What a Day!

Governor Chris Christie Volunteers at America’s Grow-a-Row

http://weddings.romanjewelers.com/our-finalists/anne-marie-florek-and-alexander-barthalis/

They will be working on their Good Deed Plan over the next week and we look forward to hearing their thoughts and ideas on how to raise money and spread the word about the important work of America’s Grow-a-Row.

Good luck, Alex and Anne Marie!

comcast video 06-2010

Chip Honored With the Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference

Chip Takes Top Prize!

Berrie Foundation Pays Tribute to New Jersey’s Unsung Heroes for Acts of Community Service

The Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference celebrates New Jersey’s unsung heroes—everyday people whose extraordinary volunteer efforts have made a real difference in the lives of others. Created in 1997, the annual award program honors nineteen individuals who have performed outstanding community service or an act of heroism. A selection committee comprised of New Jersey business leaders and professionals chooses the unsung heroes from a pool of several hundred nominees and awards the top three with cash prizes of $50,000, $35,000 and $25,000. Eight other finalists are distinguished with cash prizes of $5,000.  ”Russ wanted to create an award specifically for unsung heroes—people who really make a difference by dedicating their lives to improving life or helping others,” said Russell Berrie Foundation President Angelica Berrie.

The 14th Annual Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference was held on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at Ramapo College. The Honorable Thomas Kean, former New Jersey State Governor, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker.

The $50,000 winner in 2010 was Chip Paillex of Pittstown.  Chip will be donating the entire amount to America’s Grow-a-Row to help with some of the initial expenses related to the recent purchase of our new farm.

Way to go Chip – we’re really proud of you!

Recipients of 2010 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference Honored at Ramapo College Ceremony

We bought the farm!  Literally, we just bought the farm!  After several months of working with some very, very generous benefactors as well as securing the winning bid at a local NJ farm auction, AGAR is now the proud owner of a spectacular 138 acre farm, with 130 acres on the property which can be farmed.  Imagine the possibilities and the amount of produce that can be grown and delivered to those desperately in need all across NJ with this enormous opportunity.  Conveniently located in Alexandria Township, NJ, just about 10 minutes from our official headquarters at Peaceful Valley Orchards, our new property will allow for us to expand our program well into the future.  that’s the good news.  The challenge for us is that the farm does not come with a deer fence, buildings or any infrastructure, so there is a huge need for us to raise funds to make the property more functional as soon as possible.  In the meantime, we are excited to report this very good news about the long-term possibilities for America’s Grow-a-Row and our neighbors in need who will benefit from this fabulous opportunity.

A FRESH COAT OF PAINT — Owen Boyle, a senior from North Hunterdon and a resident of Bethlehem Township, puts the finishing touches on the Grow-A-Row pickup truck in the Polytech school’s paint bay. He plans on attending Penn Tech this fall. In the background is Sean Ortega, a Delaware Valley Regional High School senior from Kingwood Township.

With some technical autobody work instruction that included sanding, filling, dent repair and rust removal, the Autobody Restoration and Repair Polytech students are finishing the new paint job on a 1994 Extended Cab Chevy pickup that was donated by Mancini’s Landscaping to the America’s Grow-a-Row organization for use this spring.
The non-profit organization, under the lead of Hunterdon County resident Chip Paillex, fights local hunger by harvesting and donating local farm produce to local food pantries. Spencer Goldman, instructor for the Polytech program, was approached by the organization in the hopes that his students could help refurbish the pickup in desperate need of repair.

The students have taken the project as far as they can with the funding provided through Learn and Serve America grant funds awarded to the school last year. The vehicle still requires items that neither America’s Grow-a-Row or Polytech can purchase; specifically a new windshield, two new windshield wipers, four tires (size lt265/75 r 16 m+s), front and rear shock absorbers, two rear brake wheel cylinders and a Hurcliner paint kit for an 8-foot pickup bed. It is the hope of both organizations that community donors can be found to help them complete the project.

According to Goldman, the students were extremely conservative in their purchases for this project. In addition to replacing fenders, panels and doors, the students also built a bumper.  “It would be a shame to have taken it this far without being able to use it as planned,” said Goldman. “The students have worked over six months on it and they really want to see the vehicle ready to go. America’s Grow-a-Row needs this to help the less fortunate in our community.”
For more information about the project and donations, contact Goldman at 908-806-3855, ext. 15.

Thank you so much to this amazing crew for their hard work on our truck, donated to us

last year by Jim Mancini of Mancini Landscaping.  We’re thrilled to have not only a great-looking vehicle for the farm but one that runs better and is safer.   Here’s the end result – what a makeover!

Americaʼs Grow-a-Row held its first Blue Jeans Bash fund raiser recently, where the Women of the Americaʼs Grow-a-Row Produce Runway 2010 paraded down the catwalk wearing assorted outfits that were made out of real produce and seeds.

The fashion show designer was Brenda Greenfield, who said this was a way for her to volunteer for the Americaʼs Grow-a-Row program. Her efforts assisted in the eventʼs success this year, as over $17,000 was raised that will be used to help plant, maintain and harvest produce to be donated to those suffering from hunger across New Jersey.

The main sponsor was Artisan Wealth Management, LLC, and was hosted by Meredith and Jeremy Compton at the Peaceful Valley Orchards Farm Market in Pittstown. In 2009, the Americaʼs Grow-a-Row team of 950 volunteers donated almost 320,000 pounds of produce to those in need across the Garden State. For more information about Americaʼs Grow-a-Row program, contact Chip Paillex at 908-331-2962 or visit americasgrowarow.org.

Check out the photos from the event, compliments of Dee Maglio Photography here – they are awesome!