Hackensack Riverkeeper® Is Newest Member of Earth Share of NJ

 

Hackensack Riverkeeper® has been accepted as the newest member of Earth Share of New Jersey (ESNJ), the only workplace-giving program specifically benefiting the environment.

ESNJ offers New Jersey workers an easy, efficient way to protect the state’s natural resources. This fall, Earth Share of New Jersey will participate in more than 100 workplace-giving campaigns to raise money for 56 environmental nonprofits.

Earth Share of New Jersey was founded by New Jersey’s leading environmental groups to raise funds for member organizations through collaborative fundraising in workplace giving campaigns. Money is raised through payroll deduction programs in workplaces throughout the state. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent provided by law and can be made through payroll contributions at participating workplaces or directly to Earth Share of New Jersey. 

“Our organization has grown tremendously since its inception in 1994,” says ESNJ Executive Director Paula Aldarelli. “We are thrilled that Hackensack Riverkeeper has joined our ranks. They not only strengthen our roster of member organizations, but they bring great energy and vitality to the program.”

Earth Share of New Jersey annually certifies that its members operate with the highest ethical and professional standards and engage in active programs that protect our health, land, water, air and wildlife on local, national and global levels.

Workplace-giving campaigns enable employees to support nonprofit organizations through payroll deductions, allowing them to give their financial contribution over a period of time. Employee contributions provide a stable source of funding to the state’s environmental groups, ensuring their continued success and ability to directly address environmental, community, health and quality-of-life concerns.

ESNJ campaigns include the State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC), the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the Public Employees Charitable Campaign (PECC) for each county of the state, and numerous private campaigns with leading companies such as American Airlines, American Express, Sears, Phillips-Van Heusen, Prudential and PSE&G.

Employees who support Earth Share of New Jersey can label their payroll deduction contributions as either “Undesignated” or “Designated.” Undesignated contributions are distributed to all 56 members of Earth Share of New Jersey. Designated contributions target one organization specifically.

“You can contribute to Earth Share of New Jersey and specify that you’d like your entire contribution to go directly to Hackensack Riverkeeper,” explained Captain Bill Sheehan, executive director of Hackensack Riverkeeper.

In fact, for the first year of membership, organizations don’t share in the undesignated funds. Therefore, “if our supporters want Hackensack Riverkeeper to benefit from their payroll contributions, they must ‘designate’ us–or write our name in–on the enrollment form,” Sheehan pointed out.

Founded in 1994 as the Environmental Fund for New Jersey, ESNJ has dramatically increased its fundraising capacity in the last 10 years. Although ESNJ still maintains only one full-time employee, the organization has gone from raising $48,000 in year one to more than $223,000 in pledges during 2003 to protect our state’s natural resources. New Jerseyans have taken advantage of the convenience of ESNJ’s workplace giving programs, raising over $1.2 million statewide since the organization was founded.

ESNJ organizations range from local chapters of national organizations, such as the Clean Water Fund for New Jersey, the Nature Conservancy and the Surfriders Association, to homegrown organizations, such as the American Littoral Society, Monmouth Conservation Foundation and The Wetlands Institute. For a complete listing of ESNJ groups, visit www.earthsharenj.org.

For information about Earth Share of New Jersey and workplace-giving programs, please call Paula Aldarelli, executive director, at 609-989-1160. Please mention that you read about Earth Share in Hackensack Tidelines.