Fanwood - Scotch Plains Service League in the News.....
Spring, 2015 - Service League Awards Grants, Scholarships
The Fanwood-Scotch Plains Service League completed its 2014-2015 fiscal year with the distribution of $42,000 in grants and scholarships.
After reviewing detailed applications from area organizations, League members approved grants to the following groups for their specific needs: Center for Hope (hospice), Children’s Specialized Hospital, Contact We Care Inc. (crisis hotline), Fanwood Arts Council (for special events), Fanwood Library, Fanwood Rescue Squad, Fanwood-Scotch Plains Girl Scouts, Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA, Flintlocks-BSA (senior BSA volunteers), Historical Society of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Homefirst (homeless services), Imagine (grief support), Literacy Volunteers of Union County, Inc., Master Gardeners of Union County, Mobile Meals of Westfield, Resolve Community Counseling Center, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Preschool Program (scholarships), Scotch Plains Library, Scotch Plains Rescue Squad, Trailside Nature & Science Center, and the YWCA of Eastern Union County (women's shelter).
After reviewing detailed applications from area organizations, League members approved grants to the following groups for their specific needs: Center for Hope (hospice), Children’s Specialized Hospital, Contact We Care Inc. (crisis hotline), Fanwood Arts Council (for special events), Fanwood Library, Fanwood Rescue Squad, Fanwood-Scotch Plains Girl Scouts, Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA, Flintlocks-BSA (senior BSA volunteers), Historical Society of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Homefirst (homeless services), Imagine (grief support), Literacy Volunteers of Union County, Inc., Master Gardeners of Union County, Mobile Meals of Westfield, Resolve Community Counseling Center, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Preschool Program (scholarships), Scotch Plains Library, Scotch Plains Rescue Squad, Trailside Nature & Science Center, and the YWCA of Eastern Union County (women's shelter).
In addition, the Service League awarded four scholarships totaling $12,000 to local residents. Scholarship recipients were selected with particular emphasis on their demonstrated commitment to volunteerism and community service while in high school or college.
Left to right in the photo are 2015 scholarship winners Christopher Stone, Jessica Luong, and Elizabeth LaMorte-Wright with Service League Scholarship Chairman Barbara Rappaport at recent award ceremonies at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Scholarship recipient Johathan Miksis was unable to attend. |
Elizabeth is a 2015 graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and will attend Rutgers, New Brunswick majoring in English. Her volunteerism included President of the Interact Club, managing and coordinating all of the school's events and projects, Set Her Free, Beads of Hope, worked in conjunction with the Rotary Club, and one of the youngest Sunday school teachers at St. Bartholomew's Church.
Jessica is a 2015 graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and will also attend Rutgers, New Brunswick, majoring in Physician Assistant studies. Her volunteerism included managing summer reading events, and a book club for second and third graders at the Fanwood Memorial Library, and El Centro Hispano Americano where she assisted teaching English as a Second Language.
Christopher will be entering his Junior year at High Point University, NC. majoring in Business Administration. He served as Philanthropy Chairman for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Chairman of the Executive Board American Cancer Society Relay for Life. This summer he has an internship with the Foundation for Free Enterprise (FFFE), Paramus, NJ, devoted to inspiring and educating young people the principles of free enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Jonathan will be entering his Junior year at Boston College, MA, majoring in Psychology. He served as EMT Crew Chief for Boston College. When home he serves as an EMT on the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad.
Jessica is a 2015 graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and will also attend Rutgers, New Brunswick, majoring in Physician Assistant studies. Her volunteerism included managing summer reading events, and a book club for second and third graders at the Fanwood Memorial Library, and El Centro Hispano Americano where she assisted teaching English as a Second Language.
Christopher will be entering his Junior year at High Point University, NC. majoring in Business Administration. He served as Philanthropy Chairman for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Chairman of the Executive Board American Cancer Society Relay for Life. This summer he has an internship with the Foundation for Free Enterprise (FFFE), Paramus, NJ, devoted to inspiring and educating young people the principles of free enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Jonathan will be entering his Junior year at Boston College, MA, majoring in Psychology. He served as EMT Crew Chief for Boston College. When home he serves as an EMT on the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad.
Service League Named F-SP Rotary 2014 Volunteer Organization of the Year
The Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Club honored the Service League as their 2014 Volunteer Organization of the Year. Many members of the League are shown here at a June, 2014, luncheon at the Stage House Restaurant in Scotch Plains where they received an award plaque recognizing their 40+ years of service to the communities.
Service League Members Are ExxonMobil VIPs
Two members of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Service League have been recognized for their volunteer efforts through the ExxonMobil Foundation’s “Volunteer Involvement Program.” Service League members Helen Surridge, left, an Exxon retiree, and Marion Herrmann, right, wife of Exxon retiree John Herrmann, have each earned several cash grants through the “VIP” program. The program seeks to encourage Exxon employees, retirees, and their families to volunteer in the community on an individual basis. These multiple $500 grants are made directly to non-profit organizations such as the Service League when the Exxon “VIPs” have volunteered at least 20 hours of their time to the organization.
Mrs. Surridge, who has been a Service League member for 13 years, and Mrs. Herrmann, an 9-year member, each work a morning or afternoon shift at the Thrift Shop every week throughout the year and on occasional Saturdays. They and 48 other League volunteers process and price donations, display and manage merchandise, assist customers, and join together annually to determine how the shop’s proceeds will be allocated for local organizations and scholarships. Mrs. Surridge has also served in recent years as the Service League president and has been a regular member of the Membership Committee. Through the individual efforts of these dedicated volunteers, the Service League has received considerable funds from Exxon that have gone, in turn, to benefit local and area service organizations.
Mrs. Surridge, who has been a Service League member for 13 years, and Mrs. Herrmann, an 9-year member, each work a morning or afternoon shift at the Thrift Shop every week throughout the year and on occasional Saturdays. They and 48 other League volunteers process and price donations, display and manage merchandise, assist customers, and join together annually to determine how the shop’s proceeds will be allocated for local organizations and scholarships. Mrs. Surridge has also served in recent years as the Service League president and has been a regular member of the Membership Committee. Through the individual efforts of these dedicated volunteers, the Service League has received considerable funds from Exxon that have gone, in turn, to benefit local and area service organizations.