BERGEN VOLUNTEER MEDICAL INITIATIVE
In November 2009, the Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (BVMI) opened its door as the only healthcare center to provide free primary care to working, low-income Bergen County residents who don’t have insurance. Their vision is to improve the health and well-being of the people they serve, reduce the use of hospital emergency services, and serve as a model of improving access to healthcare through volunteerism. BVMI aims to address the distinct needs of their patients through the Diabetes Care and Education Program, the Women’s Health Initiative and other chronic disease management programs. Today, BVMI has a dedicated team of 65 volunteer healthcare practitioners providing care to 1,000 patients annually.
Celebrating
50 years
of Empowering Individuals & Strengthening
Communities Through Community Action
Thursday, April 27, 2017 • 6:00pm to 9:00pm
The Terrace 299 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ
Join GBCA as we celebrate 50 years of empowering individuals and strengthening communities through Community Action. On this evening we will honor five exceptional organizations who have been our allies in the War on Poverty and share our unwavering commitment to provide individuals and families with resources that can help them take steps forward to a path of self-sufficiency.
Honorees
NORTHEAST JERSEY LEGAL SERVICES
The Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (NNJLS) came about in 2003 when legal services in the counties of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic merged to become one of the largest providers of free legal assistance in the state. Their mission is to ensure that access to the civil justice system is not denied to any resident simply because he or she cannot afford a private attorney. NNJLS is staffed with experienced attorneys who have, cumulatively, fifty years of experience in providing legal assistance to people in need, and they are dedicated to providing residents with the highest-quality legal services. NNJLS focuses on four core areas of civil law—housing, consumer, family and public benefits. They offer legal representation in court and before administrative agencies and other legal advocacy. They also provide community legal education regarding issues of concern to the low-income residents in their service area.
CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION
The Center for Food Action (CFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1967, which provides emergency services to northern New Jersey’s poorest and most vulnerable residents. CFA’s mission is to prevent hunger and homelessness and improve the lives of individuals and families living in poverty. CFA provides food, housing, utility and heating assistance and offers counseling and advocacy services to low-income individuals and families. In CFA’s first year 507 people received food; in 2015, CFA distributed more than 64,000 food packages to 17,000 different people. CFA has always relied on its volunteers to do much of the necessary work, and today the volunteers play a major role in its mission to end hunger and homelessness in our community. The accomplishments of the Center for Food Action over the past 40 years are the result of the many compassionate people in the community who support their efforts.
FAMILY PROMISE
Since 1986, Family Promise (formerly the Interreligious Fellowship for the Homeless) has played a pivotal role in serving thousands of Bergen County’s homeless, hungry, and needy families and individuals. The IRF became Family Promise in February 2010 and is dedicated to providing shelter and support to working families who become homeless. Family Promise’s mission is to provide hospitality to the homeless and to keep families together in times of crisis. Since 1991, The Family Promise Walk-In Dinner Program has provided dinner to approximately 150 people in the community every night. It is the only organization in Bergen County that provides services and support for working families who are experiencing temporary periods of homelessness. Family Promise is a national organization with 199 affiliates in 42 states.
Proceeds from the gala will benefit the programs and services of GBCA such as the Lois A. Braithwaite Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to deserving youths in Bergen County and the cities of Jersey City and Paterson. To buy tickets, ads or sponsorships
If you are unable to attend our event, we ask that you consider making a donation. Each year, our organization assists 50,000 individuals and families in the community with our programs and services, and without donations from individuals like you, this would not be possible.
Remember, contributions may be tax deductible, and your ticket purchase or sponsorship
will help us continue our work to provide a better tomorrow for those we serve.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
The Bergen County Workforce Development Board (Bergen WDB) is dedicated to supporting workforce and economic development by connecting Bergen County residents to jobs and ensuring that employers have the skilled workers they need to compete and prosper. Bergen WDB is a local, business-led Board of Directors composed of private and public-sector leaders from business, education, labor, community and faith-based organizations, and government. The Bergen WDB oversees the Bergen One-Stop Career Center and acts as a liaison between the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and local businesses to create opportunities for employers and Bergen County residents. The ultimate goal of the Bergen WDB is to get people re-employed in Bergen County through the resources of the public workforce system.