SJI participated in a food drive for the Volunteer Center of Gloucester County. Our employees donated 650 pounds of food, the largest single contributor to the drive. We also contributed four frozen turkeys, which were used for Christmas dinner packages.

All together, the Volunteer Center collected a total of more than 5,000 pounds of food. All of SJI's contribiutions were delivered to the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry in Hammonton, NJ. A small portion of the food collected was given directly to a Cape May, NJ family in immediate need of food.

  
On Thursday, Nov. 13, South Jersey Gas presented Atlantic Cape Community College with a $28,000 check towards the School Counts! scholarship program. Tim Rundall (L), director of gas supply and off system sales, and a member of the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation’s board of directors, presented the check to ACCC’s president, Dr. Peter Mora (R). The funds will be used for scholarships that will be awarded to Atlantic and Cape May county high school graduates who fulfill a number of requirements.

“We are proud to partner with Atlantic Cape Community College in making college affordable and accessible to students in Southern New Jersey,” Tim said. “Through the School Counts! program, our company and our customers can help students realize the dream of better education and better future.”

SJG launched its support of the School Counts! program in 2004. Since then, SJG gives its customers an opportunity to donate $1 each month to the School Counts! program. SJG then holds the money in a separate account, and distributes it annually. Since 2004, SJG customers have contributed $15,000 towards the program.

The School Counts! program is designed to prepare high school students for the workforce and to promote student achievement in New Jersey’s schools. To earn a School Counts! certificate and to qualify for the scholarships, students must maintain a minimum ‘C’ average in all academic courses, an attendance and punctuality record of 95 percent and complete high school in eight consecutive semesters.  

Also picture is Steve Bruner (C), executive director of Atlantic Cape May County Workforce Investment Board.

 
South Jersey Industries’ employees join Comfy Bear in the March of Dimes March for Babies walk on Sunday, April 27, 2008 in Glassboro, NJ.

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

 
Folsom, NJ – South Jersey Industries’ executives and leaders today hosted the March of Dimes National Ambassador, Catharine Aboulhouda, as part of the five-year-old’s tour of South Jersey.

Each year, through the March of Dimes Ambassador Program, one child is chosen to be the face of the March of Dimes’ mission. As the National Ambassador, Catharine and her family tour the nation, attending conferences and events, engaging in speaking opportunities and media interviews and appearing with corporate leaders and celebrities to raise awareness of the March of Dimes.

“We are honored to welcome the March of Dimes Ambassador Family as our guests today at our Folsom corporate headquarters,” SJI Chairman, President, and CEO Edward J. Graham said. “Through our partnership with the March of Dimes and our newly formed friendship with the ambassador family, South Jersey Industries has the opportunity to campaign for and promote a message of hope for families affected by preterm birth and its complications. As the Ambassador family travels the nation with their story of hope and encouragement, the South Jersey Industries family can share that same message with our own community.”

SJI and its employees raise funds annually for the March of Dimes, including participation in the March of Dimes’ March for Babies event. Through corporate and employee contributions during 2007, SJI was able to provide more than $10,000 to the March of Dimes in support of its mission.

 
Paul Madden of SJG's Conservation Department chats with 107.3 FM Cat Country's morning show host Joe Kelly at the annual St. Jude's Radiothon held live at the Hamilton Mall on February 21st and 22nd.

As part of SJG's sponsorship of this great fundraiser for children's research, Paul was on hand to discuss SJG's involvement and our role in spreading the message of SJG's Conservation Incentive Program, energy efficiency and "Change a Light, Change the World." This was Paul's third on-air interview with Cat Country.

 
Paul was proud to serve as SJG's ambassador as he presented a check in the amount of $750 to Joe Kelly, the popular morning show host at 107.3 FM and long-time supporter of the St. Jude radiothon. This is the ninth year that Cat Country hosted the 2-day live event and has successfully collected $1 million for the kids at St. Jude's.

St Jude's Research Hospital in Tennessee provides hope and healing for children suffering from cancer and provides service at no cost to children of all faiths and races. The Hospital was the vision of the late entertainer Danny Thomas. Danny’s daughter, Marlo, has taken up the leadership challenge for the hospital.

South Jersey Gas was recently honored by the New Jersey Legislature and the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders for their help and support throughout the year with the Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester County.

A citation from the Senate and General Assembly was signed by Senator Stephen Sweeney and Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Doug Fisher.

A certificate of commendation was signed by the seven Gloucester County Freeholders, Stephen Sweeney, Robert Damminger, Joseph Brigandi, Giuseppe Chila, Frank DiMarco, Helene Reed and Warren Wallace.