said. “And we want to make sure we will be here for the future. We are continuing what the founders of this organization thought – they realized that the health of one person impacts the health of us all.”

Parker Family Health Center

Health & Wellness

MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of the Parker Family Health Center is to operate a free health care facility where Monmouth County residents without health insurance or the ability to pay for medical care can be treated with dignity and compassion. With the support of the medical community and the community at large, Parker Family Health Center will assist those who are making a sincere effort to help themselves and their families realize optimum health.
THE PROJECT: 
To respond to the urgent need created by the pandemic and the continued demand for free medical care, Parker is requesting support for a much-needed expansion. This expansion will increase the number of patients cared for by adding a new examination room, telehealth and social service spaces, and a large, multipurpose room to be utilized for educational purposes benefitting staff, board, volunteers, patients, and the community at large.

Impact 100 Jersey Coast Awards $435,000 to Eight Local Non Profits

Seven Years Of Collective Women’s Giving Enables 28 Organizations To Address Local Unmet Needs

RED BANK, NJ – December 12, 2022 – The atmosphere at The Vogel in Red Bank was electric as Impact 100 Jersey Coast announced the recipients of four $100,000 Impact Grants and four $8,750 Mission Awards on November 29. It awarded eight local nonprofit organizations a total of $435,000 in funding to support underserved communities in Monmouth County. More than 250 guests, including members, nonprofits and sponsors enjoyed a packed program beginning with presentations from each of the eight non profit finalists and ending with the live ‘’one woman, one vote” process that Impact 100 Jersey Coast is known for.

The evening was the culmination of Impact 100 Jersey Coast’s six month grant application, review, and selections process. After a comprehensive evaluation of dozens of applications by more than 70 Impact grant review committee members, eight finalists representing the categories of Arts & Culture, Children & Families, Education, Sustainability & Environment, and Health & Wellness were selected by the over 400 members through a digital voting process. 

The finalists recipients are: 

Grants of $100,000 each were awarded to:

Mission Awards of $8,750 each were awarded to: 

Douglas Eagles from Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County said, “We really appreciate Impact 100 Jersey Coast for giving us this amazing opportunity!” They will be collaborating with partner Food for Thought by the Sea on a project to provide employment to at-risk youth. Their Executive Director, Marilyn Schlossbach, explained, “…this grant will provide so much opportunity for our community and the hospitality industry…we are so honored to have been a part of this process and given the ability to bring our vision to life with such a dedicated team”.

Impact 100 Jersey Coast membership for the 2023 Class is open now and upcoming recruitment events can be found online at www.impact100jerseycoast.org. Women throughout the area who would like to make a positive impact in their community are invited to join.

About Impact 100 Jersey Coast

Impact 100 Jersey Coast is made up of women of different ages and backgrounds who combine charitable dollars, experience, and energy to make a tangible difference in our area. Impact 100 Jersey Coast’s mission is to award membership-funded transformational funding to local nonprofit organizations while empowering women to improve lives through philanthropy.

Since its founding in 2015, the organization has awarded more than $2.4 million in funding to 28 local nonprofits. Learn more about Impact 100 Jersey Coast, its members and mission at www.impact100jerseycoast.org.

Spotlight on: VNA Central Jersey

By Janet Mazur Cavano

Photo courtesy of VNACJ

Most mothers will agree that giving birth is one of the most profoundly moving, yet challenging life experiences they will encounter. Imagine then, giving birth in a situation where the medical community does not speak the same language or understand the mother’s culture. 

Giving birth is often a difficult experience, but research has shown that worse outcomes are more likely for mothers and babies in at-risk communities. Enter a doula, a non-clinical pregnancy/birth coach who not only speaks the mother’s language, but comes from her neighborhood, and is specially trained to serve as a bridge between her and the medical community. Culturally-sensitive doula care can make a measurable difference. 

“A doula is a compassionate coach,” said Colleen Nelson, the vice president of The Children and Family Health Institute of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey (VNACJ). “They connect with a woman early in their pregnancy,  carry them through their labor and delivery and beyond.  They listen to and respect their hopes and fears. They  make sure the voice of the mother is heard.”

Thanks to a 2021 $107,500 grant from Impact 100 Jersey Coast, the VNACJ has trained 11  “culturally sensitive” doulas, as part of Monmouth County’s first ever Doula Learning Collaborative. The program is a joint effort between the VNACJ and Jersey Shore University Health Center’s Booker Family Health Center. 

The 11 doulas represent the Hispanic, Hatian-Creole, Portuguese and African-American communities. They have completed state-approved training, earned Medicare certification and learned basic business skills, as they will work as independent contractors. The Doula Learning Collaborative will offer them an ongoing network that fosters connections, provides continuing education and enables these women to grow in their practice.

In fact, two of the doulas have connected and become “sister doulas,” meaning they will work together and share clients so they can cover for each other for deliveries when one is not available. Both met with a client separately during the prenatal visits to ensure the woman was comfortable. After a successful delivery, the client reported that thanks  to the doula, the experience  was less stressful than a previous birth, in which her partner was not included and the staff did not take the time to explain procedures to her. 

“We feel that the doulas will empower Black and Hispanic women to feel more in control of their childbirth experience,” Nelson explained. 


The ultimate goal of this innovative program is to improve the maternal and infant mortality rates in the most vulnerable communities in Monmouth County.  As Nelson explains it, New Jersey ranks 47th in the nation for maternal health outcomes. In addition, Black babies in New Jersey are three times more likely to die in their first year of life than White babies, while Black women die at four times the rate of White women.

“We MUST do better,” Nelson said. “The more people who ask, ‘why is this happening, and what can I do?’ the better. People are uncomfortable when you bring up racism and bias; it’s ok to be uncomfortable. But don’t let it quiet you down! Keep learning and researching and you’ll become part of the movement that says, we have to do better. Community-based doula care can make a huge difference.” 

The  Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their best level of well being by providing compassionate, coordinated and innovative care in their homes and communities. Contact them for additional information about this program. 

Since its inception in 2016, Impact 100 Jersey Coast has awarded more than $2,000.000 in transformational grants to 18 local organizations. A women’s giving circle, Impact has created a forum to raise awareness of the community’s most pressing needs and fund transformational grants for high impact projects addressing those needs. Impact 100 JC has also expanded its giving circles to encompass the richness of ideas, perspectives and the participation of diverse women from a wide range of identities. 

 
Photos courtesy of VNACJ of the first in person Monthly Doula Learning Collaborative meeting


Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey

2021 Grantee
Education

MISSION STATEMENT:
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their best level of well-being by providing compassionate, coordinated, and innovative care in their homes and communities.

THE PROJECT:
To address the alarming health outcomes data regarding the difference in the mortality rate of white women and babies, and women and babies of color, New Jersey is investing in culturally sensitive health services, including Doulas or nonclinical pregnancy/birth coaches, to improve birth outcomes. This grant would help fund a collaboration between VNA of Central Jersey, Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Booker Family Health Center, and VNACJ Community Health Center to establish the first-ever Doula Learning Collaborative in Monmouth County. Key components include recruiting 10 prospective multi-cultural doulas from at-risk communities; subsidizing their training in a state-approved program and creating a learning community to support each doula’s development and to teach additional skills – in particular, the business skills to form a cooperative, successfully bill Medicaid for services rendered and provide excellent patient experience.

Spotlight on: Monmouth Arts

By Janet Mazur Cavano

Courtesy of Monmouth Arts

Turning to a creative outlet during challenging times such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can make a huge difference in one’s well-being. This is especially so for children who often do not  have a way to express their fears and anxieties.  It is no surprise then that “Creative Expressions Arts and Wellness,” the art therapy program  Monmouth Arts recently launched, has taken off  so successfully. 

“It is SO needed right now,” said Teresa Staub, executive director of Monmouth Arts. “When we did other programming, we saw how children are struggling, and how much that has increased; there is still so much they are going through.”

Funded by a 2021 Impact 100 Jersey Coast grant of $107,500, the program addresses youth mental health issues by engaging children in artistic self-expression. During a four to six-week period, teams build relationships with the children and identify those who could benefit from additional mental health services. 

This summer alone, in seven different locations across Monmouth County,  some 387 children ages 5 through teens have participated.  They have learned  to reduce  stress, channel negativity and create beautiful art in the process.  Ten working artists and mental health professionals, including several Spanish-speakers,  are guiding the children through workshops on drumming, Hip-Hop dancing and empowerment through movement.  Other programs focus on fine art and writing including, “What’s on your mind,” a program where participants create a self-portrait and then write a short paragraph about who they are. 

In addition, “Creative Expressions,” recently offered an innovative activity, “The Art  of Letting Go,”  at Freehold Raceway Mall. Participants were invited to write on balloons the negative things they’re trying to push out or escape from. Likewise, Monmouth Arts sponsored a Teen Arts Festival.

Among the feedback Monmouth Arts has received from participants:

“The art sessions made me feel a little relaxed.”

“It made me feel happy and calming while I was listening to music.”

“I like that I can draw what I want.”

And

“Good being able to draw my feelings.”

Through the grant,  Monmouth Arts has hired a coordinator to oversee the entire program and will continue to offer more workshops in the fall. The ultimate aim  is to reach 2,000 children.

 “We are more than on track to reach our goals and objectives,” Staub said, adding that the organization is seeking more places to offer “Creative Expressions,” such as after school programs.  In fact, if your group could benefit from “Creative Expressions,” contact Monmouth Arts. 

Celebrating its 50th year in operation, Monmouth Arts  is a leading, independent, 501c(3) arts advocacy organization that delivers needed programs and services to artists, member organizations, and art affiliates to ensure the arts thrive in every corner of Monmouth County. Its mission is to  provide programs and services that support the practice, presence, and influence of the arts and of artists throughout the county.

Since its inception in 2016, Impact 100 Jersey Coast has awarded more than $2,000,000 in transformational grants to 18 local organizations. A women’s giving circle, Impact has created a forum to raise awareness of the community’s most pressing needs and fund transformational grants for high-impact projects addressing those needs. Impact 100 JC has also  expanded its giving circle to encompass the richness of ideas, perspectives and the participation of diverse women from a wide range of identities. 

Monmouth Arts

Monmouth Arts

Arts and Culture

MISSION STATEMENT:

Monmouth Arts provides programs and services that support the practice, presence, and influence of the arts and of artists throughout Monmouth County.

THE PROJECT: 

In partnership with teaching artists and mental health professionals, the Creative Expressions Arts & Wellness Program will apply art forms such as painting, music, and dance to address the rise in mental health issues in Monmouth County youth due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leadership Transitions Announced!

Heather_and_Deirdre_2019

Impact 100 Jersey Coast Co-Founders, Deirdre Spiropoulos and Heather Burke have announced their plans to step back from daily operational duties into key advisory roles.  

“As Co-Founders, we have had the honor of being a part of Impact and watching it grow from 11 founding members to more than 400 in just six years. There is much to be proud of…from recruiting our first 100 members to passing the $2 million mark in grant funding..and all the while working alongside such passionate and committed women. At this point in Impact’s evolution, we are proud and excited to pass the baton to the next generation of energized, capable leaders”

In the new year, Deirdre passed the reins of Co-President to Rowena (Ro) Crawford-Phillips. Ro is an Impact 100 JC founding member who has worked tirelessly to build the Grants Team to what it is today. Ro is replaced by Grants Co-Chairs, Anne Yeh, and Tricia Frankenfield. 
In April, Heather will pass her Co-President seat to Lori Missing. Lori has also been part of Impact 100 JC since the beginning, serving as a leader in both Events and Membership–helping build them to their current strength. She will continue to lead Membership through March in tandem with our Vice President, Karen Waltz, before assuming the Co-President role. 

“Our power is in our collective and what we have begun will only continue to grow and evolve. For that, we need new members, new leaders, and new perspectives to steer us on this next phase of our journey and ensure the long-term health of our giving circle. We are grateful for all we’ve shared, inspired by all we’ve accomplished together and excited for all that lies ahead.”

Thank you so much to Deirdre and Heather for their years of dedication leading and guiding Impact 100 Jersey Coast to where it proudly stands today – 400+ women strong and ready to continue its mission of collectively funding transformational grants to local nonprofit organizations in Monmouth County. 

We hope you’ll join us in 2022 – as a member, an applicant – or both!

LEARN MORE

Impact 100 Jersey Coast Tops $2,000,000 In Transformational Grants Awarded

Six years of collective women’s giving allow 18 organizations to address local unmet needs

Impact 100 Jersey Coast announced that its members have awarded four $107,500 transformational grants, totaling $430,000, to area nonprofit organizations. Despite a challenging year, the 430 members of the philanthropic women’s volunteer organization were able to honor organizations that are making a difference in Monmouth County, NJ. These nonprofits now have a remarkable opportunity to sustain and strengthen their programs, broaden their reach and increase their impact.

Although this year’s Impact Annual Meeting was virtual due to COVID, the excitement was palpable. The event was the eagerly-awaited culmination of Impact 100’s months of efforts to direct substantial support to local non-profit organizations. After a comprehensive evaluation by more than 80 grant review committee members, five finalists representing the categories of Arts & Culture, Children & Families, Education, Sustainability & Environment, and Health & Wellness were selected  from a pool of 61 grant applicants. Finalist information packets were sent to the entire Impact 100 membership in advance of the Annual Meeting to allow members to prepare, and absentee ballots were included in the final vote count on the night following project presentations by the finalists.  

Thanks to the generosity of 430 Impact 100 members who each contributed $1,000 towards the 2021 grant fund, four inspiring and high-impact projects were awarded $107,500 each. The grant recipients include: 

Monmouth Arts

Monmouth Arts

Arts and Culture

MISSION STATEMENT:

Monmouth Arts provides programs and services that support the practice, presence, and influence of the arts and of artists throughout Monmouth County.

THE PROJECT: 

In partnership with teaching artists and mental health professionals, the Creative Expressions Arts & Wellness Program will apply art forms such as painting, music, and dance to address the rise in mental health issues in Monmouth County youth due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CARC

Community Affairs & Resource Center (CARC)

Children & Families

MISSION STATEMENT:
Community Affairs and Resource Center’s mission is to empower the community and strengthen youth and families by promoting self-sufficiency through education, advocacy and collaboration.

THE PROJECT:
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious condition that affects about one in seven mothers, and one in three low-income mothers. PPD has well-established consequences on infant development, including delayed cognitive development, behavioral issues, and the risk of developing depression or anxiety. Community Affairs and Resource Center’s (CARC) proposed project, ROSES, is an evidence-based preventative program that has been proven to reduce PPD in women by 50%. ROSES consists of a five-session bilingual education program using our university-developed curriculum, and nurse home visits before and after the baby is born. We are able to further support these new mothers with additional services provided by CARC and our network of community partners to address issues including food insecurity, domestic violence, and job training

VNACJ

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey

Education

MISSION STATEMENT:
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their best level of well-being by providing compassionate, coordinated, and innovative care in their homes and communities.

THE PROJECT:
To address the alarming health outcomes data regarding the difference in the mortality rate of white women and babies, and women and babies of color, New Jersey is investing in culturally sensitive health services, including Doulas or nonclinical pregnancy/birth coaches, to improve birth outcomes. This grant would help fund a collaboration between VNA of Central Jersey, Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Booker Family Health Center, and VNACJ Community Health Center to establish the first-ever Doula Learning Collaborative in Monmouth County. Key components include recruiting 10 prospective multi-cultural doulas from at-risk communities; subsidizing their training in a state-approved program and creating a learning community to support each doula’s development and to teach additional skills – in particular, the business skills to form a cooperative, successfully bill Medicaid for services rendered and provide excellent patient experience.

Parker Family Health Center

Parker Family Health Center

Health & Wellness

MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Parker Family Health Center is to operate a free health care facility where Monmouth County residents without health insurance or the ability to pay for medical care can be treated with dignity and compassion. With the support of the medical community and the community at large, Parker Family Health Center will assist those who are making a sincere effort to help themselves and their families realize optimum health.

THE PROJECT:
To respond to the urgent need created by the pandemic and the continued demand for free medical care, Parker is requesting support for a much-needed expansion. This expansion will increase the number of patients cared for by adding a new examination room, telehealth and social service spaces, and a large, multipurpose room to be utilized for educational purposes benefitting staff, board, volunteers, patients, and the community at large.

A special grant from our community partner OceanFirst Foundation!

In the true “Impact Strong” spirit of collaborative grantmaking, our generous community partner, OceanFirst Foundation, was inspired to provide a grant of $2,500 to our 2021 runner-up, Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary (Sustainability & Environment), and Impact Jersey Coast would like to offer our deepest thanks!

“Impact 100 Jersey Coast has once again proved we are truly stronger together!” said Deirdre Spiropoulos, Impact 100 Jersey Coast President and co-founder. “This time of year encapsulates what can happen when women unite together to pool our individual resources to help our community.”

Impact 100’s mission is to award member-funded transformational grants to local nonprofit organizations, enabling them to strengthen or expand their services, while empowering women of different ages and backgrounds to improve lives through philanthropy. Since its founding in 2015, the organization has awarded more than $2 million to 18 Monmouth County nonprofits to help them address unmet needs and reach underserved populations. Updates are given throughout the year about the progress of the recipients’ programs made possible through the grant funding.

Impact 100 Jersey Coast membership for the 2022 Class is open now and upcoming recruitment events can be found online at Impact100JerseyCoast.org. Members donate $1,100 each, with funds pooled to award significant annual grants. Women throughout the area who would like to make an important and memorable impact in their community are invited to join our unique giving circle. The 2022 membership drive is underway if you’d like to join or want more information, please click here or email membership@impact100jerseycoast.org.

About Impact 100 Jersey Coast

Impact 100 Jersey Coast is made up of women of different ages and backgrounds who combine charitable dollars, experience, and energy to make a tangible difference in our area. Impact’s mission is to award membership-funded transformational grants to local nonprofit organizations while empowering women to improve lives through philanthropy.

Since its founding in 2015, the organization has awarded more than $2 million to 18 local nonprofits. Learn more about Impact 100 Jersey Coast, its members and mission at Impact100JerseyCoast.org.

Spotlight on: HABcore

By Stephanie Posner, Anne Yeh & Mary Riley

2020 grant recipient, HABcore, invited the Impact 100 team to see their progress first-hand. On June 10th Marta Quinn, Senior Director of Development at HABcore toured the group around the area surrounding the Red Bank boarding house to show the development and community on the west side. (COVID-19 restrictions prohibited the group from going inside.)

The Impact grant for HabCore was to support their Independence Pathways (IP) Program, which combines affordable housing with coordinated services to assist individuals and families struggling with chronic physical and mental health issues to maintain stable housing and receive appropriate support and employment services. With our support, they were able to hire two case managers for the Program.

The group was able to see first-hand how our grant is being used to support the HABcore IP program.  And in addition, they learned about many other resources in the area which are helping families in the community in various ways.

“After the year we had, it was so inspiring to meet the HABcore team and see the projects first hand!” said Linda Lautenberg.

HABcore visit

Attendees: Marta Quinn, Senior Director of Development at HABcore; From Impact: Anne Yeh, Grantee Liaison for HABcore; Deidre Spiropoulos; Heather Burke; Linda Lautenberg; Casey DeStefano, and Amy Montano.

Above is HABcore’s River Street house, their most recent building project that was completed entirely through Covid!  It is a multi-family unit so everyone that calls this location home, participates in the IP program. Our Impact 100 grant goes directly to these families living here, by providing them with a skilled licensed clinical social worker to provide intensive services focused on employment services, parenting, and communication skills, leading a healthy lifestyle, and improving the children’s educational performance.  The caseworker encourages them to use the other community resources that we literally walked by, to help their families:

– Lunchbreak for food

– Monmouth Daycare so they can go to work

– The YMCA and Boys and Girls Club for active lifestyle choices

– and the Parker Family Health Clinic for healthcare.

The honest stories shared are about people, their resilience, and their hope for a better life.   The educational, inspirational, motivational, and thought-provoking tour will continue to inspire those who attended as HABcore and Impact 100 create this journey of experiences and life changes together. 

“It was a wonderful morning for me!  Not only to be together finally, but it was an eye-opening experience to see how that area of Red Bank has so many resources to help families!” commented Anne Yeh.

HABcore

HABcore is an organization that provides permanent housing and individualized support and helps homeless families, veterans, and individuals with special needs move through crisis to stability, giving them the opportunity to improve their lives.

The Independence Pathways (IP) Program combines affordable housing with coordinated services to assist individuals and families struggling with chronic physical and mental health issues to maintain stable housing and receive appropriate support and employment services. Learn more at HABcore.org.

Spotlight on: Clean Ocean Action

Transforming Our Community

By Stephanie Posner

Clean Ocean Action was a grant recipient in 2019.  Impact 100 helped to support the launch of the Student Environmental Advocates and Leaders (SEAL) program to develop a center of environmental stewardship for high school students in underserved communities.

The inaugural class was made up of 12 students from across Monmouth County. Taking on the motto of “go with the flow,” the team had to switch gears due to COVID and focused on a virtual program.  The group met twice a month and was joined by various local leaders and elected officials to learn about how the local community is working to protect the environment.  In January the students were asked to identify a global environmental problem which they wanted to help tackle.  They were asked to think global but act local – considering something they can do locally which can have a positive impact on the broader global issue.

The students focused on issues including reducing single use plastics, beach litter, and hydroponics. They presented their projects during a webinar on May 13th. To learn more about the projects you can view the recording online.

Learn about the SEAL program in this video

Click on the links to hear local projects:

  1. Jackie Rogers, Little Silver – Plastic Pollution
  2. Thomas Baron, Middletown – Beach Litter
  3. Orlanna Nolan, Highlands – Litter Pollution
  4. Sarah Taylor, Ocean Township – Hydroponics Heals
  5. Maya Burns, Keyport –  Storm Water Pollution
  6. Olivia Bonfort, Highlands – Rain Barrels
  7. Isabella Taborda, Eatontown – Education on recycling in elementary schools
  8. Olivia Fair, Highlands – Community Garden
  9. William Franznick, Middletown – Environmental Education Lesson Plans
  10. Chelsea Delalla, Ocean Township – Deforestation & Urbanization: Elementary School Education on the importance of planting trees

Clean Ocean Action is now recruiting eligible high school students to apply for the program for the upcoming academic year. Students from the following schools are eligible: Asbury Park, Henry Hudson, Keansburg, Keyport, Long Branch, Middletown North, Monmouth Regional, Neptune, Raritan, Red Bank Regional, and Ocean Township. Interested students can visit the “Education Programs” link at CleanOceanAction.org and complete the SEAL Student Interest Form.

About SEAL

The SEAL program, which was funded generously by Impact 100 Jersey Coast as their first environmental grant, offers eligible high school students a unique leadership learning experience focused on local environmental issues. SEAL students collaborate with peers across Monmouth County through bi-monthly virtual group training sessions to learn the basics of community grassroots activism and advocacy, and how it can be achieved in their own schools’ communities. Topics presented in the training sessions, featuring experts in that field, include, but are not limited to civics and the voting system, environmental justice, water quality, environmental careers, recycling crisis, and watershed mindfulness. Students make connections from the lessons to their local communities and learn to make real change through problem-based learning.

In addition, guest speakers, including elected officials, advocates, and activists will speak to the students to discuss successful strategies and campaigns to add real world context to the learning. To add a healthy bit of competition, Clean Ocean Action (COA) will use a point-based system to award students for their activities, leadership, collaboration, cohesiveness, stewardship and campaigns. Importantly, SEALs will help pass on their leadership and success to the community through presentations and engagement to middle schoolers and town councils. Interested high school students from eligible schools (listed earlier) should go to “Education Programs” at www.CleanOceanAction.org, contact Kristen Grazioso at 732-872-0111 or education@cleanoceanaction.org, and complete the SEAL Student Interest Form.

Impact 100 Jersey Coast Has Raised Over $2 Million to Help Local Nonprofits

By Christina Gorini

Since being founded in 2015, the powerful women’s philanthropy group has contributed new grants to transformational programs in Monmouth County.

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ April 26, 2021- Impact 100 Jersey Coast, a women’s grantmaking collective, is pleased to announce they successfully closed their sixth annual member drive bringing their total to date to over $2 million in grants awarded to local Monmouth County nonprofits! 

In 2021, despite a lingering global pandemic, 430 members joined the all-female volunteer group which will provide 4 grants of $107,500 this year. Women of different ages & backgrounds came together to combine charitable dollars, experience, and energy to make a tangible difference in our area.

“Despite the challenges of holding an all virtual membership drive we are thrilled with our membership turnout,” states Lori Missig, Impact 100 Jersey Coast’s Membership Chair. “We are grateful to our many returning members and to the nearly 90 new women who joined our 2021 membership class.”

This year Impact 100 Jersey Coast is focused on expanding the involvement and recruitment of a more diverse population of membership, with the aim of adding new voices and insights to its grant-making process.  President and CoFounder Deirdre Spiropoulos commented,  “Bringing more diverse perspectives to our membership enriches both our organization and our grantmaking–and ultimately amplifies our impact in the community.”

Now that the membership class is finalized, the Impact 100 Jersey Coast 2021 grant process is open. As a first step, interested nonprofit organizations serving Monmouth County should visit Impact100JerseyCoast.org to review the guidelines and submit an Eligibility Form by May 14. Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants will receive a link to complete the application, which is due on or before June 1. Upon completion of Impact’s member-run grant review process, nominated finalists will be asked to present their proposals to the wider Impact membership for a final vote.

The women of Impact of 100 Jersey Coast are looking forward to reviewing all the applications and to awarding four more grants to make a meaningful and lasting difference in their community, especially during such critical times. 

If you would like to learn more or submit your organization for a grant, visit us at https://www.impact100jerseycoast.org/. 

About Impact 100 Jersey Coast

Impact 100’s mission is to award membership-funded transformational grants to local nonprofit organizations while empowering women to improve lives through philanthropy. Since its founding in 2015, the organization has awarded more than $1.6 million to 14 local nonprofits. Learn more about Impact 100 Jersey Coast, its members and mission at Impact100JerseyCoast.org.

Andrea Verdone Gorsegner: Member in the Moment

Meet Impact 100 Jersey Coast Member Andrea Verdone Gorsegner

By Janet Mazur Cavano

Meet Andrea
Riding one’s exercise bike for 24 straight hours is an impressive feat, most would agree. Raising more than $85,000 for charity while doing so catapults this feat to another level entirely. Just ask Impact 100 Jersey Coast member Andrea Verdone Gorsegner, who recently accomplished exactly that when she clipped into her Peloton bike at 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday, and pedaled straight through 9:30 a.m. Sunday, stepping off only for brief bathroom breaks.

Spin 4 Kids

The result? Infinite Love’s “Spin 4 Kids” event netted $85,196.74  for Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, the non-profit (501(c)3) she founded in 2013 when her then two-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.  Since its inception, Infinite Love has raised $1.4 million, most of it targeted for research and the rest going directly to families with affected children. It is an entirely volunteer-run organization that helps families with “whatever they need.”

If you congratulate the 44-year-old  Middletown resident on her marathon achievement, however, she will emphatically point out that “Spin 4 Kids” was a communal effort. Long before she’d even sat on the bike, teams across the country had already pledged nearly $40,000. Additional funding came from corporate sponsors, Peloton community members who joined her for part of the ride, as well as donors watching the Livestream event on Facebook.

“My 24-hour ride did catch a lot of eyes, but in no way was I in this race alone,” she said.

Her family was equally supportive, particularly her two daughters, Natalie, now 11, cancer-free and leading a healthy life, and Hannah, 13.

Not only did they watch their favorite Marvel movies together, but Hannah, whom she describes as a “mother bear,” stayed awake all but 15 minutes of the 24 hours and acted as a trainer. She placed frozen towels around her mother’s neck, created a special playlist to put on only “when I really needed it,” and supplied water, snacks and pain relievers.  When Gorsegner’s knees began to ache, Hannah snipped the toes off a pair of compression socks and slid them over her biking shoes and up her legs for extra support. 

“She was my lifeline the entire time! I couldn’t have done it without her,” Gorsegner said.

Altogether, she pedaled 213 miles at a pace of between 7 and 14 miles per hour and burned 3,246 calories. She began her journey on a live Peloton ride with 200 other registered supporters sporting the hashtag #Spin4Kids before eventually switching to a ‘scenic ride.’

“All throughout the 24 hours, there would be at least 1 or 2 people riding with me,” she said. “People went way out of their way to ride with me, even in the wee hours.”

When Gorsenger felt weary or discouraged, she reminded herself of the many courageous children her organization helped, children battling a devastating illness and enduring far more pain and hardship than the aches incurred by a marathon ride. This, she said, kept her going.

As for her Impact 100 Jersey Coast involvement, Gorsegner joined in 2020, having initially learned of the group when multiple people suggested that Infinite Love apply for an Impact grant. Thinking that her group wouldn’t qualify, she never did.

But then, at an event at Bell Works last year, she was drawn to a table staffed by Impact volunteers. There, she recalled meeting Deirdre Spiropoulous, Impact’s president and co-founder, who “handed me a folder and said, ‘Take a look.’ “

She did and joined soon thereafter. 

“I love women helping other women, using our intelligence and hearts to make a difference. I am drawn by that alone,” Gorsegner said. “I just love being a part of Impact. It’s a great way for me to meet other women in our area – you never know who you might want to partner with.”

Serving on the Focus Area Committee (FAC) for Arts and Culture last summer, Gorsegner was struck by the group’s professionalism and efficiency, even as meetings were held virtually.

“The respect everyone had for everyone else’s opinion was impressive. Everyone had a voice and was heard. That is how I view women working together. It felt like a true democracy”

She points out that this is strikingly at odds with cultural depictions of women pitted against one another, ala “Mean Girls.”

 Her advice to anyone considering joining Impact 100  is simple. Think investment.

“It’s an investment in our community. We rise by lifting others. The stronger we can make our community, the better for us all. We are all on one path, on the same circle, and it all comes back to you. Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of that?” 

Meanwhile, it took Gorsenger nearly three weeks before she hopped back on her Peloton after Spin4Kids. ”It was hard mentally, though physically it was fine.”

She has already begun planning a similar event for next year. Learn more by visiting Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer or their Facebook group Infinite Love IN MOTION.

Have or know of a similar story? Share similar inspiring stories of your own efforts or other Impact 100 members here.