United Way of Morris County Events
Past Events
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From left: Joan May, DiAnne Arbour, and
Pam Fischer |
7th Annual Rise and Shine WLC Breakfast
October 22, 2004
Seventh Annual Rise & Shine Breakfast raises $10,000 for United Way of Morris County.
On October 22, the Women's Leadership Council welcomed Ruth Lewin of Randolph as the new volunteer chairwoman at their Seventh Annual Rise & Shine Breakfast at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park. Over 150 women were in attendance, from corporations such as Pfizer Inc and Novartis, small businesses such as the Worth Collection and Kairos Consulting, non-profits such as Head Start Community Program and the Morris Area Girl Scout Council, and the community-at-large. The event also raised $10,000 for United Way of Morris County's 2004-2005 campaign.
Over the next year, Lewin will lead the Women's Leadership Council's efforts to harness the power of women to effect positive change in the community by leveraging their skills, relationships, and resources in support of United Way of Morris County. The Women's Leadership Council holds several networking, fundraising, and service projects throughout the year.
About her experience with the Women's Leadership Council of United Way of Morris County, Lewin said, "United Way is an effective way to help our community. It's truly a team
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Women's Leadership Council Steering Committee: First row, from left: Pat Chase, Susan Levy-Cantor; and Ruth Lewin Second row, from left: Pam Small, Charlene Conroy, Maureen Weldon, Karen Creamer, Jane Kurek, Eileen Jankunis, Adrienne May, Pearl Westbrook, Robin Berg Tabakin, Karen Theriault, Joan May, Pam Fischer, and Brandi Robinson |
effort and reaches across organizations to understand community problems, set priorities, and to try to coordinate efforts to maximize each program's impact. A member of the Women's Leadership Council has the opportunity to do 'good' work while enjoying the company of the sassiest, brightest, and the nicest people I know. It's just fun."
Lewin was introduced to United Way through the urging of a friend who already was involved, and joined the organization's Women's Leadership Council. Lewin became even more involved by becoming a member of United Way's Action Team "Help for People in Crisis." In addition, Lewin donates services to United Way through her business, Sir Speedy, East Hanover, which she and her husband, Michael, have owned since 1983.
A graduate of New York University, Lewin earned her master's degree in library science from Columbia University and worked in the New York University library for several years before moving to New Jersey nearly 30 years ago. She and her husband reside in Randolph and have a son, daughter, and granddaughter.
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| From left: John Franklin, Laura Berman Fortgang, Pam Fischer, and Ruth Lewin |
Other highlights of the event included guest speaker Laura Berman Fortgang, one of the world's most prominent personal coaches and the best-selling author of "Living Your Best Life" and "Take Yourself to the Top: The Secrets of America's #1 Career Coach." Laura approached the group with: "Ladies, there's some changing that needs to be done." She challenged us to clean up the small stuff in our lives: "Everyone's best life is hovering over like a UFO. The problem is that it has no clean place to land." A clean life is a balance between "getting rid of what doesn't work and keeping what does."
Laura encouraged us to focus on our individual purpose - whatever that might be. The power of women comes from living our purpose. "When you know what your purpose is you get to succeed everyday."
John Franklin, United Way of Morris County's chief executive officer, talked about United Way's new initiatives and priorities, as they relate to affordable housing and poverty in Morris County. For example, last year in Morristown, United Way partnered with Calvary Baptist Church, Interfaith Council for Homeless Families, Habitat for Humanity, and other local organizations to renovate an abandoned house to create two apartments for working homeless families currently living in shelters.
Franklin also shared that over $11 million went unclaimed by Morris County residents in 2002 by not claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on their tax returns. The EITC is
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| From left: Karen Creamer and Della Crews |
available to many low-to-moderate income working families and individuals. United Way of Morris County has launched the Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Campaign to increase the number of low income working families claiming the Federal and New Jersey state Earned Income Tax Credit. United Way is working with First Call for Help, the Internal Revenue Service, NORWESCAP, New Jersey Department of Human Services, and local community-based organizations to spread the message about this important tax credit, which has brought more people out of poverty than any other federal program, including welfare.
For more information or to learn how to get involved with the Women's Leadership Council, email Amanda Boyadjis or phone 973.993.1160, x152.
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