A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO & BOARD CHAIR
Dear Friends,
Although our nation continued to face economic instability in 2022, United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (UWMOC) remained focused on making a greater impact on our community. Regardless of the financial climate, we continued to offer initiatives to help with our residents’ most pressing concerns, as well as programs that facilitate long-term change.
Our mission is to bridge the gaps to education, financial stability and health for every person in our community. At UWMOC, we know that together we can accomplish more than we can alone. We currently have more than 80 community partnerships including local schools and nonprofits. Through these partnerships, thousands of our neighbors in need have received assistance, including donations of new children’s winter outerwear, personal hygiene items and senior comfort bags.
In this report, we invite you to learn more about our programs and successes over the past year, including how we connected youth to a diverse array of career options through hands-on vocational instruction, provided critical services and supports to those who are in financial crisis, distributed personal hygiene essentials to struggling families, and increased access to health services to promote the well-being of children in our community.
With the help of our volunteers, community partners, Leadership Givers and all of our supporters, we are proud of the impact we made on our community in 2022. Thanks to you, we will continue to move towards our vision of a community where everyone achieves their greatest potential through a quality education, income stability and healthy lives.
For those who lent their time, talent or resources to help UWMOC make a difference this past year, we want you to read this report with pride. For those who we assisted throughout the year, know that you are not alone. For those considering being a part of this critical work, we hope you’re compelled to join us.
To move forward, we must Live United.
Sincerely,
OUR MISSION
To bridge the gaps to education, financial stability and health for every person in our community.
OUR VISION
A community where everyone achieves their greatest potential through a quality education, income stability and healthy lives.
STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (UWMOC) seeks to engage the entire community in our work without regard to race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity and expression, ability, sexual orientation, veteran status, familial status or socio-economic status. That commitment is reflected in all aspects of United Way – including our staff, volunteers, partners and the communities we serve.
UWMOC’s mission and vision center on inclusion and equity. Our mission is to bridge the gaps to education, financial stability and health for every person in our community. We envision a community where everyone achieves their greatest potential through a quality education, income stability and healthy lives. We champion policies and programs that seek to remove the barriers and inequitable systems keeping our residents from accessing the services they need to be successful in life.
Our United Way is committed to embracing diversity, advocating for opportunity and advancement for all. We are dedicating ourselves and taking action to dismantle the policies and practices ingrained in our society that result in racial and economic injustice. To achieve equity, we must unite as a society and commit to systemic change.
UWMOC will continue to champion our core value of inclusivity across all sectors, bringing business, philanthropic, community and civic leaders together to permanently break the cycle of poverty.
Bridging the gap to a quality education for a brighter future.
Youth from low-income households do not have access to the same resources and supports as their middle and upper-income peers. Our education programs and partnerships provide much-needed support for unserved and underserved youth to help them continue to grow and thrive.
Youth Career Pathways
Youth Career Pathways exposes and connects youth to a diverse array of career options and fields, including hands-on learning opportunities with electric, woodworking and even plumbing. As part of our work in this initiative, we partnered with Toms River High School South to create Project SPEAR-IT – a pre-apprenticeship program for freshmen and sophomores that exposes them to vocational and technical careers. The project also helps students connect with Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools to further their education.
The culmination of the students’ learning experience for the 2021-2022 school year was demonstrated through a capstone project, where they put their skills to the test to build nine lifeguard stands for Ortley Beach. Students, administrators, board members, and representatives from United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties gathered at High School South in May 2022 in celebration of Project SPEAR-IT and to see the result of the students’ hard work.
“Partnering with United Way has been a dream for Toms River High School South,” said Superintendent Mike Citta, who championed the program as the high school’s former principal. “The support, resources and guidance that have been provided to our students and staff has been immeasurable. We have so much gratitude for United Way and their investment into our kids.”
Regional administrators, board members and students at
High School South in celebration of Project SPEAR-IT and
the completion of the lifeguard stand project for Ortley
Beach.
constructed by students in the Youth Career Pathways
program.
School-Based Resources
UWMOC works in collaboration with local schools to identify and address the unmet needs of youth and their families by providing and expanding access to critical community services and resources. This work is modeled after best-practice approaches, which show the linkage between schools and community services lead to improved access and outcomes for students. UWMOC is the community convener and resource mobilizer – bringing together the partners and services needed to meet the identified gaps in tandem with the existing efforts of the school partners and community organizations.
Our current work includes providing students with new coats and winter outerwear through our Warmest Wishes Coat Drive, providing students and their families with essential hygiene products through our Basic Needs Initiative, connecting families to needed social services through our Financial Success Center Network and NJ 2-1-1, and providing access to primary healthcare for students directly in schools through our School-Based Nurse Practitioner partnership.
Connecting people to the resources they need to become financially stable.
The economic crisis and rising rates of inflation continue to impact our community. According to the latest ALICE report, 37% of households in Monmouth and Ocean counties are struggling to make ends meet, and many that are looking for help for the first time don’t know where to turn.
Financial Success Center Network
Our Financial Success Center (FSC) Network provides a free, “one-stop shop” for all Monmouth and Ocean County households to access and connect with critical financial stability resources and supports; assisting people with their immediate concerns as well as their longer-term financial goals. People seeking assistance can connect with trained staff through a single phone number and e-mail. What sets the FSC Network apart from others is our ability to navigate the field of services and connect people to various agencies to fulfill their needs. By contacting us once, a client can receive seamless access to multiple partners without getting the runaround.
Access to transportation is a significant part of financial stability. Having safe, reliable transportation is essential for a household’s employment, ability to obtain services and overall quality of life. However, there are few resources that help with this crucial need. To help address this gap for our community, the FSC Network created a focus on transportation for 2022. A limited transportation program was piloted to assist people with their unmet transportation needs such as car repairs, payments and assistance with public transportation. UWMOC also partnered with New Jersey 2-1-1 and the Ride United program to provide a limited number of Lyft vouchers to community members who needed direct transportation to and from work and doctor’s appointments.
An Ocean County resident named Melissa* called the FSC Network looking for transportation assistance. Her household was experiencing financial instability due to her disability, loss of employment and her husband’s illness. We were able to give her a voucher for the Lyft program, which allowed her and her husband to get to doctor’s appointments and the local food pantry. About a month later, she contacted us again because her family had lost their apartment and needed housing. We were able to connect her with one of our community partners, where her family received emergency housing as well as food.
“I am so grateful for the services the Financial Success Center Network was able to offer,” said Melissa. “This has helped my family so much and saved us money, which has allowed us to keep up with other expenses including housing, medical bills and prescriptions.”
GIFT OF WARMTH
UWMOC partners with New Jersey Natural Gas for the Gift of Warmth program, which helps income-eligible households – as well as customers experiencing temporary or unanticipated financial hardship – pay their natural gas bills.
EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM (EFSP)
UWMOC manages and provides administrative support for both the Monmouth and Ocean County EFSP Board and program. This national initiative was created to help people with economic emergencies by providing funding to local organizations to address hunger and homelessness. Each year, the local independent boards select community organizations to receive funding for services such as food, shelter, rent/mortgage and utility assistance.
Linking our community to opportunities to build a healthy life.
UWMOC is working to enhance and expand health services by providing primary care access to youth and families in underserved communities.
School-Based Nurse Practitioner
Our School-Based Nurse Practitioner (SBNP) partnership places a nurse practitioner into schools in at-risk communities in order to directly provide students with healthcare. The bi-lingual SBNP works alongside the school nurse to provide primary care access to all students, prescribe and administer medications for acute episodic illness, conduct screenings and sports physicals, provide referrals to community resources, conduct health education for students, parents and families and teach management for chronic disease.
A new student at one of our partner schools went to the nurse’s office crying and complaining of pain in their right ear for several days. The child’s mother was contacted, who explained that she wasn’t able to get a doctor’s appointment but would take them to urgent care if necessary. The school nurse informed her of the services available through the School-Based Nurse Practitioner program, and she consented to have her child examined the next day. The nurse practitioner was able to diagnose the student with a middle ear infection, prescribe a course of antibiotics, and administer Ibuprofen as needed throughout the school day to help relieve the pain.
The student’s mom expressed great appreciation for the ability of the School-Based Nurse Practitioner program to provide care to her child onsite at school, with minimal time lost from being in school and her work day.
SINGLECARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAVINGS PROGRAM
UWMOC distributes prescription discount cards to local pharmacies, nonprofits and individuals to assist those who are uninsured or underinsured with medication costs.
Increasing access to essentials for youth, families and seniors in need.
Every day, many families struggling to make ends meet have to make difficult choices with their limited income. Not having enough funds to afford the basic necessities creates significant stress on households — both financially and emotionally.
Prices continue to increase on many basic essentials, and many personal hygiene products are not covered by government assistance such as SNAP (food stamps). Since its launch in November 2021, our Basic Needs Initiative has been tackling these issues by providing local families with a steady supply of personal hygiene products in order to relieve some of their financial burden.
Nearly 50% of senior citizens in our community fall below the poverty rate. With the strain of living on a limited income and the isolation that they often experience, our seniors need help now more than ever. Our Senior Comfort Bag project provides personal care and comfort items to our residents that need them the most.
We partner with local schools and nonprofits that have a pulse on the needs of our community to determine the demand for items and enlist the help of companies to acquire donations. Our annual Warmest Wishes Coat Drive gives local children brand-new coats, socks and winter outerwear to keep them warm throughout the winter and ready to learn in school.
United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties’ Volunteer Center recruits individuals, families, organizations and corporations and matches them with meaningful volunteer opportunities at local nonprofit agencies. We make volunteering easy, flexible and impactful for the individual while helping agencies meet their goals.
United Way can help companies meet their philanthropic goals and create opportunities to engage employees more deeply in their communities. As a corporate volunteer partner, organizations are able to demonstrate their investment in the community where their employees work and live. Their brand will be associated with a spirit of philanthropy, generosity and teamwork, and goals for corporate social responsibility can be aligned with specific aspects of United Way’s work.
GIVE YOUR TIME. SHARE YOUR TALENT.
Our Volunteer Portal is a free tool that makes it easy to connect volunteers to local organizations. Browse opportunities and register at uwmoc.org/volunteer.
UWMOC funds NJ 211, a statewide help line that connects callers to vital local and governmental services. With live assistance 24 hours a day, every day of the year, the program provides links to resources for food, housing, health care, childcare, job search assistance, financial assistance and more. NJ 211 also serves as the State Homeless Hotline and New Jersey's Utility Assistance Hotline. Their services are free, confidential and multilingual.
To learn more, dial 2-1-1 or visit nj211.org.
UWMOC is able to create real impact in our community thanks to collaborations with local nonprofits and schools.
These organizations have a pulse on the evolving needs of our residents, and we work together to bridge the gaps to goods and services that are identified.
180 Turning Lives Around
Affordable Housing Alliance
Asbury Park School District*
Barnegat School District*
Belmar School District*
Catholic Charities - Linkages
Catholic Charities - Ocean Community Services
Catholic Charities - Providence House
Child Care Resources of Monmouth County
Community Affairs and Resource Center
Community Outreach Group
Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program
Family Promise of Southern Ocean County
Freehold Area Open Door
Freehold Borough School District*
Fulfill
Highlands School District*
The Hope Center
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Ocean County
Interfaith Neighbors
Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Just Believe
Keansburg School District*
Keyport Public Schools*
Lakehurst School District*
Lakewood Community Services Corp.
Lakewood School District*
Long Branch School District*
Lunch Break
Matawan-Aberdeen School District*
Meals on Wheels of Ocean County
Mental Health Association of Monmouth County (MHAMC)
Mercy Center
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department
Monmouth County Workforce Development Board
Navicore Solutions
Neptune School District*
NJ 211 Partnership
O.C.E.A.N., Inc.
Ocean County Board of Social Services
Ocean's Harbor House
Red Bank School District*
Salvation Army - Asbury Park
Salvation Army - Red Bank
Seaside Heights School District*
St. Francis Community Center
St. Vincent De Paul, St. John Conference
St. Vincent De Paul, St. Mary Conference
Toms River Regional Schools*
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey
*May include multiple schools within the district
Founded in 1984, the United Way Tocqueville Society is an opportunity for passionate individuals to become more deeply involved in United Way’s mission. The Society is one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for those who are dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities.
TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY GIVING LEVELS
La Table Ronde de Millions de Dollars - $1,000,000 or more
Ordre de Prospérité - $750,000 - $999,999
Ordre de Connaissance - $500,000 - $749,999
Ordre d’Indépendance - $250,000 - $499,999
La Société Nationale - $100,000 - $249,999
Ordre de Fraternité - $75,000 - $99,999
Ordre de Egalité - $50,000 - $74,999
Ordre de Liberté - $25,000 - $49,999
Ordre de Consul - $15,000 - $24,999
Membre de la Société - $10,000 - $14,999
2022 TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY MEMBERS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2022
La Société Nationale
Joan Rechnitz
Ordre de Consul
Donald & Janet Cowan
Carol Stillwell
Susan Whyman
Membre de la Société
Anonymous
Nancy E Eriksen
David & Sarah Fischell
Stanley & Yvette Harmon
Henry Hong
Robert & Phyllis Rosone
Members of the Leadership Giving Society inspire others to join them in providing hope and opportunities to individuals in need. Members are made up of community and business leaders who are committed to creating action and bringing together the expertise and resources that produce results.
LEADERSHIP GIVING SOCIETY GIVING LEVELS
Platinum Leaders - $7,500 - $9,999
Gold Leaders - $5,000 - $7,499
Silver Leaders - $2,500 - $4,999
Bronze Leaders - $1,000 - $2,499
2022 LEADERSHIP GIVING SOCIETY MEMBERS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2022
GOLD LEADERS
Linda Boyarin
Brian Foster
James R. Gualt
Betty Ann R. Halleran
Thomas Hayes
Anthony Lombardi
C. Roberts Mulloy
SILVER LEADERS
Joseph L. Arena
Frederick & Joan Bliss
Luke Bollerman
Scott & Janet Garley
Russell Gartz
Ryan Gillaspie
Timothy Maguire
Carmen Maietta
Brian & Mary Massey
Lori-Anne McLane
Phil Pallis
Phil & Marilyn Perricone
The Pignataro Family
Elizabeth Von Ziegesar
Harvey York
John Zammetti
BRONZE LEADERS
Thomas Ando
Dean Baldwin
John A. Binko
Joseph Bonacci
Colleen Bronzino
Bernard Destafney
Chris Dieterich
Ann P. Ferguson
Robert J. Ferguson
Stuart S. Flamberg
Edward P. Frable
Laura Frank
Jonathan Garsman
Sonia Grant
Magna S. Hadley
Patricia Harvey-Elphick
Ron Importico
David Indursky
William & Patricia Jaeger
Nicholas Jasinski
Manuel & Julia Jimenez
Cheryl Kearns
William McClung Jr.
Gerald Metz
Richard Mulvey
Kenneth & Ann Nahum
Anthony Panzica
Richard Perez
David Russell
Rose Ann Slawson
Steven Wessels
Ronald Weir
David C. Wintrode
Corporate philanthropy helps support communities where companies are based and fosters employee engagement. We thank the following organizations for championing employee campaigns and corporate contributions to our crucial work in education, financial stability and health.
$100,000 - $1,000,000
Costco
New Jersey Resources
Small Business Association
UPS
$25,000 - $99,999
AT&T
Cg Tax, Audit and Advisory
County of Monmouth
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
$10,000 - $24,999
Beazley Group
Causeway Family of Dealerships
Comcast
County of Ocean
The D'Onofrio Foundation
Deloitte
Exelon Corporation
Hackensack Meridian Health Corp.
Jersey Central Power & Light
Mary Owen Borden Memorial Foundation
New Jersey Economic Development
New Jersey State Employees Charitable Campaign
PNC Financial Services Group
TD Bank
$1,000 - $9,999
Acadia Dental Care
American Elevator
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Ameriprise Financial
Anabel Foundation
Benco Dental Supply Company
Bil-Jim Construction
BMO Financial Corp.
Bristol-Myers Squibb
The Brunetti Foundation
CDI Holtec
Community Foundation of South Jersey
DuPont Global Headquarters
Eat Clean Bro
Federal Express
Fleury Winery
Forest Electric
Giordano, Halleran and Ciesla
Gordon Terminal Service Co.
Grunin Foundation
Horizon Blue Cross & Blue Shield
IBM
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
Investors Bank
Investors Foundation
J.F. Kiely Construction Co.
JCPenney
Johnson & Johnson
JWG Fine Wine & Spirits, Inc.
Kohl's
Lomurro Law
LoPresti State Farm Agency
Nationwide
New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co.
Ocean Wine & Spirits, Inc.
OceanFirst Bank
OceanFirst Foundation
Open Systems Integrators, Inc.
The Parola Charitable Giving Fund
Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Premier Arts Dental
Principal Financial Group
ProCare Rehabilitation
Raymond James Financial
RBC Capital Markets
Relevance Behavioral Health
Ron Jon Surf Shop
Selective Insurance Company of America
Shore Point Distributing Co., Inc.
Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP
Target Corporation
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Tito's Handmade Vodka
Traffic Plan
UMH Sales and Finance, Inc.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee
United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
UnitedHealth Group
Verizon Foundation
Visiting Nurse Association Health Group
Webster Bank
Woolley Funeral Home
World Subaru
Thank you to the 170 organizations that contributed under $1,000 to help bridge the gaps to education, financial stability and health in our community!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Robert Rosone || Chair || Deloitte LLP
Eric Lubin || Vice Chair || Lomurro Law
Nancy Eriksen || Secretary || TD Bank
Donald Cowan || Treasurer || Cg Tax, Audit and Advisory
Tom Ando || OceanFirst Bank
Luke Bollerman || Bollerman Companies
Sandy Broughton || Investors Bank
Laura Frank || Hackensack Meridian Health
Scott Garley || Community Representative
Sonia Grant || TD Bank
Thomas Hayes || New Jersey Natural Gas
Henry Hong || Enterprise Holdings
Jan Kirsten || Ocean County College
Gabriel Lavigne || UBS Financial Services
Douglas Powell || Encompass Health Rehabilitation
John Zammetti || Wegmans
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Joseph Bonacci || Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Kelly Fliller || Grunin Foundation
Kenneth Greco || Community Representative
Tahj Holden || J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Gwen Love || Lunch Break
Christopher Lutick || UPS
Dom Santamaria || Colossus Media Group
Carol Stillwell || Stillwell-Hansen, Inc.
STAFF MEMBERS
Lori-Anne McLane || President & CEO
Quinnetta Anderson || Director of Engagement
Heather Berger || Interim Bookkeeper
Jennifer Hakim || Community Impact Manager
Patti Harvey-Elphick || Vice President of Engagement
Christine Jagerburger || Vice President of Community Impact
Bill Kelly || Engagement Manager
Kaarina Romero || Director of Marketing and Communications
Jennifer Santore || Interim Controller
Listing is as of December 31, 2022