Tradition of Giving at Berkeley College Goes Beyond #GivingTuesday

03 December 2019



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019	Contact: Ilene Greenfield Director of Media Relations 973-278-5400, Ext. 1-5122 IGL@BerkeleyCollege.edu

*TRADITION OF GIVING AT BERKELEY COLLEGE GOES BEYOND #GIVINGTUESDAY*
Photo Caption: Giving Tuesday for these Berkeley College students and staff, along with New York Jets players, took place right before Thanksgiving Day on November 26, 2019, when the group collaborated with the Food Bank for New York City to deliver turkeys for the holidays and help serve meals. Share the News: @FoodBank4NYC @ToysForTots_USA @SJH_NJ @LiftWestchester #HashtagLunchBag #GivingTuesday Giving Tuesday was created when two organizations, the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, came together in 2012, about a month before that year's Thanksgiving. Their intention was to set aside a day to celebrate the generosity of giving, a great American tradition, as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season that have become known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Ten years ago, Berkeley Cares began as a similar initiative, as the Berkeley College community conducted volunteer activities to help people and families throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season when the needs of individuals and families are at the forefront. This season Berkeley College students, faculty and staff are happy to continue participating in activities that reflect the intention of #GivingTuesday. In New York City, Berkeley College’s Office of Student Development and Campus Life (SDCL), and the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs (OMVA) are collecting items to benefit families served by Marine Toys for Tots. Early in November, students and staff participated in #HashtagLunchBag. They prepared and distributed more than 100 bagged lunches to those in need. Berkeley College students and staff also assisted New York Jets players with the delivery of turkeys for the holiday meals at the Food Bank for New York City, along with serving that day’s meals to consumers on November 26, 2019. In White Plains, Berkeley College students packed more than 100 snack bags for Lifting Up Westchester, to benefit students in afterschool programs. Photo Caption: (Left to right) Berkeley College students in White Plains, NY, prepare snack bags to give to students in an afterschool program through Lifting Up Westchester. The Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, Berkeley College students, staff and faculty in Woodland Park, NJ, are collecting toys for youngsters who are patients at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson, NJ. Berkeley College students prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Operation PB&J. They will also deliver collected coats to individuals at Penn Station in Newark, NJ, on December 5, 2019. In Newark, SDCL also is conducting a holiday toy drive, with donated items planned for delivery to City Hall as part of Newark Councilwoman Mildred Crump’s toy distribution. The Student Government Association at Berkeley College in Newark is collecting coats and outerwear for its Homeless Initiative, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Be the Change, near Penn Station. Students will also conduct another Operation PB&J on December 5, in addition to distributing the coats. The OMVA, Berkeley College students, staff and faculty in Woodland Park, NJ, are collecting toys for youngsters who are patients at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson, NJ. Berkeley College alumni are collecting toys for donations to Our Way to H.O.P.E. in Paterson, NJ, which was founded in 2015 by Berkeley College alumna Karen Pena. In addition to other food and toy drives at Berkeley College campuses, students assist with organizations as partners for helping distribute donated items in supermarkets, at hospitals, and adopting individual families for gift giving at this time of year. About Berkeley College Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan and White Plains, NY, as well as in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 5,700 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for six consecutive years. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu. The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers.
- end - To view high resolution images of the above photos go to: Top left: https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/images/Group_NYHungerTruck_112619.jpg Top right: https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/images/TrayLine_AnotherView_112619.jpg Bottom Left: https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/images/WST_SnackBags_1119.jpg Bottom Middle: https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/images/ALL_OMVA_Toys_112519.jpg Bottom Right: https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/images/NYC_Lunchbag1_0519192.jpg