United Way of Morris County News
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NewBridge Graduates Largest Class
June 29, 2007

United Way of Morris County has partnered with NewBridge Services, Inc as a Member Agency since 2005.  NewBridge provides affordable and innovative behavioral health care services for clients and their families, from mental health and addiction counseling to senior citizen and youth counseling and support services.

United Way of Morris County salutes all the graduates of the very unique, and very effective NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS program. The NewBridge press release is below.  Well done, grads!

Largest Graduating Class Ever of Second-Chance Students
NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS Provides Employment, Education Opportunities to Young Adults

Pompton Plain, NJ – June 27, 2007 – Members of the largest-ever graduating class of NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS received their state-issued high school diplomas at the Class of 2007 commencement in Boonton, NJ.

 After dropping out of traditional high school, the associates found a way to achieve academic success through this program run by NewBridge Services, Inc., a nonprofit provid4er of behavioral health and education programs and services.

"Today young adults from Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties rose above enormous personal challenges to prove they have what it takes, not just to succeed, but to flourish,"said Robert L. Parker, Executive Director, NewBridge. "They have made the transformation from high school dropouts to college-bound, career-bound and success-bound leaders."

This year's graduates reside in Butler, Morristown, Vernon, Parsiappny, Hackettstown, East Hanover, Dover, Budd Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Hopatcong, Denville, Landing, Lincoln Park, Succasunna, Rockaway, Mine Hill, Randolph, Wharton, Kenvil, Stanhope, Roxbury, Florham Park, Lake Hiawatha and Pine Brook.

The keynote address was delivered by Kenneth Albiston, Assistant Director, Assistant Director of Asmissions at County College of Morris. A driving force in encouraging associates to continue their education, Albiston got to know many of the students throughout the year.

"Ken has connected so much with the young associates here at 70001. He gets to know what their dreams are in life, and makes them feel like they are cream of the crop," said Jill Worrall, Employment Service Coordinator, NewBridge. "He is a mentor who teaches people how to embrace education and make the most of it"

NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS provides Morris, Sussex and Warren county residents between the ages of 16 and 21 with an opportunity to receive their state-issued high school diplomas. This free program offers group and individual educational, job training and placement assistance, as well as free transportation in Morris county. Many of the young adults who participate in the NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS found difficulty assimilating in traditional schools and, in some cases, suffered from personal and social challenges, including drug or alcohol abuse, juvenile, delinquency, abuse, neglect, learning disabilities and teen pregnancy.

NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS receives funding from a number of sources including the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Morris County Office of Workforce Development, United Way of Morris County, Verizon, North Fork Bank and NewBridge Fund, as well as residents and businesspeople who believe in this program and its students. As budgets tighten and funding continues to shrink, NewBridge relies on contributions and grants to maintain this program, which is free of charge to participants.

For enrollment and donation information, contact Nina McCormack, Development Manager, NewBridge, at 973-839-2521, ext. 420.

About NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS
About NewBridge 70001 JOBS PLUS was established by NewBridge Services in 1983 to fill the growing need for educational alternatives for young adults, who, for one reason or another, were unable to attain a high school diploma. It is the longest running program of its kind in the area. The program provides young adults with the practical education and experience necessary to begin a successful career path. For information on this program, call toll-free (888) 746-9333.