 
About Us - In The News
Roots & Wings Review - Winter 2006
Mission Statement
Roots & Wings assists abused and neglected youth as they age out of the child welfare system and prepare to make the transition to independent living.
Message from the President
I write this message as yet another innocent child has become a victim. Nixzmary Brown’s death was a tragedy and it reminds us of the daily struggles faced by children in unstable homes and foster care. Despite these obstacles most survive, only to reach 18 and be confronted with the enormous responsibility of locating a place to live, gaining employment, and finding their next meal. The lack of fundamental life skills and large gaps in their education make this a daunting task. This is where Roots & Wings makes a difference in these teenagers’ lives by helping them turn their challenges into accomplishments. Roots & Wings is well positioned for growth. We need your help now more than ever. This year we have doubled the number of clients we support and strive to double again in 2006. Please take the time to read through this newsletter. There are many opportunities for you to help us reach our goal. Regardless of whether you support us with your time, money, or prayers, we gratefully thank you.
~Maria Baniel
Did you know?
Each year close to 25,000 kids age out of foster care in the USA.
Thank You
Our list of thanks is blessedly long at this time. There have been many generous donations of time, money and furnishings for our clients.
Special thanks to the Crescent Drive neighbors (Convent Station) who have generously offered furniture and computers for our clients. Thank you to the Kostyak, Long, D’Antonio and MacKenzie families.
The Mimbergs and Sally Harrison (Mt. Lakes) completely furnished a client’s apartment. The Padded Wagon (Rockaway) donated a 20 foot truck and 3 men to help move donated furniture to the apartment. William Morris painted the apartment and Painten’ Place in Denville donated the paint. The Rose and Best families helped get everything ready for the move. (See photo later in the newsletter).
Members of Weichert’s Corporate Sales office (Morris Plains) contributed baskets and bedding items for our new clients.
The Nite Owls of Mt. Lakes donated holiday baskets for all our clients. Our Lady of the Mountain Church (Long Valley) donated gift cards and the teenagers in the Peer Ministry Group donated holiday gifts, candy and stockings for the clients.
Drs. Lois and Dan Fermaglich (both prior board members) have generously donated use of office space for Roots & Wings and Ray and Joan Best donated office furniture.
“For it is in giving that we receive.”
Client Update
Two of our clients are continuing their programs at County College of Morris (CCM) as they work to develop their life skills and build the foundations necessary for completing their studies. We congratulate them on their success.
In our last issue, we highlighted another student that had recently passed a union trade exam. This individual has now gained employment through the union and is working with the mentor to develop a transition plan to find affordable housing.
DYFS Policy Change
In the past, foster kids signed themselves out of the system when they turned 18. Since they were no longer eligible for benefits there seemed to be no reason not to declare independence.
Now there is a reason for current foster kids NOT to sign themselves out of the program. New DYFS policy allows some financial support for kids even after they turn 18.
If you know someone in foster care or someone who works with foster care kids, encourage them NOT to sign away their rights to additional help.
Foster Care
New Jersey needs more foster parents. To learn more about Foster Care in NJ, see www.njfostercare.org. |
Client Growth
We’re growing!! More than ever, young adults leaving DYFS supported environments need a place to call home and caring adults to help show them the way.
Roots & Wings is proud to step up to the plate and we are accepting more clients this year than we’ve accepted in any previous year in our history. This is not without some trepidation as each new client requires mentors, client advocates and, (yes) funds to pay for a safe place for the client to call home.
One new client was moved into her apartment during the holidays. In addition, we have several additional prospective clients in various stages of assessment for acceptance into the program.
Your contribution and support make this possible. We thank you and our clients thank you.
Annual Appeal
The results of this year’s annual appeal have been heartwarming. We thank all of our generous donors. With new clients coming to ask our help, your donations are needed more than ever.
To those who lost track of our request during the holiday rush, we ask you to please consider a donation that you can credit to your 2006 tax filing. Donations may be sent to our new address. Please make a note for your records.
Roots & Wings
140 East Main Street
Denville, NJ 07834
More Thanks
There were many generous donations over recent months. We thank everyone and offer special recognition to:
IRENE & JOHN dEGRANDPRÉ
STEPHANIE & RUSSELL DEYOBEVERLY
JECKBONNY & JOHN O’MULLANE
MICHAEL & VERONICA SABLOFF
JOSEPH TRUNFIO
THE LEAVENS FOUNDATION
Can you help us?
This is a BIG item but we hope that someone who is upgrading their family car may consider passing along the “old one” to Roots & Wings to be given to a client. For the most part, our clients are enrolled in school and working part time. This requires transportation from home to school to job and back home. Without parents to “pass down the family car”, these young adults are limited in getting ahead by the lack of reliable transportation.
“Everything in life is somewhere else, and you need to get there in a car!” ~ E.B. White
Board Transitions
We are pleased to announce a new board member, Neisa Maute. Neisa has been involved with Roots & Wings since Irene deGrandpré founded the organization. The Daily Record recently highlighted Neisa’s volunteer work with us.
Neisa has volunteered with R&W as a mentor and she worked with two of our clients. In her new role on the board, Neisa will head the Client Affairs Committee. Welcome aboard Neisa.
We thank Terri Lathan who has served as our Recording Secretary. She is leaving us to accept new career responsibilities.
Ruth Airey Vidal has been part of the Client Affairs Committee since she joined the board in the spring of 2004. She has a great deal of client related experience and has agreed to take the responsibility of the Program Director’s position for an interim period.
As Program Director, Ruth will coordinate and manage all client related activities including the client advocates and mentors. She will also help to identify the skills needed for this position and help to hire the next Program Director.
Welcome
Please welcome Kim Sheppell as our new grant writer. Kim has a degree in Finance and comes to us with business, marketing, sales and technology expertise. She makes an energetic and professional addition to our team.
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The Clean Team - These youngsters gave up a full Saturday to help clean and organize an apartment to help ready it for a new client. From left to right: Carlie Rose(10), Victoria Rose (8), and Alaina Rose (5) and Paige Hartmann (10). Thanks girls! |
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Oktoberfest is Coming
Roots & Wings will host its 1st annual auction, at an Oktoberfest on Friday October 27th at The Villa at Mountain Lakes.
Please plan to join us for a fun evening that will include a silent and live auction, entertainment, and honored guests. It will feature local microbreweries. The auction committee is in full swing and is actively seeking corporate sponsorships for the event as well as items for the auction.
We want to include the participation of local vendors that our supporters typically patronize throughout the year. If you own a business or have access to item(s) that would be of interest to others, please consider a donation for our auctions.
Items that often generate the most interest include, (but are not limited to) the use of a vacation home; tickets to sporting events or theatre; "hot" electronic devices; hotel getaways; or fun gift baskets. As part of the event, we will publish an auction program. We urge you to consider placing an advertisement in it.
This is Roots & Wings’ primary 2006  fundraising event and it promises to be a great evening - we hope to see you there! To participate or request additional information, please contact Beth Moran 973 257-9550 / bethjmoran@hotmail.com.
Ideas that Work
We are often asked how individuals can help Roots & Wings achieve its mission. Here are some tried and true ideas.
Consider your skills and contacts. Feel free to call us to discuss how they may help us. We are currently looking for board members and volunteers with experience in fund raising, marketing, brochure development and design.
Do you see yourself as a mentor? With each new client, we need a fully trained mentor. United Way provides training. The commitment is generally at least one face-to-face meeting each week with the client.
Do you belong to a service organization that has speakers at their meetings? Introduce us to the proper person so we can tell your group about our work.
Having a party? Ask your guests to bring a donation for Roots & Wings in lieu of a hostess gift. This idea was a success for one of our supporters…both the party and the contribution to Roots & Wings.
And last year we highlighted two sisters who asked friends to make a donation to Roots & Wings rather than give them birthday gifts.
Do you have occasional free time? Call our number and ask us to add you to our volunteer list. Opportunities range in time and frequency so let us know what is right for you.
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Volunteers Needed
Are you interested in volunteer opportunities with Roots & Wings? We post our latest and most urgent needs on: volunteersolutions.org. www.volunteersolutions.org
Click on "More Search Options". Enter "07834" in the zip code field and "wings" in the keyword field. Click on "Go" on the bottom of the page. Call us if you are interested in any of the opportunities that are posted.
Board of Directors
Maria Baniel, President
Joan Best, Secretary
Beth Moran, Treasurer
Jay Bernstein M.D.
Jane Plaisted, Esq.
Neisa Maute
Ann Sundius Rose
MJ O’Leary
Diane Turner Valeri
Eileen Witkowski
Founder
Irene deGrandpré
Program Director
Ruth Airey Vidal
Client Advocates
Michele Failer
Rachel Vidal
Mentors
Elaine Condon
Bill Lovett
Bill Condon
Neisa Maute
Bonny O’Mullane
Advisory Board
Senator Anthony Bucco
Donna Theese
JoAnn Tsonton, CSW
Ariela Halfin, CSW
Walter Rosenfeld, M.D.
Maureen Passerini |
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Roots & Wings is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. |
©2007
Roots and Wings |
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