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| Special thanks to: OritaniBank Charitable Foundation for their extremely generous donation last year to Operation NJ. AaSP President Alan Krutchkoff with OritaniBank CEO Kevin Lynch on March 10, 2013 as AaSP presented Mr. Lynch with a token of appreciation for the fantastic support the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation demonstrated to NJ Troops. |
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| With Albanian and Afghan leaders. |
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| Some of our Warriors from the 508th MP Co. |
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| Operation New Jersey
Supporting our NJ Soldiers and their comrades in harm's way
The 117th CSSB
508th MP Co.
MAT 3
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Other NJ Adoptees/Units:
LCpl Dan D, 3/9 Kilo - Point Pleasant
Capt. Anthony D, 4-319th AFAR - Cresskill
1LT Thomas G, PRT Zabul - Waldwick
LCpl Patrick G, VMM 161 Airframes - Oradell
FN Nicholas M, USS Blue Ridge - Fair Lawn
Chris McC, USMC AFG - Oakland
Steven Nelson, USMC AFG - Fair Lawn
CTTSN Nicholas S, USS Chung-Hoon - Fair Lawn
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Goal: To raise $40,000 to take care of all our Jersey soldiers and their units, including both the larger units and "onesies" - all the Jersey Warriors in our other units listed above!
To Date: Approx $42,400 (includes some unrestricted funds and gifts in kind) We want to thank Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation for pushing us over the top to take care of our Jersey crew!!!!
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Drop off Points:
Emerson -- Liberty Subaru - 55 Kinderkamack Road,
Fair Lawn -- Police Dept - off Fair Lawn Ave, (att SGT Richard Schultz) / also Municipal Building, Public Library, Senior Center and Community Center
Fair Lawn -- Van Riper Ellis Broadway Baptist Church - 7-01 River Road, (att Pastor David Boone)
Ho-ho-kus -- Abbott & Caserta Realtors - 10 Sycamore Avenue - 201-447-6600
Mahwah -- Liberty Hyundai - 305 Rt 17 North
Totowa -- Apollo Flags - 465 Rt 46 West, (see Mickey)
Woodland Park -- Cartridge World - Plaza 46, 1590 Rt 46 W, (formerly West Paterson)
Wyckoff -- Abbott & Caserta Realtors - 235 Everett Ave - 201-891-2223
(Would you like to be a drop-off point for Operation NJ? Please let us know!)
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| BG James Grant wishing all the Soldiers of the 508th MP Co., NJARNG, a safe deployment. |
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June 2012 -- We began Operation New Jersey to support two large NJ units in AFG - the 117th CSSB (with many Soldiers from NJ, currently in southern AFG) and the 508th MP Company, from Teaneck, NJ, which has already deployed for training and will arrive in AFG later this year. A smaller-sized unit, the MAT-A 2, an advisory unit, has deployed as well. Additionally, NJ Warriors from all services are included in this civic project for NJ Warriors.
We will continueally update our progress and our Benefactors, Special Friends and Supporters as we get them.
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November 17: We received the grant from the Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation to support our Operation NJ! These dollars are supporting purchases of Kindle Fires, TRX exercise gear, Holiday cartons and the 508th MP Co FRG. Thanks to Kevin Lynch, President of Oritani Bank for this amazing donation!!!
October 28: This week we received notice from Oritani Bank here in Bergen County, NJ, that we have been approved for a very large grant from the bank's charitable foundation. Wow! This is huge!!! Thank you Oritani Bank, its Board of Directors and Rosanne B, its Sr VP and Compliance Officer. We were introduced to Rosanne last year by a family friend who recently passed away. Thanks Norma!
October 18: Two high school girls at Wayne Valley HS in Wayne, NJ, made a collection drive and boy did they succeed! Two large carloads and about $5,000 worth of goodies were collected and then packed up for the Troops. Most went our Jersey crew but some also went to new Adoptees that need the attention (with their permission). Special thanks to Nicole Graff and Sara Eljouzi. Great job! Also thanks to Nicole's parents for collecting at their house and getting it to AaSP's president, Alan K. Thanks all!!
September 24: The great folks at Pfizer in Peapack, NJ, have been collecting ongoing for our Troopers and yesterday gave us another batch of goodies, including a bunch of Chap Stick, made by the company. Thanks to Jim and his team for their dedication and patriotism! Also thanks to the American Legion Post 21 of Cresskill, NJ, for donating nearly 40 packages for our Adoptee from Cresskill, CPT Anthony D and his unit! Thanks guys!!!
September 14: Thanks to the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey who presented us a check for $2,750 Thursday night for our NJ Troopers! Thanks to Ted, John, Dave and Don and team for this wonderful donation! Also, thanks to DHL Express at JFK Intl Airport for picking up a 46" widescreen TV for our Jersey guys in southern AFG; DHL also picked up a TV, Microwave, Xbox 360, DVD player and other goodies for our MI MPs, thanks to a very generous gift by the LT Dennis W Zilinski II Foundation. So thanks Cathy O' and Cain M and John and team from DHL and Dennis, Marion and the Board of the LDWZIIF. Fantastic!
Also, Thanks to Karen C of the Spoon Me frozen yoghurt shop in Old Tappan, NJ. They collected $556 this summer collecting change from customers when they bought the tasty treats at their store. They gave us the check on 9/11. Thanks everyone!
September 4: Thanks to the Coastal Jersey Parrott Head Club (Diane, Tom and team) for the great gifts for the Troops. They filled up a Ford Edge and it's already been packed and put away for the 508th and MAT Teams. Both are already en route to AFG. Also, we shipped Xbox 360 Kinects to three NJ units - PJ, Anthony B and Nicholas S. Wanaque Police is setting up something for Op NJ too. Thanks Tom, Ken and team!
August 22: Thanks to Bergen Highlands Rotary in Ramsey. Not only are they donating $$, they have been instrumental in getting several firms to join the Op NJ cause - Abott & Caserta Realtors and Jack Daniels Motors. Thanks Rick D, Mike D, Robert A and Marc G for being part of this wonderful support!! Also thanks to Sheila M of Pascack Food Bank for their collections for the Troops; and the NJ Turnpike Authority who will deliver about 30 cartons for our NJ Troops this week (thanks Dennis Z and team)!
August 10: The Realtor company Abbott & Caserta Realtors of Ho-ho-kus, NJ, a well-respected company, will be joining Op NJ as a drop off point. More info to come but Robert A. is very enthusiastic about supporting our NJ Warriors. Thanks Robert and Katherine and team! Also, we found out that Pfizer, which had supported the Ancient Order of Hibernians collection, will continue to collect for our troops at their Peapack office. Thanks guys!
August 6: AaSP President Alan Krutchkoff spoke at the Bergen Highlands Rotary (Ramsey, NJ) to business leaders there and the response was encouraging. We hope that several of the businesses support this important civic project. Thanks to Rick D. and Michael D. for the invite!
August 4: The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Div 2, Monmouth, have gone out of their way to collect lots of great goodies for our NJ Troopers! (In addition, they also raised $$$ to help buy a van and accessories for one of our NJ Wounded Heroes - SPC Derek McConnell). Great job Hibernians - thank you! Thanks to the Blue Star Moms of North Jersey #3 for their great check. It's unrestricted, which allows us to use it where it's needed, and we are so grateful for their kindness and generosity. After all, they are Blue Star Moms and they know what it's like to have loved ones in harm's way! Thanks Marge and team!!!
July 23: Great news! The Borough of Fair Lawn and Fair Lawn Police Dept. and PBA #67 are supporting Op NJ and will not only be a drop-off point, but also they are planning a Collection Day in town late Fall for the Troops! Special thanks to SGT Rich Schultz, Det David Boone and Town Manager Tom Metzler. Awesome stuff! Also, the Van Riper Ellis Broadway Baptist Church in Fair Lawn is becoming a drop-off point. David Boone is also the Pastor at the Church. Great stuff! Thank you guys!!!!
July 16: We just got several large organizations to commit to help on Operation NJ, incl: the NJ Elks, the NJ Turnpike Authority and the LT Dennis W Zilinski II Foundation. The Elks will canvas their lodges; the NJTA is collecting goodies from the list as they have done in the past (about 40 cartons are expected); and the LT Dennis W Zilinski II Foundation is picking up the 508th when they deploy! There's a family connection there as CPT Matt Z was a former Company Commander. Awesome stuff! And others are discussing and we hope to have a lot more to report soon!
July 10: Our friends at O'DiBella Music in Bergenfield have joined us as a drop-off point for Op NJ. Thanks Mike, Ace, Lou and team!
July 2: DHL Express at Kennedy Airport in NYC shipped five pallets of goodies to our Jersey soldiers in southern AFG, including Girl Scout cookies and personal care items! Thank you Cathy O' and your team for this great donation. Other great news: thanks to American Legion Auxiliary from Post 22 in Cresskill, NJ, for a great donation; and Spoon Me in Old Tappan, a frozen yogurt shop, is collecting donations for our Troops during the month of July with its "Keep the Change" program, asking its customers to leave their change for the Troops! Thanks Karen and family! And Liberty Subaru had a bunch of goodies for us this week, including an entertainment system dropped off by a Paramus, NJ, family - Lisa B, her son Max and daughter ...
June 30: Alumni from the Sigma Pi Fraternity at The College of New Jersey begin donations to support one of their own - SSG Phillip (PJ) Spigner. PJ is in southern AFG and now Adoptee of Operation NJ. PJ is on his second tour with AaSP, having been supported while in Iraq serving in OIF at Camp Adder. We also received a nice check from the Community Foundation of NJ from one of their Charitable Trusts. Additionally, one of our Special Friends Liberty Hyundai and Liberty Subaru both put a story in their newsletter (<-- click="" link="" about="" operation="" nj="" to="" their="" customers="" raise="" awareness="" and="" donations="" thanks="" desilva="" family="" br="">
June 22: What a nice surprise to receive a check from our very own Feedback Manager Nancy D' and her fiancee Jon, who will be married soon. Instead of buying wedding favors, they donated to Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon for Operation NJ! Thanks Jon and Nancy!!
June 15 Update: What great goodies we received today from Bergenfield High School! The Bears collected about 40 cartons of goodies for our NJ Warriors, and also some wonderful $$$ donations as well. Leave it to teacher Brendan O' to get his kids and families motivated! Goodies included several Xbox 360s and lots of notes from the kids, including grammar school kids. Thanks Brendan and the Bears! (Two pix from the delivery are above.)
June 7 Update: Thanks to an email blast by Bergen Cty NJ Amer Legion Commander Bob Salvini, we have our first Post to donate to Op NJ - Post 272 in Norwood NJ. Thanks to Steve M and the men there!!!
Bergenfield (NJ) High School collected tons of goodies; Operation NJ Cares is sending to the 117th; EOS has a rock event on July 7 in Seaside Park, NJ; the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey held a bike tour on Sunday, 3 June; and the great folks at Liberty Subaru and Liberty Hyundai already added Operation NJ to their newsletters and became drop off points to their customers! Great start guys!!
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We Need Drop-Off Points to Collect goodies from the public for our NJ Heroes. Please email us today if you can help - or would like to donate product or $$$ to this NJ Civic Cause. Thank you!
AaSP is licensed to solicit funds in the State of NJ.
NJ Charitable Registration No. CH3060400.
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New Jersey Army National Guard Get Send Off at Teaneck Armory by Dignitaries and Families
Sunday, July 15-- The 508th MP Co. and the MAT-A 2 greeted by US Sen Robt. Menendez, NJ TAG BG Michael Cunniff and other State and Local dignitaries as they ready for additional training for deployments later this year to AFG. AaSP was there for the send off and received a certificate from the 508th MP Co. Thanks CPT R and team. We've got your back with our Operation NJ!!! (a few pix below from the event)
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This is what it's all about - email from one of our NJ Soldiers, 23 June 2012 :
Dear Mr. ONeill, Please relay our extreme thanks and gratitude to: Michelle, Pruiya, Bryan, Kevin, Joseph, Mikey, Kelsey, Sherilyn, Krystal, Molly, Brianna, Nicole, Machson, Maleah, Camila, Louris, the Anonymous students, the Bergenfield Student, Marc Z, and every other student that contributed to the care package from Bergenfield HS.
I personally am extremely touched and thankful to have continued support and generosity extended from my home state of New Jersey. This is my third deployment overall and it still amazes me that people find it in their hearts to think about those of us so far from home. I remember my time in high school and think about how most of my world revolved around academics and my social life. Thankfully, the country wasn't at war then, but I would like to think that I would have been as thoughtful as each of you. Many of you wrote about how proud you are of us service members, but I just would like to say that I am proud to know that you are back home making a difference in the lives of others. You each reflect the true values and traditions of the American way of life that we out here strive to defend.
Please know that a touch from home makes a huge difference out here and we are so very thankful that you took the time to do this. I hope you have an enjoyable summer and best of luck to the recently graduated seniors in their next endeavors. To the rising underclassmen, continue to challenge yourself and you will definitely make the world a better place.
With Bear Pride and much Jersey Love,
Respectfully,
US Army Staff Sergeant Phillip "PJ" S & the Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen, Marines, and Civilians United States Forces - Afghanistan
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Benefactors so far: Unilever, LT Dennis W Zilinski II Foundation; DHL Express
Special Friends: American Legion (Bergen County, NJ; NJ Post 21 of Cresskill; NJ Post 272 of Norwood; NJ Post 171 of Fair Lawn, NJ); Ancient Order of Hibernians, Div 2 Monmouth (NJ); Apollo Flags, Totowa (Gary P); Bergenfield (NJ) High School; Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey; Blue Star Moms of NJ #3; Catholic War Vets Post 1710, Paramus, NJ; Coffee Associates; Community Foundation of NJ; EOS Rock Band; Borough of Fair Lawn; Fair Lawn Jewish Community Center; Fair Lawn Police and Fair Lawn PBA #67; Liberty Subaru of Oradell and Liberty Hyundai of Ramsey; Mater Dei Prep School, MIddletown; New Jersey Elks; New Jersey Turnpike Authority; Odyssey Athletic Club, Waldwick; Operation Jersey Cares; Pfizer, Peapack, NJ; Sigma Pi Fraternity, TCNJ; Kay R and family; Spoon Me, Old Tappan; Van Riper Ellis Broadway Baptist Church, Fair Lawn; and Welcome Home Vets Fund of NJ;
Patrons and Supporters: Amjad and Bibi A; Florence A; Ann and John B; Pablo C; John and Joan C; Harriet C; Kathleen C; Johanny and Luis C; John C; Lissette D-C; James and Lisa D; Nancy D' and her fiancee Jon; Tiby G; Elaine G; Clara G; Kathleen G; Lucy G; Martha and Gladys H; Sandra H; Mrs Arpen H; Jollibee Trading Corp; Knights of Columbus, Mother Seton Council No. 5427, Washington Twnship, NJ; Frank and Eleanor L; Yvonne L; Jane and Melchor L; Lichtenberger Agency Ins, Secaucus, NJ; Patrick and DonnaMarie L; Our Lady of Mercy Church, Park Ridge, NJ; Vincent and Margaret M; Chacko and Sheela M; Jean Marie M; Joyce N; Elvis and Arelis P; Cathy and Fred S; Konrad S; Lara and Mark S; Dick and Nancy S; Bruce and Denise T; Roland T; Barbara V S; Josephine V; Lou W; Jacqueline W; Richard and Kathleen W; Thomas and Veronica W;
Thanks guys!
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