Camden Girl Scouts Visit MD Anderson Cancer Center

Through a partnership with The Cooper Foundation, the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey, St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral School and KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, 24 Camden middle school students visited MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper on Jan. 30 for a behind the scenes look at STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers.

During the tour of the state-of-the-art cancer center, students had the opportunity to hear from a radiation therapist, an infusion nurse, a pharmacist, and a clinical researcher to learn about their work and the technology used to care for patients.

Following the tour, Dr. Lisa Reid, a surgeon at MD Anderson at Cooper, shared the story of her career path and encouraged the girls to find their voice and follow their dreams.

Last year, Camden high school students visited Cooper as part of the STEMsational: STEM Girl Scouts Series. This year, the opportunity was extended to middle school students to encourage them to discover their passions and hear from women in leadership roles.

Click here

to view photos from the tour.

VISTAs lend a helping hand in preparation for the FaithFULL Food Drive

CAMDEN CITY, NJ–A group of AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) who currently work at the Center For Family Services, volunteered their time and efforts at Catholic Charities’ headquarters in Camden City. There, they organized and sorted through items in preparation for the upcoming Camden Diocesan FaithFULL Food Drive on March 22. After the drive, Catholic Charities will use this space to temporarily store donated food items before distributing it to the agency’s other offices throughout Southern New Jersey to ensure that clients and those who are hungry will be given food and connected to the agency’s services.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Catholic Charities,

click here

, or to learn more about the upcoming FaithFULL Food Drive,

click here

Clements Bridge Road in Barrington to be Closed March 3 to 6 During The Day

Barrington Police Department advises you to AVOID Location due to an upcoming traffic issue. A road construction project near Clements Bridge RD and Trinity PL. will close Clements Bridge RD. Southbound at Gloucester Pike and will require a

detour of traffic from March 3-6. 7:00am- 5:00pm. Southbound vehicles can either take W. Gloucester Pike into Bellmawr and utilize Black Horse Pike, or take E. Gloucester Pike to utilize Atlantic Ave and White Horse Pike. Businesses between Gloucester Pike and Williams Ave will be accessible to southbound traffic. No vehicles will be allowed southbound past Williams Ave. All northbound traffic will flow normally.

Address/Location

Barrington Borough, NJ

229 Trenton Ave

Barrington, NJ 08007

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies:

856-547-0706

Yanick gets 100th hit as Raptors win fourth straight

COLLEGE

VILLE,

Penn.

(

March

, 2020) –

The

Rutgers University-Camden baseball team received strong pitching, a milestone performance and broke open a tie game with a five-run seventh inning on the way to an 8-2 victory here Monday at Ursinus College.

The win was the third in two days for the Scarlet Raptors, who swept a doubleheader from Oneonta Sunday, have now won four straight games and stand at 4-1 overall.

It was the season opener for Ursinus.

The Scarlet Raptors had heroes up and down the lineup, beginning with starting pitcher

Ethan Pritchett,

a junior transfer who was making his second appearance at Rutgers-Camden and his first start. Pritchett hurled five innings of two-hit shutout ball, walking four and striking out nine batters.

Sophomore pitcher

Stephen Brady

picked up the win for his first career decision at Rutgers-Camden. He worked three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run, while striking out three.

The Scarlet Raptors broke a scoreless deadlock in the fourth inning when sophomore designated hitter

Brett Yurgin

hit a leadoff home run to left field.

It was his second home run of the season.

The Bears tied the game in the sixth off Brady, aided by a leadoff triple from senior right fielder Alex Mumme. He scored on an infield error.

Rutgers-Camden unleashed its potent attack in the top of the seventh inning, sparked by a leadoff single from senior catcher

Thomas Gosse.

Gosse stole second and freshman shortstop

Danny Vazquez

was hit by a pitch. Junior center fielder

Billy Eisler

dropped down a sacrifice bunt and, one out later, Yurgin was intentionally walked, loading the bases for dangerous cleanup hitter

R.J. Concepcion.

The junior left fielder ripped a tie-breaking two-run single to left.

Senior first baseman

Matt Yanick

followed by etching his name in program history. Yanick unloaded a three-run home run to left-center field for his 100th career hit. He became the 37th player in program history to reach the century mark

. Ten of those hits are home runs, tying for sixth on the program’s career list with Connor Hall (2012-15). Yanick

will soon have more company

in the 100-hit club,

with Concepcion

on the verge of that milestone

. Concepcion, who went 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs on the day, pushed his career high total to 96.

The Raptors added their final two runs in the eighth inning after a walk to Gosse and an error on a grounder by Vazquez. One out later, sophomore third baseman

Jesse Gerdes

delivered a two-run double to center.

Ursinus collected its final run in the ninth when Eisler came on to make his first collegiate pitching appearance. He worked one inning, allowing one hit and one earned run.

In addition to three hits by Concepcion, Gosse went 2-for-3. Gosse, Vazquez and Yurgin all scored two runs. Yanick’s three RBIs led the way in that category, while Gerdes and Concepcion had two apiece.

Guest Speaker from Camden County Master Gardners Available

Did you know that any school, library, civic organization, gardening club within Camden County can request a speaker?

The Camden County Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau will be glad to come out this winter or spring to give a talk.

The list of available talks and the request form is on their website,

https://mastergardenerscamdencounty.org/speakers-bureau/

Camden Family Drug Ring of 14 Arrested

TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced that 12 individuals were indicted on charges including first-degree racketeering as alleged members of a family-

run drug network that distributed large quantities of heroin and fentanyl in a violence-torn area of North Camden. Two additional defendants face weapons charges, bringing the total number of defendants indicted to 14.

Six guns were seized in the investigation, including an illegal, untraceable “ghost gun” and plans and materials to make ghost guns. The ring stamped wax folds of heroin with the brand name “Bad Boys,” which has been linked to three overdoses, including two fatal overdoses.

The defendants were indicted yesterday by a state grand jury in “Operation Strikeout,” a collaborative investigation led by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau in cooperation with the Camden County Metro Police Department, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Police Department. Most of the defendants were arrested in October 2019, when arrest and search warrants were executed.

The following two alleged “owners and operators” of the drug network are charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime:

Wilbert Segarra, 40, of Camden

, the alleged primary ringleader, also faces a charge of first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network, which carries a sentence of life in prison, including 25 years without parole. In addition, Segarra and co-defendant Joseph Cooper Jr. are charged with attempted murder in the non-fatal shooting of a man at 27th and Howell Streets on May 24, 2019. The shooting allegedly stemmed from violence between the drug network and a rival drug set. Segarra fled and was arrested on July 23, 2019 in Virginia, but he allegedly continued to run the drug network with Luis Rosado while on the run and in jail. The attempted murder case was initially investigated and charged by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.

Luis I. Rosado, 28, of Camden

, allegedly took Segarra’s place as operator of the drug network after the shooting in May 2019, receiving direction from Segarra through phone calls and mail.

Meligza Cruz, 32, of Camden

, Rosado’s girlfriend, allegedly managed day-to-day operations for the drug network. She is also charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime. Segarra, Rosado, and Cruz are all allegedly members of the G-Shine set of the Bloods street gang.

“Through this operation, we dismantled a major drug ring that allegedly was dealing large quantities of heroin and fentanyl in a violence-torn neighborhood in North Camden,” said Attorney General Grewal. “By targeting the entire alleged hierarchy of this network with first-degree charges – including a leader charge for the top ringleader and racketeering charges for 12 defendants – we are sending a strong message that we will prosecute drug traffickers to the full extent of the law. We will continue to collaborate with our partners in Camden and throughout New Jersey to arrest the drug dealers who are driving gun violence in our cities and fueling the opioid epidemic that is destroying so many lives.”

“These arrests are a testament not only to the outstanding work of our attorneys and detectives, but also to the strong working relationships that we have forged with our law enforcement partners in Camden and across the region,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “I thank all of the agencies that assisted us in Operation Strikeout. This operation is a great example of intelligence sharing and proactive police work to target a criminal network that had been identified by the Camden County Police Department as a major threat to safety and quality of life.”

“Eliminating this violent drug network that was pedaling poison on the streets of our city will overwhelmingly improve the quality of life for residents and make the North and East Camden neighborhoods a safer place for residents,” said Camden Police Chief Joseph Wysocki. “Ultimately, we know more than 80 percent of fatal overdoses in the city are related to fentanyl adulterated narcotics killing scores of people. This staggering statistic alone underscores the critical work of Operation Strikeout. Furthermore, I want to thank the men and women of the other agencies who brought this case together and got these individuals off our streets.”

“These arrests highlight our continued efforts in Camden to get deadly drugs off the street and stop the violence that all too often goes hand-in hand with drug distribution,” said Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill Mayer. “Two people died as a result of deadly doses of heroin mixed with fentanyl that were stamped with a brand name linked to these defendants, and another was shot as a result of the rivalry between drug sets. If not stopped, the number of deaths could have grown. We will continue to work collaboratively with all of the agencies who took part in this investigation to disrupt and eliminate these violent racketeering enterprises.”

“I want to thank the Attorney General for focusing resources and the tools that were needed to dismantle this network of individuals who were terrorizing the city,” said Camden County Sheriff Gilbert “Whip” Wilson. “Our agency was proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to get these violent criminals off of our streets. Moving forward we will continue to assist our front line partners in eliminating violent crime and opioid distribution, not only making the city safer but improving public safety throughout the county.”

The investigation involved controlled purchases of hundreds of single-dose wax folds of heroin and fentanyl from the drug network beginning in January 2019. The network was based in the 400 block of Grant Street and operated in and around a section of North Camden extending from Grant Street to Elm Street between Coopers Poynt School and Northgate II Park. Most defendants face charges of third-degree distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school.

Eight of the defendants, including Rosado and Cruz, were arrested on Oct. 4, 2019, when the partnering agencies executed arrest and search warrants in Camden and Philadelphia. Segarra was already in jail on the attempted murder charge at the time. Most of the other defendants were arrested later.

Two semi-automatic handguns (one with a defaced serial number), $2,960 in cash, and approximately 285 wax folds of heroin and fentanyl, many bearing the stamp “SpongeBob,” were seized during a search of the residence where Rosado and Cruz live in the 400 block of 40th Street in Camden.

Investigators seized approximately 70 grams of pure fentanyl when they executed a search warrant at a residence on Whitaker Avenue in Philadelphia that Rosado called “the Office,” where he and others allegedly packaged heroin and fentanyl. The residence was an operational narcotics mill equipped with sifters, scales, various cutting agents, wax folds, and five rubber ink stamps used to stamp the following brand names on wax folds: “Bad Boys,” “SpongeBob,” “Glizzy Gang,” “NS,” and “Two Guns.” Heroin stamped with the brand “Bad Boys” has been linked to three overdoses, including two fatal overdoses.

Three semi-automatic pistols – including one illegal “ghost gun” assembled from parts bearing no serial number – were seized at the Philadelphia heroin mill, along with several large-capacity magazines, including a 50-round drum-type magazine. In addition, law enforcement seized polymer and schematic plans to manufacture ghost-gun assault rifles and semi-automatic pistols.

The investigation revealed that the enterprise had a structured hierarchy with defined roles, including “owners and operators,” “case workers,” “set managers,” and “trappers.” Segarra and Rosado allegedly were the co-owners and operators, and Meligza Cruz was the primary case worker. She allegedly managed the enterprise’s day-to-day drug distribution activities, assigning shifts and workers for the day, and having responsibility for the transfer of drugs and proceeds to and from Rosado and the set managers. The set managers directed the trappers, who were the street-level dealers who conducted hand-to-hand exchanges of drugs and money with buyers. Some ring members served in multiple roles.

The following defendants were charged with first-degree racketeering in “Operation Strikeout” along with Segarra, Rosado, and Meligza Cruz:

Maria Morales, 29, of Camden

Ramon Saldana, 22, of Camden

Rafael Velazquez, 27, of Camden

Migdoel Morales-Cruz, 33, of Camden

Michael Canales, 23, of Camden

Angel Martinez, 34, of Camden

Daniel Sanjurjo, Jr., 21, of Camden

Emanuel Morales, 25, of Camden

Joseph Cooper Jr., 24, of Philadelphia

In addition to the first-degree racketeering charge, all 12 racketeering defendants listed above face a charge of second-degree conspiracy to distribute narcotics, and, with the exception of Segarra, are variously charged with additional second- and third-degree drug offenses.

The ring included multiple members of an extended family, several of whom live in the neighborhood where the drug network operated. Meligza Cruz, Maria Morales, Emanuel Morales, and Migdoel Morales-Cruz are all related as either siblings or cousins. Other ring members may also be related.

The following two people, who also are family members, were indicted on weapons charges:

Jose Morales, 49, of Camden

Jesus Morales Cruz, 34, of Philadelphia

Jose Morales, and Jesus Morales Cruz are charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm in connection with a handgun with a defaced serial number that was seized from a car following a traffic stop on May 8, 2019, as a result of the investigation. Jose Morales also faces a charge of second-degree possession of a weapon as a convicted felon in connection with that gun. Jose Morales was driving the car at the time, but Jesus Morales Cruz is the registered owner of the car.

Meligza Cruz is charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly conducting drug transactions using vehicles while she had her and Rosado’s child, age 1 at the time, in the vehicles.

The following defendants were ordered detained following detention hearings: Wilbert Segarra, Luis Rosado, Ramon Saldana, Michael Canales, Angel Martinez, Emanuel Morales, and Jose Morales.

Deputy Attorney General Mohammad A. Mahmood presented the case to the state grand jury and former Deputy Attorney General Jamey Collidge was assigned to the investigation for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Erik Daab and Bureau Chief Lauren Scarpa Yfantis. Detectives David Swanson and Jon Norcia are the lead detectives for the DCJ Gangs & Organized Crime South Unit, under the supervision of Sgt. Peppi Pichette, Deputy Chief of Detectives Christopher Donohue, and Chief of Detectives Weldon Powell.

Attorney General Grewal commended the attorneys and detectives of the Division of Criminal Justice and all of the investigators who participated in “Operation Strikeout” for the Camden County Metro Police Department, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, DEA in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Police.

The charge of first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network carries a sentence of life in state prison, including 25 years without parole, and a fine of up to $750,000. The charge of promoting organized street crime carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison, consecutive to the sentence for any underlying crime, and a fine of up to $200,000. The first-degree racketeering and first-degree attempted murder charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison, including a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed, and a fine of up to $200,000.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Second-degree possession of a weapon by a convicted felon carries a mandatory five-year period of parole ineligibility, and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or three years, whichever is greater. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Timothy P. Lydon in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Camden County, where the defendants will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment.

Diocesan FaithFULL Food Drive set for March 22

The Camden Diocesan-wide FaithFULL Food Drive will be held on Sunday, March 22, and Catholics throughout South Jersey have already begun collecting food items in their parishes, schools and homes.

Through this annual charitable event, Catholic Charities and other local food pantries will be able to fill their shelves once again, especially after donations stagnate during the months following the holidays.

The campaign is held for multiple purposes, according to Matthew Davis, director of the Office of Life and Justice Ministries, who is leading the initiative.

“We hope to raise awareness about people locally who struggle with food insecurity, and we hope to join together as a church family to collect as much food as possible for those affected by this hardship,” he explained. “The FaithFULL food drive is also a concrete and practical way for us to be faithful to the Gospel’s call of solidarity and concern for the least of those among us. This is a joyful occasion where we do good and have fun while doing it,” he added.

“Food insecurity” refers to the USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. It also includes having limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.

Currently, in Camden County alone, there are 17,200 food-insecure children, 24% of whom are ineligible for federal nutrition programs. Overall in Camden County, the total food-insecure population is more than 60,000 individuals.

The statistics for food insecurity in South Jersey’s other counties are equally sobering. Gloucester County is home to 8,180 food-insecure children in a total food-insecure population of 26,860 individuals. Suffering the impact of rural hunger are more than 8,000 food insecure individuals in the less populated farmlands of Salem County — most of whom living more than 10 miles from the nearest grocery store.

“Many households still need to make trade-offs between food and other important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills,” explained Cristina Chillem, program director at Catholic Charities. “Many households are still just one paycheck away from financial crisis.”

So when people come to one of the eight offices of Catholic Charities throughout the diocese seeking food, they often leave with much more.

According to Chillem, “In addition to bags of food staples, these clients are also able to learn about and access additional services right there on the spot, like financial coaching, housing counseling, employment assistance and more.

That’s the beauty of being a multi-service agency; we are able to help pantry clients sort out the issues that lead them to food insecurity,” she said.

She added that Catholic Charities is also able to provide educational programs which teach clients how to shop healthy on a budget and assist them in applying for SNAP benefits, crediting the support from the Walmart Foundation and the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation.

To learn more about the FaithFULL Food Drive, including the items that are being collected, drop-off locations and times, and more, click

here

Finally After Years Struggling a Place to Call Home

PENNSAUKEN, NJ–Kimberly Van Hook moved excitedly around her new apartment, pointing out each and every detail — the view of the trees from the window, the food items neatly arranged on the shelves in her refrigerator, the smooth counter-tops in the kitchen. Every few moments, she’d pause and say, “I can’t believe I finally have a home,” while looking around wondrously.

Kimberly Van Hook is one of eight senior citizen residents who, after experiencing difficulty finding permanent housing, recently found a place to call home at

Stonegate at Saint Stephen – Phase II

through the help of staff at the Diocesan Housing Services Corporation.

Van Hook was one of eight senior citizen residents who, after experiencing difficulty finding permanent housing, recently found a place to call home at

Stonegate at Saint Stephen – Phase II in Pennsauken

, a newly-developed 68-unit senior community of the

Diocesan Housing Services Corporation of the Diocese of Camden

(DHSC). Through the help of the DHSC staff who guided her through the entire application process, Van Hook now has a comfortable one-bedroom apartment to call her own. And because of staff at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, who collected donations and helped set up the new units, she and seven of her fellow new residents were surprised and overjoyed to walk into homes that were completely furnished.

Van Hook revealed that she had spent years without a stable place to live, resorting to a series of less-than-ideal living options as she battled a number of health conditions.

“No more living out of a truck. No more imposing on friends or family,” she said, picking up a bouquet of tulips from her countertop. “[The staff] gave me these the day I moved in. Can you believe that?” she said, laughing. “Everyone — from the directors to the maintenance staff — have been so kind and so helpful. The first day I moved in, they invited me to have pizza with them downstairs, and that was so nice because I don’t know anyone here yet. But there’s even a game room down the hall, so I’m sure I’ll meet some more people!”

Jose Sanchez, a program director at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, has worked with DHSC staff, as well as donors, to ensure that new residents who have experienced difficulty in finding housing would have quality furniture and supplies when they moved in to their new homes.

Two floors below her apartment, Michael Alessi, another new senior resident was preparing for his daily five-mile walk, a practice which he credits for his perfect health at the age of 70. The other key, he said, is his devout Catholic faith. He remains a life-long member of Sacred Heart Parish in Camden, where he grew up and worked for most of his life. Motioning toward the housing staff members, he said, “I prayed for years for direction, and they were the answer to my prayers. I knew that this place was a Christian community before I even asked. I can feel their love and their faith; they truly do love us as their neighbors.”

This sense of love is echoed in the mission of Diocesan Housing Services Corporation, which quotes Saint Teresa of Calcutta when she said in her 1979 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, “Because I believe that love begins at home, and if we can create a home for the poor — I think that more and more love will spread.”

Those words inspire the Diocesan Housing Services Corporation’s team of property managers, maintenance and social services professionals to address the housing needs of people across the Diocese of Camden. Together, they work to provide quality affordable housing for low and moderate income households in New Jersey’s six southern counties with a special focus on senior citizens and those who are living with disabilities.

“We are so happy to be able to offer seniors the opportunity to access high-quality affordable housing with the opening of Stonegate II,” said James Reynolds, executive director of the Diocesan Housing Services Corporation. “We look forward to helping our residents enjoy their golden years in a warm, loving and supportive environment rooted in the Catholic tradition of meeting the needs of the underserved.”

Over the next several months, more than 60 additional seniors are expected to move into the new building, including others, like Van Hook and Alessi, who have experienced difficulty in finding a long-term place to call home.

AS OF PUBLICATION, APPROXIMATELY 10 UNITS ARE UNCOMMITTED AND REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR LEASING. ANYONE INTERESTED IN MAKING APPLICATION SHOULD CONTACT DAWNE PENNER AT 856-342-4055. CLICK

HERE

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STONEGATE AT SAINT STEPHEN PHASE II.

Camden County Progressive Groups Picket Norcross Rally held at CC College

Blackwood, NJ February 29, 2020–A coalition of progressive groups picketed the Norcross Rally luncheon today, calling for state leaders to demand changes to New Jersey’s electoral structures, ethics reforms and real progressive change. The luncheon, which is a fundraiser for Congressional incumbent Rep Donald Norcross, brought together unelected power broker George Norcross, his brother the Congressman Donald Norcross, Governor Phil Murphy and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It cost $2800 per person to attend the event on the Camden County Community College campus.

“For the price of one lunch with the Norcross Brothers here at Camden County Community College, you could almost attend an entire year of full time study. Are you kidding me?” Said

Susan Druckenbrod, of South Jersey Women for Progressive Change

“Representative Norcross is attempting to steal the progressive label, but is anything but progressive on a number of key issues. He is bad on the environment- he takes money from Covanta, one of the worst examples of environmental injustice in our country today. He aligns himself with anti-environmental organizations criticized by Greenpeace and other progressive groups. Norcross has a record of not supporting public education in favor of school privatization, and he is also the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars in defense contractors.” Noted

Kate Delany, President of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats.

“Unlike Bernie Sanders whose small dollar donors make up over 50% of his campaign funds, a tiny 1.75% of Norcross’ donors are small dollar; he is a favorite of corporate interests. Norcross is in Congress in a deep blue district, because his brother is the most powerful man in NJ, not because he is some kind of progressive hero. Why would Nancy Pelosi come here of all places, for a fundraiser? What about the swing districts?”

“Donald Norcross pretends to be the candidate for the common man, but these high dollar donations are out of reach for most people. Instead of small donors supporting him, Rep Norcross is influenced by big money donors, and that is out of step with this progressive district.” Said

Gary Samuels, Camden City resident and community organizer.

“Donald and George Norcross are two sides of the same coin. It’s a good cop/ bad cop routine. George pulls the strings and Donald executes the plan. The Economic Opportunity Act, which awarded over a billion dollars to Norcross connected companies is the clearest example of this.” Said

Crystal Evans, a resident and community organizer in Gloucester Township. “

We are frustrated that otherwise good Democratic leadership is hobnobbing with someone who is likely under FBI criminal investigation and his brother who has followed his marching orders. The national conversation is highlighting how we need change in political leadership- and that starts here in the Democratic Party, the party we are part of, the party we believe in, and the party we love and would love to improve.”

“Speaker Pelosi has successfully called out Donald Trump for the same behavior— from speaking poorly about immigrants, to using public government for personal and private gain. Why won’t she do the same for the Norcross family? George has spoken about immigrants in a racist way; he leverages his political power to gain public contracts. Pelosi has stood up to Trump’s undermining of national elections, and here in NJ, George Norcross is an unelected power broker who uses his muscle to put the thumb on the scale of our elections in the form of the Line and other mechanisms.” Said

Chris Emrich, Elections Director of South Jersey Progressive Democrats.

First Grantees of New $1 Million Camden City Community Grant Program Announced

CAMDEN CITY, NJ (March 1, 2020)–Early last month, George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of Cooper University Health Care, announced that 29 Camden City based non-profit community organizations received grant awards from the first ever Camden City Community Grant Program.

Each organization was awarded a $5,000 grant to fund a significant community building activity and support vital programs and services.

Congratulations to these extraordinary Camden organizations:

Boys & Girls Club of Camden County

Boys of Sustainable Strength

Camden Day Nursery

Camden FireWorks

Cathedral Kitchen

Center for Aquatic Sciences

Center for Environmental Transformation

Cooper-Grant Neighborhood Association

Home Port Alliance for USS New Jersey

Hope Community Outreach Services, Inc.