The deep-rooted tradition of charitable giving at Projects In Knowledge (www.projectsinknowledge.com) is kicking into a higher gear during the 2009 holiday season. Over the last few months, the company has launched several initiatives supporting a number of local, national, and global organizations, all aimed at providing seasonal cheer and assistance to those in need:
Shelter Our Sisters (www.shelteroursisters.org) assists women and children who are victims of domestic violence, providing emergency and transitional housing, emotional support, and a diversified continuum of services focused on safety, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. SOS compiles wish lists from the families in its care, and, as in previous years, the "Santa's helpers" at Projects In Knowledge sprang into action to make these wishes come true.
Heifer International (www.heifer.org) is dedicated to helping impoverished communities around the world become self-sufficient by providing them with livestock and other agricultural necessities, which they then share with other communities. Projects In Knowledge's staff opted to forgo their traditional holiday grab-bag gift exchange and donate that money to Heifer International instead.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey (www.njfoodbank.org) provides support to more than 1,600 agency programs and services that work to combat hunger and poverty, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, on-site residential programs, senior feeding programs, child-care centers, after-school programs, group homes, and summer camps. In lieu of a holiday staff party, Projects In Knowledge donated a portion of its catering budget to this worthy cause.
Friends of Wayne Animals (www.fowa.petfinder.com), a volunteer rescue, fostering, and adoption organization, works to ensure the humane treatment of homeless and abandoned dogs and cats in Wayne, New Jersey. FOWA also provides assistance to families who are enduring economic hardship, enabling them to avoid surrendering or abandoning their pets. In lieu of a holiday staff party, Projects In Knowledge donated a portion of its catering budget to FOWA.
Center for Food Action in New Jersey (www.cfanj.org) operates many programs aimed at preventing hunger and homelessness among poverty-stricken individuals and families in northern New Jersey, providing emergency food packages, rental and utility assistance, counseling, advocacy, and other essential services. In November, Projects In Knowledge staffers conducted a food drive and assembled Thanksgiving food baskets, including turkeys, for distribution to needy families through CFANJ.
Lee National Denim Day (www.denimday.com) works to increase breast cancer awareness and raise funds for the Women's Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which awards grants for breast cancer research. On LNDD, held in October, Projects In Knowledge staff members wore jeans to work in exchange for individual $5.00 donations. CEO and president Robert Stern generously matched the total staff donation, as he has done in each year of participation.
"For many people currently facing economic hardship, the holiday season is anything but joyful, and it becomes more important than ever to reach out and try to brighten the season for those who are less fortunate than ourselves," says Patty Peterson, CCMEP, senior vice president of Projects In Knowledge. "Our team members have been extremely enthusiastic about getting involved in our philanthropic efforts and lending their support year in and year out, which is truly heartwarming and not at all surprising."
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