SAVE THE DATE

A NIGHT AT THE RACES

BEEFSTEAK

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

For many of the women starting the Oasis Workplace Readiness Program (OWRP),

careers are something that other people have. Most of the students have little or no

work experience, and if they do, those jobs have typically been short-lived. The

internship component of the OWRP allows the students to experience work in a real,

yet supportive, environment.

Each woman who successfully completes the 8-week classroom component of OWRP

is encouraged to apply for one of four 15-hour per week paid internships in Oasis’

kitchen, maintenance department, or childcare centers. In addition to giving the

students a much-needed resume boost, the 8-week internship includes weekly

one-on-one job counseling during which they discuss how to handle their job

frustrations in a healthy way. As one recent graduate said, “Before, if I was working

and my boss annoyed me, I would yell and then quit. The counseling taught me how

to step back and think before I fly off the handle.”

The students who successfully complete the internship may have an easier time

finding permanent employment. Of the 20 women who held Oasis internships during

the 2012/2013 academic year, 13 (61%) found employment following the internship.

In a typical year, approximately 20% of participants who attended classes only, as

opposed to also having an internship, find employment.

The Oasis Workplace Readiness Program is supported by a Community

Development Block Grant from the City of Paterson.

59 Mill Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 973.881.8307 www.OASISNJ.org

Oasis is dedicated to feeding and clothing needy women and children and to offering them educational

resources and skills to obtain meaningful employment and to break the cycle of poverty. Oasis offers

these services in a safe, compassionate, nurturing environment. We are committed to fostering healthy

family relationships, and we seek to preserve the dignity of people and their cultures.

FALL 2013 ž VOL. 19 ž NO. 3

SHARE YOUR LOVE OF OASIS

WITH OTHERS…

NOVEMBER 14, 2013

THE BROWNSTONE

FOR INFO, CONTACT LYNN @

(973) 881-8307 X108

MESSAGE FROM

SISTER GLORIA

CARL’S KIDS CAMP

OASIS SUPPORTERS

PUMPKIN PICKING

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME

Intern Chevon Torres (center) with Director of Social Services Molly Fagan (left) and Chef Jayne Lovaglio (right)

INTERNSHIPS: NOT JUST FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Dear Friends,

Happy autumn! Welcome to the new school year here at Oasis. Our GED, ESL

and Computer classes are full, as are our children’s centers. The afternoons

have all of our After-School children and TEEN Program girls in our hallways

and classrooms. This year we have also opened our doors to two new Satur-

day programs. For our children, we have the Paterson Youth Photography

Project and for our women, we have our ten-week Culinary Arts Program.

Also, we welcome back so many of our generous volunteers who make the

work we do possible. How blessed Oasis is to have you! Volunteers and donors,

we are so grateful to have you as partners in our mission to “change lives, one

woman and child at a time.”

God bless you, Sister Gloria

MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SISTER GLORIA PEREZ

Kevin Rooney, Wyckoff Township Committeeman and

winner of the Food Network’s ‘Chopped’ amateur champi-

onship, donated his $10,000 first place prize to Oasis.

This donation now supports our new, ten-week Culinary

Arts Program focused on Food Theory, Culinary Tech-

niques and Kitchen Management. At the completion of the

course, all Culinary Arts students will be eligible to obtain

their ServSafe® Certification and will prepare the meal for

Oasis’ Semi-Annual Paterson Youth Photography Recep-

tion. The program is taught by Oasis’ Chef Jayne Lovaglio,

a CIA graduate and ServSafe Certified Instructor.

PAGE 2 CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME FALL 2013

COOKING, RUNNING, PLAYING TENNIS SUPPORT FOR OASIS COMES IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES — AND HOBBIES

Moms in Motion of Bergen County

held a shopping event on August 15 to

benefit Oasis, raising over $3,000. This

group of runners has adopted the Oasis

TEEN program and looks to support

our young women annually.

Executive Director Sister Gloria Perez

and Kevin Rooney

The annual Lobs of Love event brought out scores of paddle ten-

nis players for an elimination tournament in support of Oasis on

Wednesday, October 2. This event raised close to $13,000 and in-

cluded dozens of tricky tray items. Vendors Jamie Hoff of Flirty

Finds, Patty Corn of Preppy Player, and Margie Brenner of Red

Tee Boutique donated a portion of their proceeds to Oasis.

TEEN Program Coordinator

Lauren McDonald, Leah Malley,

Executive Director Sister Gloria

Perez, Chris Batt, Dana White,

Moms in Motion

Lobs of Love Co-Chairs,

Celine Salvi and Leslie

Rubacky

Michelle Wu (Brookside Rac-

quet Club), Sarah Whiteman

(Atlantic Club)

Karin Marte of Wells Fargo present-

ing Oasis Executive Director Sister

Gloria Perez with a $1,000 Commu-

nity Partners Grant.

Like us on

Facebook!

www.facebook.com/

Oasisforwomenand-

children

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM GOES

PUMPKIN PICKING

FUN FOR THE BODY AND BRAIN AT CARL’S KIDS CAMP

Rain and mist couldn’t prevent a great field trip

to Serenity Hills Farm on Sunday, October 6.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters John and

Tracey Crimi, students from the Oasis After-

School Program enjoyed a fun-filled day, all free

of charge. The trip included pumpkin picking,

hot dogs, hay rides, face-painting, cotton candy,

pony rides, and more. It was also a day out of

the city for the students—a rare treat!

PAGE 3 CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME FALL 2013

As in previous summers, hundreds of chil-

dren from Paterson enjoyed a range of fun

activities during July and August, from

computer classes to dance to swimming, as

campers at Oasis’ Carl’s Kids Camp.

Additionally, we are blessed to have the

Wyckoff YMCA as a generous partner.

This community organization hosts our

campers at their facility three days a week.

This year, the campers even had swim les-

sons at the Y’s indoor pools.

Through a generous grant from the Taub

Foundation, Carl’s Kids Camp also pro-

vides “first jobs” to Paterson teens to serve

as counselors and counselors-in-training.

Numerous teen and adult volunteers also

provided oversight during each session.

In a city where many children lack any

structured activities during the summer

months, Carl’s Kids Camp provides much

needed peace of mind to working families.

During the summer of 2013, there were

four two-week sessions of camp, with 85

campers in each session.

Even Summer Santa came to

camp this year!

CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME PAGE 4 FALL 2013

HAVE YOU SEEN…?

...the new swings in the Nurturing Center? Through a

generous donation by Raymond and Patti

Wisniewski of Keystone Freight Company, Oasis

received nine cradle swings for use in our facility, as

well as bouncers, gliders, and numerous other baby

items for distribution to our families. As you can see,

the swings are a big hit with our babies!

..the freshly painted Dining Room? Many thanks to

Leaders in Service 2017, a program of the Civic and

Community Engagement Center of Ramapo College.

Additional special thanks to our own staff members Don

Vido, Tom Carozza, Barbara Loscalzo, and Lynn McCor-

mack who finished the job!

Many thanks to all

those who donated a

“Lunches with

Love” during the

months of July

through

October!

The Murray and

Powers families

in honor of ”Moms

Everywhere”

Glen Rock Women

in Community

Service

Geri Opler in honor

of Jo Ann Romano

Susan and Ron

Di Pasquale in

memory of Pat

McLaughlin

KPMG

Taylor Financial

Group

Oasis is always so grateful for

the many volunteers who

make our organization run!

If you want to help out, con-

tact Barbara Loscalzo at

(973) 881-8307 x133 or

barbaraloscalzo@oasisnj.org.

Lunch Service

Nurturing Center/

Children’s Center

After School Program

Food Pantry

Clothing Donations

James Ghiorse, a Ramapo High School senior, and Drew Hartmann, a Bergen

Catholic senior, founded the “Science Oasis” program in the Spring of 2011.

Students in the Michael Wagner After-School Program are invited to take part

in a series of exciting hands-on science experiments on various topics such as

properties of matter, circuitry, magnetism, crystals, robotics, and density.

James and Drew research each topic, develop a lesson plan and budget and

provide the needed materials.

“The objective of the program isn’t to provide a complex understanding of

science,” James said. “It’s simply to spark an interest. We want them to begin

looking at everyday things in a new way and to ask why and how they work.”

“The feedback from the kids is incredible,” Drew said. “I

remember one boy said, ‘I never liked science in school

but you make it so much fun. Now I LOVE SCIENCE. I

wish you would come every day.’”

This past summer, James expanded the program to

reach campers at Oasis’ Carl’s Kids Camp. James and

Drew look forward to continuing “Science Oasis”

throughout the year and hope to recruit other high

school students to help continue it when they leave for

college. Volunteers are always welcome!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT —

JAMES GHIORSE AND DREW HARTMANN

Above — Science Oasis projects

thrill Carl’s Kids Campers.

Right — Drew Hartman (left)

and James Ghiorse (right)

help After-School students

conduct electrical experiments.