Media Coverage

Daily Record
Column by Marilyn Lukach
March 27, 2007

Not for profit groups give us optimism for the future

It was worth getting up early to attend the conference titled "Strengthening Our Community: A Conference for Not for Profit Organizations." This was sponsored in part by the Morris County freeholders, the Not-for-Profit Committee and Commerce Bank. This was my first time and it was wonderful to greet old friends from the non-profit world and to meet new ones.

I was there to represent Community Hope Inc., the mental health organization where I have been a director for seven years. We work hard, like all the other nonprofits that were there for funding, recognition and respect. I zeroed in on the special needs groups concerning physical and mental challenges, and was flattered to hear that a number of their representatives knew my name from this column.

I chatted with folks from Atlantic Home Care and Hospice, Matheny School, NewBridge Services, North Jersey Regional Arthritis Center, Mental Health Association and Employment Horizons. I was so excited to meet and speak with Betty Gallo, widow of Rep. Dean A. Gallo. She is the director of public outreach and government affairs for The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center. I will write more about prostate cancer in the future.

Freeholder John J. Murphy welcomed us all and spoke about the cooperation, collaborating and sharing of services that are becoming a way of life for the nonprofit sector. Florence Block, president of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, talked about the human need and the challenging atmosphere with accountability for all nonprofits. Joseph Nalbach, regional vice president of Commerce Bank, discussed the pressures and competition that come with the territory of the not-for-profit organizations.

As the problems in government spending and funding keep life in turmoil, our most vulnerable and needy citizens are caught up in situations so daunting that most of the public cannot even fathom it. These people in need turn to the non-profits looking for answers and hope. We all wish to provide that.

As I looked around the room at the more than 350 attendees, I saw dedication, challenges, creativity and solutions to very real problems. Most of all, I saw optimism for the future.