E-Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 3
Roll with us on Casino Night!
Games, Prizes To Benefit Eva's Village
Come try your luck at our 4th Annual Casino Night on Friday, March 4, from 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm at Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, New Jersey. Tickets start at $150 and sponsorships, providing visibility for your brand or business, are also available.

Everyone's a winner on Casino Night! A wine tasting, hosted by Pasternak Wines, a selection of gourmet foods, and prizes complement a fun-filled evening. Test your skills at the Roulette and Black Jack tables, or reserve a spot at the High Rollers table for our Texas Hold 'Em Tournament. No matter what your game, your participation will support the mission and antipoverty programs of Eva's Village.
To learn more about sponsorship and admission levels, and to make your reservations, click here. Email Joey Mazza or call 973-5213-6220 x 235 for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!
Graduates express pride, hope and encouragement
The Culinary School Graduates Fifth Class
CS graduation 5th class Dec. 2015
In December, Eva's Village celebrated with the 5th class of graduates from The Culinary School at Eva's Village, who traded in their student beanies for chef hats and certificates of completion. Teachers, mentors, friends and family congratulated graduates and shared treats prepared by school instructors.

This class is notable not only for their achievements, but for being the second cohort in our partnership with Passaic County Community College and the Northeast Resiliency Consortium. The partnership provides supportive services and career guidance "to help our graduates navigate future pathways," noted
Executive Chef Director Darryl Dela Cruz. "Helping our graduates remain resilient in their goals is part of our mission," he added. 

Speakers at the graduation ceremony shared messages of pride, hope and encouragement with the audience. Listen to their voices:

"I felt like my future was doomed by my past, but I have learned that it isn't. It may sound cliche, but Eva's is where I found my hope and my second chance."
Samantha, Valedictorian,
Class of
July 2015,
The Culinary School at Eva's Village
 
"Today's graduates will take their place as alumni of our school - and join the success of more than 80% of our alumni - being employed in the food service industry!"
 
Marie Reger, Executive Director,
Eva's Village
On January 4, The Culinary School at Eva's Village welcomed 23 students to the 6th class session.

For more information about the program, email Kristina Micu
or call  973-523-6220 x 253.
Making a Difference
Volunteer Spotlight: Judy Siegel
Volunteer Judy Siegel (right) shares her business expertise with Anthony (left), a Halfway House client, who is participating in a Mock Job Fair, which is a key part of the Workforce Development Program at Eva's Village.
Job hunting can be daunting, even for those with a solid record of achievement and educational success. Clients in Eva's Village Halfway Houses must overcome even bigger challenges to find a job. Volunteers like Judy Siegel bring a lifetime of experience in the business world to help clients navigate this challenge.

Finding a job is a focus of the Halfway House program and a crucial stepping stone to self-sufficiency. "We help the clients develop the tools and self-confidence they need to be more effective at getting jobs," explained Judy. A retired pharmaceutical executive, she and the other volunteers meet with clients three times a week in the volunteer-led Workforce Development (WFD) program, working one-on-one with Halfway House residents. 
" I adore volunteering. It has been a gift to me. In the corporate world, reward was the lack of punishment and you never heard a heartfelt thank you. At Eva's I have been thanked from the heart many times."  

Judy Siegel, Workforce Development volunteer and Culinary School mentor.

Judy is joined each week by a more than a dozen volunteers with varied backgrounds. They
i ntroduce clients to the internet and email, and guide them to search and apply for jobs on-line. They also help clients develop resumes, lists of references, cover letters and thank you letters. Practicing interview and communication skills helps to prepare clients for bi-monthly Mock Job Fairs, when volunteers from local businesses conduct interviews and provide feedback.

Judy found her way to Eva's Village in 2013, looking to give back after retirement. She had participated in community service activities at Eva's Village for five years through her employer, Hoffmann-LaRoche. She found a good fit assisting with the WFD program and mentoring Culinary School students.

The WFD program seeks volunteers with an interest in working with this client population. Backgrounds are varied but include human resources, career development, hiring managers and business. Judy cautions, "They will need to bring a different perspective for this work. You don't know what anyone needs or where the path will lead." One thing Judy is sure of, is that her work with Eva's Village is worthwhile: "I had a rewarding corporate career, but volunteering at Eva's is one of the most rewarding things I've done. It's better than any paycheck in the world to reach someone and receive their thanks from the heart."
 
Eva's Village relies on volunteers!
To find out how you can volunteer to support our mission and programs email
Liz Matthews or call 973-523-6220 x 248. 
Give2Paterson makes an impact on #GivingTuesday 
Paterson Nonprofits Kick Off Giving Season
Our collaboration with Give2Paterson proved a success on #GivingTuesday. The gifts Eva's Village received on December 1 represent a threefold increase in donations compared to last year and kicked off our giving season. Holiday giving accounts for more than 40% of annual donations.

Eva's Village collaborated with six Paterson nonprofits in order to raise awareness of the vital services the group provides to our community and to promote year-end philanthropic giving. Participants also included CUMAC, Hamilton Partnership for Paterson, Oasis, New Jersey Community Development Corp., Paterson Habitat for Humanity and St. Paul's Community Development Corp. Together, the seven organizations reached more than 12,000 people on December 1, bringing in donations that topped $5,500.



"We accomplished our goal, raising significant donations and awareness of the many ways our local nonprofits are working together to strengthen our community." 
 
Heather Thompson, Director of Development, Eva's Village
We are grateful to all the groups and individuals who generously provided financial support to Eva's Village this giving season. Our heartfelt thanks also go out to all those who collected, donated, sorted and wrapped toys for our Holiday Shoppe and to those who donated and distributed warm clothing and personal items for our kitchen guests and shelter clients.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Behind the Seams
Fashion Show

L. Robert Keller Memorial Invitational Golf Tournament
May 23 - Join us for a tented runway show, reminiscent of New York's Fashion Week, featuring Sal Lauretta for Men and Boutique 811 at Bottagra Restaurant, Hawthorne, NJ.
June 27 - Save the date for this day-long event held at Canoe Brook Country Club in Short Hills, NJ. Join us for a cookout lunch, round of golf, cocktail reception and awards dinner.

For more information about sponsorship and reservations email Joey Mazza
or call 973-523-6220 x 235.

Eva's Village is a uniquely progressive and comprehensive non-profit social service organization dedicated to fighting homelessness and poverty. We rely on support from donors like you to provide vital services for men, women and children in need.
For more information visit www.evasvillage.org

Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
 Eva's Village | 393 Main Street, Paterson, New Jersey 07501 | 973-523-6220
donate@evasvillage.org | www.evasvillage.org