Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County Honors 2012 Shining Lights at Annual Dinner

March 6, 2012 - PRLog -- On the evening of Thursday, February 9, 2012, Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County (formerly Interfaith Caregivers Trenton), a nonprofit organization serving homebound elderly and people with disabilities, honored Bristol-Myers Squibb, Deacon Ollie L. Green of Shiloh Baptist Church and Rosa Spera, owner of Rosa’s Ristorante & Catering in Hamilton. The three honorees, who give so much to the community, were recognized as “Shining Lights” in front of an audience of more than 100 people, including several community leaders and elected officials.

ICGMC also recognized the corporate, foundation and government supporters that, together, provided more than $200,000 in grants last year toward its caregiving services to homebound senior citizens and people with disabilities. Among its primary funders were the Department of State -- NJ Office of Faith Based Initiatives; Mercer County Office on Aging; City of Trenton; the United Way of Greater Mercer County; Princeton Area Community Foundation; Concordia Foundation; Bristol-Myers Squibb; F.I.S.H. Foundation, Inc.; Curtis W. McGraw Foundation; Janssen Foundation; Danellie Foundation; Karma Foundation; Roma Bank Foundation; Mary G. Roebling Foundation; Fred C. Rummel Foundation; Lawrence Township Community Foundation; the Catholic Campaign for Human Development; Rose & Louis H. Linowitz Charitable Foundation; Wallerstein Foundation; the Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund; David Mathey Foundation; Baus Foundation Trust; the Harold Wetterberg Foundation; Dumont & Blake Investment Advisors, Inc.; Hopewell Valley Vineyards; New Jersey Manufacturers; Stark and Stark; Hercman Properties; and Educational Testing Service (ETS). In addition, more than 200 individuals made donations to the organization last year.

“Community support is vital to our ability to provide the basic caregiving services that increasing numbers of elderly and disabled Mercer residents rely on each day,” says Sarah A. Thoma, Executive Director. “Our annual Shining Lights event allows us to recognize honorees for their outstanding service and support. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ollie and Rosa are strong supporters of the people of Mercer County, and they certainly deserve this recognition. The past year was an exciting year of transition for Interfaith Caregivers. We changed our name, moved our headquarters to Hamilton, and instituted new program efforts and collaborations. None of this would have been possible without generous community and corporate support.”

In 2011 alone, 241 active Interfaith Caregivers volunteers provided 10,910 hours of free services to nearly 300 elderly and disabled people throughout the County -- an increase in hours of more than 12.7% over 2010. Volunteer activities included transportation to doctors’ offices, shopping, friendly visiting, light housekeeping and home maintenance, telephone reassurance and occasional meal preparation, enabling care receivers to avoid institutionalization and stay in their homes -- independently, safely and with dignity. For further information about the organization’s services or to volunteer or donate, call 609-393-9922 or visit http://www.icgmc.org.

Photo Caption:
Pictured, left to right, are: Deacon Ollie L. Green of Shiloh Baptist Church; Sarah Thoma, Executive Director of Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County; Rosa Spera, owner of Rosa’s Ristorante in Hamilton; and Fred Egenolf, Director of Community Affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb.

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Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County, an interfaith coalition, is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of homebound elderly and people with disabilities by matching them with caring volunteers who assist with the tasks of everyday life.