Holman Toyota,

I want to personally thank you for your donation of a Hole-in-One car in support of the CONTACT Golf classic. Contributions such as yours enables our center to raise the funds needed to continue providing 24/7 crisis helpline services free of charge to the people of Burlington County. On behalf of the thousands of anonymous callers who call CONTACT, and who will benefit from your generosity, my thanks and appreciation for your continuing support.

Sincerely, Theresa Tobey - Executive Director

Holman Automotive along with Holman Toyota is happy to report that through the great pitching from Cliff Lee, CADEkids charity will receive $37,050! Congratulations to Cliff Lee and the Phillies for an exciting year of baseball. We congratulate you on clinching your fifth straight division title.

United Way of Burlington County

Nonprofit aims to help city youth in more ways

By DEBORAH HIRSCH
Courier-Post Staff

More than two decades ago, a faith-based nonprofit called UrbanPromise opened a small summer camp in Camden. Over 22 years, the ministry grew to include private K-12 schools, job training, outdoor clubs and a host of other recreational and educational programs -- all free or heavily subsidized for Camden youth. Now, the organization is hoping to expand even more by soliciting help from South Jersey businesses. The "Make A Promise. Keep A Promise" campaign launched last week aims to raise $2 million in corporate sponsorship over the next three years and encourage suburban employees to volunteer in mentoring programs. Frank Beideman, vice president of resource development for the Pennsauken-based Holman Automotive Group, is spearheading the initiative. On Thursday, he presented it to 46 auto outfitters, lawyers, construction company owners and other business leaders gathered at one of his company's car dealerships in Mount Laurel. Beideman said he was eager to support the ministry because he's seen firsthand how it helps Camden children succeed. His family began mentoring high school students in an UrbanPromise lunch club five years ago. "All the revenue that is generated really goes to the kids of Camden," Beideman said. "We really think that's a great cause."About 500 children ages 5 to 18 participate in UrbanPromise programs during the school year, and more during the summer, said president Bruce Main. UrbanPromise teens graduate at twice the rate of their public school counterparts and 95 percent of them attend college, he said. Recently, the ministry trained interns from around the world to run affiliated programs in Malawi and Honduras. UrbanPromise branches also have opened in Wilmington, Del.; Toronto and Vancouver. "Besides the local impact, what we're trying to do is identify young entrepreneurs that have a heart for Christian youth development," Main explained. Right now, 80 percent of UrbanPromise's $3.2 million annual budget comes from individual donations, Main said. Corporate giving made up less than 8 percent, or under $300,000, last year, he said. Additional donations would allow them to ensure that programs that cost a lot to run, such as summer part-time jobs, can continue operating and possibly expand, he said. Albert Vega, who oversees one of the organization's six sites throughout the city, said there are thousands more children in Camden that the ministry has yet to reach. He's praying for funding to renovate the rundown East Camden building where he supervises after-school programs, which would open up a large multipurpose room that's been off limits because of safety concerns. On Friday, fifth-graders careened around a dim downstairs classroom, pumped up for a special pizza party. Basketballs thudding on the gym floor above added to the racket. "Every day I get kids asking if they can come to the program but I've got to turn them down because of space or finances," Vega said. Vega, 24, grew up along with the ministry. The North Camden native began attending UrbanPromise summer camps at age six, participated in its newly minted after-school programs and later was hired to work as a camp counselor and tutor. During high school, he took college test prep courses through the agency and went on a weeklong bus tour of 25 universities along the East Coast. "They gave me a view that the world is a lot bigger than just Camden," he said. "It was a ministry of encouragement." He came back to work for UrbanPromise full-time after graduating from Eastern University. Now, he said, he's the encouragement, the proof, that Camden kids can go on to attend college and get good jobs. Beideman said he's already heard from five people interested in serving on a committee to lay out strategies for building corporate partnerships. In addition to financial contributions, Beideman said the committee will encourage local businesses to get involved with UrbanPromise in other ways, perhaps by volunteering directly or offering internships to the youth. "Even though the economy's bad, there's a tremendous amount of kindness in this area," he said. "If we can show and convince the businesspeople in this area what UrbanPromise does with the kids in the area, I think it's a slam dunk." Bill Emerson, co-owner of Emerson Personnel Group, a staffing and recruiting company in Cherry Hill, said Thursday's presentation hit home. He plans to join the committee. "You don't realize what these children in Camden are going through," Emerson said. "Then you see the kids who've gone through the UrbanPromise program and how successful they are now. It was just a great story. You couldn't help but walk out of there saying, "How can I help?' "

To Our Friends at Holman ToyotaToyota:

On behalf of Kids Alley and the Kids Alley Learning Center, I would like to thank you for participating in United Way’s Thursday and Friday Day of Caring! Your warm and caring hearts helped Kids Alley to organize supplies, paint rooms, and clean work areas for our after-school program, the Kids Alley Learning Center! Additionally, your drive, determination, and expertise resulted in countless emergency lights, fire exit signs, cabinets and doors being repaired. Not only did everyone accomplish many tasks, you also executed everything with poise, tact, and excellence! Kids Alley and Kids Alley Learning Center are truly blessed to have your masterful hands contributing to our program.

With your support, Kids Alley is able to continue its mission of empowering and embracing children. The children’s positive experience at the Kids Alley Learning Center further encourages them in their lives at school, at home, in their neighborhoods, and in their future!

Best wishes in all your future endeavors! We look forward to working with you again!

Sincerely,

Vivian Tan

Director, Kids Alley

Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey 

On behalf of the Board of Trustees for the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey, we would like to thank you for your participation in our Annual Touch a Truck event that was held on Saturday, August 15th. We truly appreciate your support. Special thanks to everyone that brought a vehicle, our wonderful volunteers and anyone that was able to make a contribution.

The day was a huge success! With your help, we were able to raise $20000 to help the families of ill children as well as offer great opportunity for families to enjoy a day together. Everyone was able to enjoy climbing on many different trucks, playing games, a ride on the fire truck and of course some treats like ice cream, hotdogs and ice cold lemonade.

In addition to everything else that was going on - we also hosted our First Annual Truck Pull. Teams of ten competed against one another to see who could pull a hefty tractor trailer the fastest. All of our teams did great but the NFI Industries stone the show with their team finishing first! Thank you to everyone that competed and helped to make this years' event our most successful yet.

Sincerely,

Ann D. Thomas, Executive Director and Dorothy Lucca, Event Coordinator 

American Heart Association

"On behalf of the American Heart Association, I would like to express a heartfelt "Thank You" for your support of the 2008 Southern New Jersey Heart Walk by lending us a beautiful Red Car.  Thousands of participants were excited about the scenic and refreshing two plus mile walking path overlooking the Philadelphia Skyline. The American Heart Association relies solely on volunteers to fulfill its mission. Heart disease and stroke are our nation's number 1 and number 3 causes of death, claiming the lives of more than 930,000 Americans each year. Your contributions will play a critical role in our mission to decrease the incidence of death and disability caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The money that was raised at the walk will go toward research projects and educational programs that support this goal. We appreciate your community spirit and continued support of the American Heart Association's activities and programs."

Kimberly Minton, Regional Director Southern New Jersey

Alexa's Butterfly Friends 

The mission of the Alexa Nawrocki Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Inc. is to help families who are dealing with pediatric cancer.  The Foundation is committed to offering caring support and monetary assistance.  At the same time, the Foundation would also like to bring happiness to children who are struggling with cancer.

Philabundance