Pictures from our 2005 Holiday Drive

In the months of November and December, United Way of Greater Mercer County conducted its annual Thanksgiving food and Holiday gift drives for those most in need. Through these efforts, area businesses, corporations, and individuals provided food and a variety of gifts for low-income children and their families throughout greater Mercer County.

Because of the challenging aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, donations to many local organizations were reduced, affecting toy drives in our area. United Way received requests from 18 community based organizations asking for assistance. United Way’s partnership with area businesses, organizations and individuals, provided gifts to 103 low-income families bringing a joyous holiday to over 900 children.

We would like to thank all the volunteers that made the holiday drives possible and recognize the following corporations and individuals for their contribution to this year’s appeal: Merrill Lynch; Saul Ewing Attorneys at Law; Banana Republic; Hopewell Country Day School; St. Georges Greek Orthodox Church; Johnson & Johnson; NEC Laboratories America, Inc.; GE Trading & Licensing; The Times; Bristol Myers Squibb; Windels, Marx, Lane, & Mittendorf; Elaine Moorin – Board Member; Deloitte & Touche; Homasote Company; The Delaware River Basin Commission; Hopewell Valley School Honor Society; and New Jersey Society of Public Accountants.

United Way of Greater Mercer County is a community-based organization that mobilizes local resources to meet the health and human care needs in greater Mercer County. It utilizes the collective power of people to work toward long-term solutions in five focus areas: Helping Children Succeed, Fostering Self-Sufficiency, Caring for Seniors and People with Disabilities, Accessing Healthcare, and Building Stronger Neighborhoods.



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Craig E. Lafferty

Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that 2005 has come and gone and we are now starting 2006. It seems that just yesterday we were talking about “Y2K”.

2005 was an exciting year for United Way of Greater Mercer County. We were able to accomplish a great deal with the help of the community. Early in the year, we joined forces with other United Ways around the state to deliver information and referral services seamlessly through the ease of dialing 2-1-1. In the spring, we were asked to begin helping military families who were facing financial hardships.

As we approached summer, we launched a new initiative with the Mercer County Department of Human Services and Interfaith Care Givers to help the elderly cope with the oppressive heat of June, July and August by creating the “Medi-Cool” program. More than 80 senior citizens in the county received window air conditioners to provide needed medical cooling.

In the late summer we turned our attention to children returning to school with the “Back to School” book-bag drive. And then just as the weather started to cool a bit, it was time to think about helping families with Thanksgiving and the December Holidays.

As if this was not enough, mother natured wreaked havoc on the southeastern part of America with three hurricanes of epic proportion. With your help we responded both locally and in the impacted states.

Throughout 2005, our investors have been with us. Giving so generously. Supporting us at each and every turn. Our volunteers have worked tirelessly to make sure we are meeting the ever changing needs of the community.Thank you for all you do and we are looking forward to doing more in 2006.

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Mike Conlan is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He began his affiliation with United Way in 1998 and he has served on a number of committees at United Way, including the Resource Investment Cabinet and the Strategic Planning Committee. Over the past seven years, Mike has lent his expertise to United Way by serving as Corporate Attorney to the Board of Trustees.

He is a Partner in the Litigation Department at Saul Ewing LLP in Princeton, and is a member of the firm’s Ethics Committee. Mike’s practice includes the handling of business disputes, real estate matters, guardianships, and trust/estate litigation.

Mike resides with his wife Katie, and their two daughters in Princeton, New Jersey. Katie is a teacher in the Hopewell Valley School District. Mike and Katie have made their charitable endeavors a joint effort. Katie has organized a Thanksgiving Food drive at her school for the past four years. Through her efforts, more than 30 Thanksgiving Food baskets were collected each year, complete with a frozen turkey and all the trimmings.

Mike has helped to organize efforts at Saul Ewing to collect funds for children’s toys during the December Holiday drive. Additionally, through United Way, Mike linked his law firm’s Pro Bono Initiative with the Mercer County Office of Veteran Services to provide free legal services to local military veterans in need of assistance securing services from the Veterans Administration.

Mike will assume the duties of Board Chairman in 2007. In the meantime, he is working with Board Chairman Gene Marsh to position United Way as the premier charity in greater Mercer County.

Left to right: Gene Marsh, Board Chairman and Mike Conlan, Vice Chairman

The Latino Vision Council of United Way of Greater Mercer County held its 2nd Annual Conference on Friday, November 4, 2005 at Better Beginnings Child Care Center in Hightstown, New Jersey. The conference focused on the present fundraising climate confronting community-based organizations and community leaders as philanthropy efforts become more challenging in the aftermath of 9/11 and now the 2005 hurricane season. Leaders from around the region gathered to hear the dynamic and well-known main speaker and leader Maria Vizcarrondo, President/CEO of United Way of Essex/West Hudson County. She is the first woman to head a Metro I United Way in New Jersey raising 10 million dollars or more. Ms. Vizcarrondo also served as the Surrogate of Essex County and was the founding Director of the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research, and Development (formerly The Office of Hispanic Affairs) at the Department of Community Affairs, Trenton, New Jersey. Under her leadership, the Center became the central repository for data on Latinos.

In the afternoon, two breakout sessions were equally interesting, with guest speakers Maria R. Juega, president of the Latin American Legal Defense Fund and Education Fund who spoke on “Telling Your Stories to Generate Interests & Partnerships,” and Rev. Dr. Lucy Guzman from Living Hope Alliance and Empowerment Center who spoke on “Leadership Styles: From Conflict to Collaboration.”

“The conference surpassed our expectations and energized leaders to develop a solid plan for better serving the Latino community of Mercer County,” said Ana I. Berdecia, Chair of the Latino Vision Council of United Way of Greater Mercer County.For more information on the Latino Vision Council visit www.uwgmc.org or call Elly Mateo at 609.637.4918.

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Each year, United Way of Greater Mercer County hosts a Leadership Giving Reception to recognize its investors. The purpose of the event is not only to thank our most generous and thoughtful investors, but to further cultivate our relationships with them, to educate them in the meaningful and powerful community impact work UWGMC is doing, and to engage them in helping to form community partnerships through their personal relationships and resources.

This year over 40 investors attended the United Way Leadership Giving Reception on October 27 at the Old Barracks Museum located in downtown Trenton. Investors enjoyed a glimpse into colonial America’s past by taking a tour of the Old Barracks given by docents dressed in period costumes. The Trenton Barracks, erected in 1758 at the expense of New Jersey’s own colonial assembly, is the only remaining military structure to stand as witness, not only to the American Revolution, but to the French and Indian War, defining events in the history of North America and the world at large.

Purchased in 1902 by a group of patriotic women, the Old Barracks was one of the first historic preservation efforts in the state, opening as a museum in 1903. The Old Barracks provided the perfect link to the generosity of generations of community minded people in greater Mercer County—From the women at the turn of the 20th century who wanted to preserve a piece of America’s past to the men and women of the 21st century working with United Way to improve the community today.

It was a crisp fall evening and the Old Barracks was beautifully decorated and lit by candles. Food and drink were plentiful and the company and camaraderie delightful. In all, the evening was successful in bringing together committed long time investors and new investors. If you are interested in learning more about the Leadership Giving Society or the Women United in Philanthropy Council please contact Carolee Kueller at 609.637.4902.

Like most Americans, we all tend to spend a little too much during the holiday season. The gifts, the extras, these all add up and could spell financial disaster. This winter, we face higher energy costs and winter did get off to an early snowy, cold start. If you find yourself wondering how you are going to make ends meet, help may be as close as your telephone – Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Central New Jersey can be reached by calling toll free to 888.379.0604 or locally at 609.586.2574. Located in Hamilton Township, Consumer Credit Counseling Services is a program of Family Guidance Center Corporation. The program also has a convenient website at www.cccscentralnj.com.

Here are some tips to help with the post-holiday blues:

• Good Sleep Hygiene. To prevent sleep disturbance problems attempt to go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time each day. If you find your mind is too active to sleep, get up and do something quiet and non-stimulating and try again.
  
  
• Exercise or Take Walks. Exercise can help you burn off your energy so you can sleep better at night and the sunlight may help those of you who have a problem with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Exercise in general will make you feel better, but weather permitting try to get it outside.
  
  
• Healthy Nutrition. During the dreary months of winter it's common to crave carbohydrates. It's OK to allow yourself some "goodies" - just don't go overboard. Knowing the physiological reasons why you are dying for that piece of chocolate cake might help your psychological mind understand you can't have one everyday.

For local help, dial 2-1-1 or 888.908.4636.