Community Corner

County Partners with 7 Nonprofits

Participants will receive reduced admission to zoo, arena, miniGOLF

Essex County is giving back to the community in more ways than one this year. Officials announced Thursday the county will partner with seven nonprofit organizations to promote their upcoming events around Essex County.

"There are 800,000 residents that live in this county that need to know what these organizations do," Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. "Guaranteed in your lifetime, you're going to need the support of one of these organizations."

The nonprofits include: the Northern New Jersey Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Give the Kids Hope Foundation, Inc., The Valerie Fund, The Rachel Foundation, The March of Dimes, the National MS Society and the American Heart Association.

DiVincenzo said he will work to raise money and awareness for each of the organizations and even participate in each of the events.

Alan Abramowitz, director of human resources for Essex County, said county employees have raised more than $200,000 in the past 10 years for the charitable groups and participate in the events every year.

"These organizations are there for us … we show up rain or shine," Abramowitz said.

For every resident that participates in any of the organizations' events, they will receive a $5 reduced admission to the attractions at the South Mountain Recreation Complex, DiVincenzo announced.

The March of Dimes that has lately shifted its attention to working with premature babies, will host a March for Babies April 29 at Brookdale Park. Board chairman Ken Lieberman said one in seven babies are born premature in New Jersey and one in six are born premature in Newark.

Susan G. Komen will hosts its 5th Race for Cure in Essex County at the South Mountain Recreation Complex on May 6. "We work everyday to save lives," founder Deborah Belfato said. "We are devoted. We walk the walk, we run the run."

Give the Kids Hope Foundation will host their third annual golf tournament May 14 at the Essex County Country Club. Founder Steve Tilton said the two-year-old organization works with underprivileged children.

The Rachel Coalition's Run for Rachel is scheduled for May 20 at the Livingston Memorial Oval. Founder Lisa Lindauer said the organization was created in 1997 by groups in New Jersey around issues of domestic violence.

The Valerie Fund Walk and JAG Physical Therapy 5K Run will take place June 9 at Verona Park. The organization began to create out-patient centers for children with cancer in New Jersey, according to director Barry Kirschner.

The National MS Society will have their MuckRuckus MS Northeast 2012 August 18 at the South Mountain Reservation. "We have found a home for one of our newest events," said Jim Roberts, representing the society. "We're getting dirty for the cause with military style obstacles."

The American Heart Association Heart Walk will take place in mid-October.


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