George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care, announced on Wednesday the first 29 Camden City-based nonprofits to receive grants from the first ever Camden City Community Grant Program.
Each grantee will receive $5,000 over the course of 18 months to fund community building projects that will help make Camden a “healthier place to live, work, learn and play” by addressing a wide range of needs that impact the health and welfare of the community.
Founding sponsors of the $1 million grant program include Conner Strong & Buckelew, American Water, The Michaels Organization, NFI and The Cooper Foundation.
“Camden-based companies investing in Camden-based nonprofit organizations reinforces the idea that we must all work together for Camden to continue its renaissance,” Norcross said. “I want to thank our founding sponsors for supporting this program and for valuing the essential services that these Camden community organizations provide to strengthen and enrich the lives of Camden residents.”
The goal of the grant program is to address social determinants of health by helping fund applicants which demonstrate a focus on one of the following community building activities: physical improvements and housing, economic development, community support, environmental improvements, leadership development and training for community members, coalition building, community health improvement advocacy, or workforce development.
“Congratulations to the outstanding grant recipients who are making positive contributions in our community each and every day,” Susan Bass Levin, CEO and president of The Cooper Foundation, said. “From summer enrichment programs to initiatives that address food insecurity, job readiness and access to cultural opportunities, we look forward to seeing how the grantees’ programs will enhance the lives of Camden residents.”
“Nonprofit organizations rely on grants and donations to fund the important work we do on the front-lines,” Yaniece Spencer, co-founder and executive director of Boys of Sustainable Strength Mentoring Inc. and one of the grant award recipients, said. “With this Camden City Community Grant, B.O.S.S. and other organizations will support new and innovative programs that change lives.”
Grant recipients include:
- The Heart of Camden;
- Cathedral Soup Kitchen;
- Center for Environmental Transformation;
- Joseph’s House of Camden;
- The Hispanic Family Center of Southern NJ Inc.;
- Boys of Sustainable Strength Inc.;
- Camden Day Nursery;
- Camden FireWorks;
- Center for Aquatic Sciences;
- Hope Community Outreach Services;
- I Dare to Care Association Inc.;
- Lanning Square West Residents Association;
- Mighty Writers;
- Morgan Village Circle Community Development Corp.;
- National Stop the Violence Alliance Inc.;
- Nazarene Community Development Foundation;
- Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society;
- South Camden Theatre Company Inc.;
- Your Education Consultants & Services;
- The Salvation Army – Camden Kroc Center;
- Volunteers of America Delaware Valley;
- Koinonia Family Life, Inc. d.b.a. Camden Dream Center Technology Training School;
- VietLead;
- Boys & Girls Club of Camden County;
- Cooper-Grant Neighborhood Association;
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church;
- Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey Inc.;
- Hopeworks;
- Puerto Rican Unity for Progress.
