NANCY: HI.

I'M NANCY BLATTNER.

AT CALDWELL UNIVERSITY WE BELIEVE THAT ALL CITIZENS SHOULD BE INFORMED ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING PRODUCED BY THE CAUCUS EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION AND THEIR PARTNERS IN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

NARRATOR: FUNDING FOR THIS EDITION OF LIFE AND LIVING WITH JOANNA GAGIS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY NJIT.

NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT MEDICAL GROUP.

A PHYSICIAN OWNED MULTI-SPECIALTY MEDICAL PRACTICE.

SERVING NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW JERSEY IN 70 LOCATIONS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY SHOP RITE SUPERMARKETS GARY'S WINE AND MARKETPLACE.

CREATING AN INDIVIDUAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERY GUEST.

THE GIVE SOMETHING BACK FOUNDATION.

PROVIDING MENTORS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP PELL GRANT ELIGIBLE STUDENTS GO TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE IN FOUR YEARS DEBT FREE.

AND BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

(MUSIC) JOANNNA: WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND LIVING.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

I'M COMING TO YOU FROM THE AVENUE A CLUB IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK, FOR AN EVENT BENEFITING THE W. CARY EDWARDS FOUNDATION.

NOW, CARY EDWARDS WAS THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL IN NEW JERSEY WHO SERVED UNDER GOVERNOR TOM KEAN.

HIS DAUGHTERS HAVE STARTED A FOUNDATION IN HIS HONOR AND TONIGHT WE'LL TALK TO THEM, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF TONIGHT'S EVENT.

>(MUSIC) JOANNA: WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND LIVING.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

YOU WILL RECOGNIZE MY FIRST GUEST'S FACE BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON, THE ONLY PERFORMER, TO APPEAR ON ALL TEN OF THE FIRST EDITIONS OF DANCING WITH THE STARS.

SHE IS EDYTA SLIWINSKA.

SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL BALLROOM DANCER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

EDYTA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JOANNA: SO, YOU WILL HEAR MUSIC BEHIND US.

WE'RE AT AN EVENT TONIGHT, WHERE EDYTA IS PERFORMING.

SO, WE'VE GOT MUSIC.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN THE MOOD.

BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO SIT AND TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER AS A DANCER.

EDYTA: OF COURSE.

JOANNA: WHEN DID YOU START DANCING?

EDYTA: OH GOSH.

I WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD, WHICH IS CONSIDERED PRETTY LATE FOR A PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

I JUST STARTED IN POLAND.

I CAME TO THE U.S.

FROM POLAND WHEN I WAS TWENTY.

SO, I STARTED IN POLAND AND BALLROOM DANCING IS QUITE POPULAR IN EUROPE.

AS IT IS RIGHT NOW IN THE U.S.

BUT IT WASN'T BACK THEN.

SO, MY MOM JUST PUT ME IN CLASSES AND I STARTED FALLING IN LOVE WITH IT.

AND I GOT MORE AND MORE INVOLVED.

AND END UP ON DANCING WITH THE STARS EVENTUALLY.

JOANNA: SO, YOU MUST HAVE HAD A NATURAL INCLINATION TO IT.

YOU TOOK TO IT, RIGHT.

THERE WAS SOME TALENT THERE.

FOR SURE.

EDYTA: YOU KNOW WHAT, PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TALENT BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT TALENT IS SOMETHING THAT STARTS YOU, THAT DRIVES YOU, THAT CAN GIVE YOU THE LEG UP AND MAYBE THE STARTING POINT.

BUT, AFTER THAT, IT'S NINETY PERCENT HARD, HARD WORK.

BUT, I DEFINITELY LOVED IT AND I DEFINITELY, MY MOM WOULD TELL ME, I WOULD DO PERFORMANCES IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR.

I WOULD DRESS UP AND PUT GLITTERY, SPARKLY FABRIC ON MYSELF AND JUST TURN AROUND AND PRANCE AROUND WHEN I WAS FIVE.

AND SO, I DEFINITELY HAD INCLINATIONS.

JOANNA: WHAT, AT WHAT POINT DID YOU COME HERE TO THE STATES AND WAS THAT BECAUSE OF DANCE?

EDYTA: IT WAS BECAUSE OF DANCE.

I MET MY HUSBAND, ALEC MAZO, WHO ALSO WAS ON DANCING WITH THE STARS.

I MET HIM AT A BALLROOM COMPETITION IN ENGLAND.

IT'S LIKE A WIMBLEDON OF BALLROOM DANCING IN BLACKPOOL AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR A PARTNER AND I WAS KIND OF INTERESTED IN MAYBE TRYING OUT.

SO- JOANNA: INTERESTED IN HIM?

OR INTERESTED IN HAVING A PARTNER?

EDYTA: NO.

INTERESTED IN DANCING.

BECAUSE AT A CERTAIN POINT IN YOUR CAREER, THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY THAT YOU CAN DANCE WITH AT YOUR LEVEL.

SO, IT'S VERY COMMON THAT PEOPLE LOOK FOR PARTNERS AT VARIOUS COUNTRIES.

SO, INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS IN BALLROOM COMMUNITY ARE QUITE NORMAL.

SO, I REMEMBER IT WAS SUMMER AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHY NOT?

I'LL GO TO SAN FRANCISCO, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE WAS.

BAY AREA IS BEAUTIFUL.

I HAVE GREAT VACATION.

IF I LIKE IT, I'LL THINK ABOUT IT.

AND I LOVED IT.

AND I STAYED.

AND WE GOT MARRIED EVENTUALLY.

JOANNA: SO, HOW DID DANCING WITH THE STARS HAPPEN?

EDYTA: DANCING WITH THE STARS CAME IN 2005 TO U.S.

AND IT WAS A SHOW THAT STARTED IN ENGLAND.

IT WAS CALLED STRICTLY BALLROOM.

AND THERE WAS ALL DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF IT, APPEARED IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY COUNTRY IN EUROPE AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IN AUSTRALIA, IN NEW ZEALAND.

SO, WHEN IT CAME TO U.S., WE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE SHOW IN ENGLAND.

WE KNEW PROFESSIONAL DANCERS THAT DANCED IN THEM.

AND, WE FELT, IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO BRING BALLROOM DANCING TO GENERAL PUBLIC.

WE AUDITIONED FOR IT AND BOTH OF US WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ON IT.

JOANNA: YOU KNOW, THE SHOW IS REALLY AMAZING BECAUSE IT BROUGHT DANCE, AND BALLROOM DANCE, TO THE PUBLIC, LIKE YOU SAID, IN A WAY THAT I THINK PEOPLE NEVER CARED ABOUT BEFORE.

NEVER UNDERSTOOD BEFORE.

THE TIMING OF THAT FOR YOU IS INCREDIBLE.

EDYTA: RIGHT.

VERY LUCKY.

JOANNA: IT GAVE YOU AN INCREDIBLE CAREER.

EDYTA: ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

JOANNA: WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT BALLROOM DANCE THAT PEOPLE CONNECTED TO?

EDYTA: I THINK IT'S THE PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK DANCING IS A LANGUAGE.

SO, WHEN YOU SEE TWO PEOPLE DANCING, IT'S SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.

I THINK, MAYBE, UH 90'S WERE A BIT OF, YOU KNOW, SOLO DANCING.

KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU STAND AROUND AND, UM, SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

JOANNA: LIKE THE BOP.

EDYTA: OR THE HIP HOP.

JOANNA: RIGHT.

RIGHT.

EDYTA: BUT IT WAS VERY MUCH ABOUT JUST ONE PERSON DANCING.

AND NOW, BALLROOM DANCING IS ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIP.

ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION.

ALL ABOUT CHEMISTRY TOGETHER.

UM, BUT DANCING WITH THE STARS SEEMED PARTICULAR.

UM.

OBVIOUSLY, IT CHOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO EXPERIENCE GOING THROUGH THIS AMAZING JOURNEY AND LEARNING, UM, THIS NEW THING.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S MOST FASCINATING.

JOANNA: SO, I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DANCING A-AND SOME OF THE, THE MOVES THAT I SEE, THERE'S A SENSUALITY TO IT.

EDYTA: OF COURSE.

JOANNA: AND THERE'S SOME CHEMISTRY, AND YOU CAN SEE SOMETIMES WHEN THERE'S CHEMISTY BEHIND, BETWEEN TWO PARTNERS.

IS IT EVER HARD FOR YOU TO WATCH YOUR HUSBAND DANCE WITH SOMEONE ELSE OR VICE VERSA?

EDYTA: OF COURSE.

IT IS VERY HARD.

UM, IT'S, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU LEARN KIND OF TO LIVE WITH BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S PART OF OUR PROFESSION.

AND I THINK CHEMISTRY IS SOMETHING, IT'S A BIT LIKE ACTING.

AND YOU, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE ACTORS THAT HAVE GREAT CHEMISTRY AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE NOT A COUPLE IN REAL LIFE.

SO, I-IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE WHEN YOU MEET A PERSON, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU CONNECT WITH INSTANTLY, AND SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU JUST.

IT'S JUST NOT WORKING.

IT'S JUST NOT INTERESTING GETTING TO KNOW THAT PERSON.

IT'S JUST LIKE THAT.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN WORK ON CHEMISTRY, YOU CAN DEVELOP IT.

YOU CAN, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO.

I MEAN, I DANCED WITH PEOPLE THAT I HAD NOTHING IN COMMON WITH.

I DANCED WITH EVANDER HOLYFIELD WHO IS, UM, A HEAVY WOR,UH, A HEAVEYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION.

I DANCED WITH GERALDO RIVERA WHO IS, YOU KNOW, OVER TWICE MY AGE AND.

JOANNA: LAWRENCE TAYLOR.

EDYTA: LAWRENCE TAYLOR.

WHO, UH, IS, YOU KNOW, THIS INCREDIBLY FAMOUS, UH, FOOTBALL PLAYER.

A LEGEND.

BUT ALSO WITH PRETTY BAD REPUTATION.

AND SOME HOW, I LEARNED TO LIKE THESE PEOPLE AND TO FIND SOMETHING IN COMMON AND.

SOME TIMES IT WOULD BE A SENSE OF HUMOR.

SOME TIMES IT WOULD BE, UH, SOME KIND OF EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.

IT'S, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT IN EVERY INDIVIDUAL.

JOANNA: DO YOU NEED TO DO THAT AS A TEACHER, BECAUSE YOU ARE A TEACHER.

DO YOU NEED TO DO THAT AS A TEACHER TO FIND THAT COMMONALITY?

EDYTA: DEFINITELY BECAUSE THE CELEBRITIES DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

I MEAN WHY WOULD FOOTBALL PLAYER KNOW HOW TO CREATE A CHEMISTRY WITH A DANCE PARTNER?

HAHA!

UH, YES.

YOU, I NEED TO DO IT.

AND I, IT'S TRICKY.

I THINK THAT'S THE MOST TRICKY PART TO FIND WHAT TURNS THESE PEOPLE, UH, WHAT TUR-TURNS THEIR SPARK ON.

AND WHAT.

WHAT MAKES THEM TICK KIND OF.

JOANNA: RIGHT.

EDYTA: SO, WHEN THEY COME OUT ON THE DANCE FLOOR YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF THEM.

JOANNA: QUICKLY YOU HAVE A LITTLE BOY.

EDYTA: YES.

JOANNA: HOW OLD IS HE?

EDYTA: HAHA!

HE'S A LITTLE BIT OVER TWO AND A HALF.

JOANNA: HOW DID THAT CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

EDYTA: OH GOSH.

UM.

UH, PROBABLY WHEN WE WERE ORIGINAL SAYING THAT IT'S LIKE THE BEST THING EVER IN MY LIFE.

I'M SURE PARENTING FOR LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S AMAZING.

IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME FOR ME.

I WAITED FOR, FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I COME FROM VERY BIG FAMILY.

I HAVE THREE SIBLINGS.

AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE A CHILD.

AND HE WAS THIS, UH, THIS, AGAIN PERFECT TIMING THAT, I-I KNEW THAT'S IT.

I WANT TO BE A MOTHER.

AND, AND I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM AND HE'S SUCH A MAMA'S BOY.

I PROBABLY SPOILED HIM INCREDIBLY.

BUT, UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM HIM FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT.

BECAUSE UP UNTIL NOW HE'S BEEN GOING WITH ME EVERYWHERE.

WE DID A NATIONAL THEATER TOUR FOR HALF A YEAR AND IT WAS TROUBLING WITH US, LIKE A TOUR BABY ON THE BUSES.

WE DID, UH, BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND HE WOULD ALWAYS GO WITH US.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME.

JOANNA: HARD FOR YOU TO LEAVE HIM, I'M SURE.

WELL WE'RE HERE TONIGHT, YOU ARE HERE FOR THE W. CARY EDWARDS FOUNDATION EVENT.

HOW DID YOU CONNECT WITH THIS FOUNDATION?

EDYTA: ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS IS A PERSON THAT ORGANIZED AN EVENT THAT I'VE DONE IN THE PAST, AND, UM, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA BE ON THIS SEASON OF DANCING WITH THE STARS SO IT WAS A BIG QUESTION MARK IF I WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT IT CAME OUT THAT I, THAT I WON'T, UM, I WANTED TO STAY WITH MY SON AND THERE WAS NO PARTNER FOR ME THAT WOULDN'T TRAVEL AND WOULD ACCOMMODATE MY SCHEDULE.

SO IT CAME OUT THAT I'M AVAILABLE AND HERE I AM WITH MY PARTNER, PAUL BARRIS, BY THE WAY, WHO IS AN INCREDIBLE DANCER.

I HOPE EVERYONE WILL ENJOY THE PERFORMANCE.

JOANNA: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO, TO GIVE BACK IN THIS WAY?

BECAUSE THIS IS, FOR YOU, A CONTRIBUTION TO SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER, AND MUCH GREATER, THAN, THAN JUST A, A PROGRAM, RIGHT?

EDYTA: YOU KNOW, GIVING BACK, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO DO WHAT WE LOVE AND UM, AND BE IN THE PUBLIC EYE, AND HAVE A PLATFORM TO SEND SOME KIND OF MESSAGE SO, UH, EVERYTIME WE CAN DO THAT IT'S, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE AND UH, I WORK WITH UH, AUTISTIC KIDS.

I THINK DANCING IS AN INCREDIBLE THING THAT CAN HELP THEM WITH THEIR UM, DISABILITY, AND UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I FEEL MAKES ME A BETTER PERSON.

JOANNA: YOU WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

EDYTA SLIWINSKA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EDYTA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

JOANNA: WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU DANCE HERE AT THE W. CARY EDWARDS FOUNDATION EVENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EDYTA: THANK YOU.

(MUSIC) NARRATOR: TO SEE MORE LIFE AND LIVING WITH JOANNA GAGIS PROGRAMS, VISIT US ONLINE AT LIFEANDLIVING.ORG.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS AN OPINION, EMAIL US AT INFO@CAUCUSNJ.ORG.

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JOANNA: I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING JOINED RIGHT NOW BY CARY EDWARDS' DAUGHTERS.

I HAVE KARI GIORDANO WITH ME, AND I HAVE MARCY BENNER WITH ME.

YOU BOTH ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE W. CARY EDWARDS FOUNDATION.

I'M GONNA START WITH YOU, KARI, WHY DID YOU GUYS START THIS FOUNDATION?

KARI: WELL, WHEN MY FATHER PASSED AWAY, UM, HE, WE TOYED WITH WHETHER OR NOT TO DO SOMETHING WITH CANCER BECAUSE HE DID SUFFER TERRIBLY FROM CANCER, AND MY FATHER WAS A, HE WAS A CIVIL SERVANT HIS ENTIRE LIFE, SO WE UM, DECIDED THAT, WHAT BETTER TO DO IN, IN HIS LEGACY THAN TO UM, HELP OTHERS, OR FIND PEOPLE TO HELP.

JOANNA: MARCY, TELL ME ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO, TO ACCOMPLISH?

MARCY: WE JUST WANT TO CARRY ON THE WORK THAT MY DAD DID WHILE HE WAS HERE IN HELPING OTHERS.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS FROM A SINGLE FAM, YOU KNOW HIS, HE WAS, HE WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER.

HE WENT, GOT ALL HIS EDUCATION THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, YOU KNOW, WENT ON AND BECAME, YOU KNOW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE AND DID SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS AND HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE GET EDUCATED.

SO WE JUST KIND OF WANT TO CARRY THAT ON AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DON'T FORGET HOW AMAZING HE WAS, AND THE SAME TIME HELP KIDS JUST LIKE HIM.

JOANNA: TELL ME SPECIFICALLY WHO YOU HELP.

HOW ARE YOU SERVING OTHERS, HOW ARE YOU SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

KARI: WE GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, WE FUND SCHOLARSHIPS, WE FIND, UM, PROGRAMS THAT ARE GEARED TOWARD EDUCATION, WHETHER IT BE PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY IN PLACES THAT DON'T HA, DON'T, CAN'T AFFORD TECHNOLOGY, OR WHETHER IT BE TAKING KIDS OUT OF AN ENVIRONMENT AND PUTTING THEM INTO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY LEARN SIMPLE THINGS AS RIDING A BIKE OR SWIMMING, OR NUTRITION, OR, UM, RECORDING, OR DANCE AND THAT KIND OF STUFF AND UM, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE DO.

JOANNA: MARCY, ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU UNDERWRITE IS CALLED LIFECAMP.

WE'LL ACTUALLY BE TALKING TO EDDIE FRANZ FROM LIFECAMP LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

HOW DID YOU SELECT THAT ORGANIZATION?

MARCY: UM, SOMEBODY CAME TO US.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TELL US ABOUT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ALL THE TIME.

WE GET LETTERS, YOU KNOW, WE REVIEW THEM AS A FAMILY BECAUSE THIS IS A FAMILY, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE MY AUNTS, COUSINS, AND, YOU KNOW, US AND MY MOTHER, SO WE REVIEW IT AS A FAMILY AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND SOMEBODY CAME TO US WITH LIFECAMP.

UM, SO WE WENT AND WE TOURED THE, THE CAMPUS THIS SUMMER.

WE FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

WE FELL IN LOVE WITH EDDIE, WE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS PASSION FOR HELPING THESE KIDS, WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE KIDS, THE COUNSELORS, AND WE LEFT THERE AND IT WAS, IT WAS LIKE THE DECISION WAS MADE.

WE WERE IN THE CAR AND WE'RE LIKE THIS IS, THIS IS IT.

THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

JOANNA: SO DO YOU NEED THAT CONNECTION?

THAT, THAT EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THE ORGANIZATION TO SAY YES, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO?

MARCY: I THINK SO.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE A VERY CONNECTED FAMILY, AND I THINK THAT'S JUST IN OUR NATURE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO FIND SOMETHING THAT LIKE SPEAKS TO US.

AND SO I, YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

JOANNA: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT TONIGHT'S EVENT, RACING TOWARD EDUCATION?

YOU'RE DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIP NEW JERSEY.

WHAT IS IT?

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH TONIGHT'S EVENT.

KARI: UM, WE'RE REALLY JUST HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH EVERYONE COMING, ENJOYING THEMSELVES, KNOWING THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MAYBE ONE PERSON, MAYBE TEN PEOPLE, MAYBE 500 PEOPLE, AND UM, TO JUST REMEMBER THAT IT REALLY ONLY TAKES, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON TO CHANGE ANOTHER PERSON'S LIVES, LIFE.

JOANNA: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAD.

WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE COMMUNICATED TO YOU ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE WHILE YOU WERE YOUNG.

MARCY: WELL, HE WAS SURROUNDED BY WOMEN HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HIS MOTHER, HIS SISTER, HE HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, MY MOTHER, MY MOM, HIS TWO SISTERS, YOU KNOW, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF WOMEN AROUND A LOT.

JOANNA: A LOT OF ESTROGEN.

MARCY: YEAH.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE DID WAS HE HELPED WOMEN GET EDUCATED.

LIKE, HE, THERE'S A NURSING SCHOOL NOW NAMED AFTER HIM AT THOMAS EDISON COLLEGE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE WANT TO JUST KEEP GOING AND SO PEOPLE REMEMBER WHO HE WAS AND LIKE THE THINGS HE STOOD FOR, AND THE THINGS HE LIVED FOR, AND THE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO HIM, AND HE INSTILLED THAT IMPORTANCE IN US, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND JUST HELPING PEOPLE IN GENERAL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, SO.

KARI: AND BEING A CIVIL SERVANT WAS, TO HIM, THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN HIS CAREER.

IN HIS LIFE CAREER.

JOANNA: I WOULD SAY MAYBE SECOND TO BEING A DAD, 'CAUSE LOOK AT- MARCY: OBVIOUSLY.

JOANNA: LOOK AT HOW HIS GIRLS TURNED OUT.

CAN WE SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT YOUR OTHER VENTURE, BECAUSE YOU GIRLS OWN A BOUTIQUE IN WYCKOFF, KARI: WE DO!

JOANNA: RIGHT?

TELL US ABOUT THE BOUTIQUE.

MARCY: WELL, HONESTLY, HE WAS A VERY BIG PART OF THAT, TOO.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS, HASN'T BEEN AROUND THE LAST SIX YEARS, YOU KNOW, HE FOSTERED MY MOM TO HAVE HER OWN BUSINESS WITH HER SISTER, SO SHE HAS A SCHOOL, CRADLE TO KINDERGARTEN, WHICH IS A DAYCARE CENTER, AND THEN- JOANNA: CRADLE TO KINDERGARTEN?

MARCY: YEAH.

AND THEN WE WATCHED THEM, AND IT WAS KIND OF LIKE, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WERE INTERESTED IN, SO IT WAS LIKE SECOND NATURE FOR US TO BE PARTNERS.

LIKE, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, HOW DO YOU LIVE, LIKE, WE LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN, OUR KIDS GROW UP TOGETHER, WE HAVE A BUSINESS TOGETHER, WE'RE ALWAYS TOGETHER.

JOANNA: DON'T YOU EVER GET SICK OF EACH OTHER?

MARCY: EXACTLY!

AND WE DO.

WE DEFINITELY DO.

BUT, BUT, WE, WE WORK IT OUT, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE, IT'S, IT'S GREAT.

KARI: THERE'S MORE BENEFITS THAN THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, DOWNFALLS.

JOANNA: TELL US ABOUT THE, THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING A BOUTIQUE IN NEW JERSEY.

THERE ARE MANY BOUTIQUES IN NEW JERSEY, UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A HIGH FASHION SENSE IN NEW JERSEY, SO HOW DO YOU KIND OF CHALLENGE YOURSELVES, AND HOW DO YOU MEET THOSE, THOSE DEMANDS?

KARI: WE ASK OURSELVES THAT QUESTION EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IF WE KNEW THE ANSWER TO THAT WE'D...IT WOULD BE EASY SAILING.

UM, IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW.

YOU HAVE THE BIG BOX STORES, YOU HAVE THE INTERNET.

YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY FOCUS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE.

AND REALLY THAT ONE ON ONE, UM, EXPERIENCE IS COMING IN...AND FEELING LIKE WHEN YOU COME IN, YOU, WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

WE KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU WALK OUT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE A SALE, LOOKING YOU KNOW, NOT, THE WAY WE WOULD WANT YOU TO LOOK.

MARCY: AND WE ALSO SEPARATED OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, 'CAUSE WE STARTED DEVELOPING OUR OWN LINE.

SO WE HAVE OUR OWN STUFF, IT'S CALLED VIRGINIA WOLF.

WE HAVE OUR OWN STUFF IN THE STORE.

YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, LIKE, EXCLUSIVE FOR MALUKA.

SO IT'S BEEN.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE LIKED IT, AND AGAIN, IT JUST ENCOMPASSES OUR FAMILY, LIKE THEY FEEL THEY'VE KNOW US, YOU KNOW WE HAVE CUSTOMERS COMING HERE TONIGHT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN OUR FAMILY NOW.

AND WE'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY NINE YEARS, AND IT WILL BE TEN YEARS IN OCTOBER.

AND THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, JUST AN EXTENSION OF US NOW.

JOANNA: THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH YOU TWO LADIES.

AND NO SHORTAGE OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S ONE ON ONE RELATIONSHIPS OR FINDING ORGANIZATIONS WHO NEED SUPPORT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU LADIES ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE IN NJ FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

MARCY: THANK YOU.

KARI: THANKS.

KARI: WE STARTED THIS FOUNDATION JUST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MAYBE ONE PERSON SAVED, AND WE ENDED UP MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SO THANK YOU.

WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

(APPLAUSE) NARRATOR: TO WATCH MORE LIFE & LIVING WITH JOANNA GAGIS, FIND US ONLINE AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

JOANNA: MY NEXT GUEST IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE'S DOING TO HELP EMPOWER THE YOUTH IN GREATER NEWARK AREA.

HIS NAME IS EDDIE FRANZ.

HE'S FROM LIFE CAMP.

YOU ARE THE CAMP DIRECTOR, THERE, AT LIFE CAMP.

EDDIE: I AM.

JOANNA: IN POTTERVILLE NJ?

EDDIE: YES MA'AM.

JOANNA: TELL US ABOUT LIFE CAMP, WHAT IS ITS MISSION?

EDDIE: UM, ITS MISSION IS TO, UM, BE A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR INNER CITY KIDS.

WE STARTED, I,I, CAME ABOARD TWENTY NINE YEARS AGO.

UM , AND, UH, IT WAS BASICALLY JUST A CAMP WHERE THEY TOOK KIDS FROM NEWARK, AND BROUGHT THEM OUT TO THE WOODS AND HOPE THAT THAT WAS GOING TO SORT OF CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

AND IN SOME CASES MAYBE IT DID, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PROGRAM THAT I THOUGHT WAS ADAPTABLE TO THOSE KIDS ALL YEAR ROUND.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID OVER THE COURSE OF TIME.

TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

JOANNA: WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THESE KIDS WHO LIVE IN NEWARK AND THE GREATER NEWARK AREA, OF GETTING OUT OF THE CITY, GETTING OUT OF THE URBAN AREA, AND INTO GREENLAND, ONTO FARMS?

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR THEM?

EDDIE: TO ME, MOST OF THE KIDS WHEN I ASK THEM WHAT THEY WOULD, WHERE THEY WOULD BE IF THEY WEREN'T IN CAMP, UM THEY ALL, NOT ALL SAY, BUT ABOUT NINETY FIVE PERCENT SAY THEY WOULD HAVE TO STAY INSIDE, GIVEN THE CONDITION OF SOME PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE, WHERE THEIR PARENTS ARE WORKING ALL DAY.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LET THE KIDS ROAM AROUND OUTSIDE.

JOANNA: THE RISK OF GANG ACTIVITY?

EDDIE: GANG ACTIVITY.

JOANNA: DRUGS.

EDDIE: THE WHOLE OPERATION.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THEY CAN RUN INTO.

SIMPLY JUST NOT HAVING SOMEONE KEEP AN EYE ON 'EM ALL DAY LONG, YOU KNOW.

UM, AND, SO, THE IDEA OF GETTING THEM OUT IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

BUT THERE ALSO ADD TO THE FACT THAT WE DO THINGS THAT SUPPLEMENT WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, IS AN ADDED BONUS TO THESE KIDS.

JOANNA: SUCH AS WHAT?

GIVE US AN EXAMPLE.

EDDIE: OUR PROGRAM INVOLVES THREE DIFFERENT AREAS.

ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC, AND ARTISTIC.

SO IT IS LIKE A SCHOOL, IT'S A SIX WEEK SCHOOL.

SO, IN THEIR SEVEN PERIOD DAY, THEY MAY HAVE UM, AN ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASS, GRAPHIC ARTS CLASS, THEY MIGHT HAVE A PHYSICAL THING, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND NINETY MINUTES IN A POOL, LEARN HOW TO SWIM, RIDING BIKES.

UM, AND ON THE ACADEMIC SIDE, WE HAVE THE VALUES CLASS FOR THE OLDER KIDS, WE HAVE READING PROGRAMS, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE INTERSPERSED TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS GET A LITTLE PIECE OF EVERYTHING.

JOANNA: ALRIGHT, EDDIE, I'M THINKING KIDS YOU KNOW HAVE, THEY LOOK FORWARD ALL YEAR TO SUMMER BREAK, RIGHT?

EDDIE: RIGHT.

JOANNA: THEY GET TO SUMMER BREAK, AND ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THIS GROUP OF KIDS ACTUALLY WANTS TO SIGN UP TO GO BACK TO A SIX WEEK SCHOOL DURING SUMMER PERIOD BECAUSE THAT TO THEM IS BETTER THAN SITTING AT HOME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.

EDDIE: I WOULD TELL YOU, YOU ARE ABSOLUTLY RIGHT.

YOU'RE...THAT'S ABSOLUTLY RIGHT.

JOANNA: SO THESE KIDS CONNECT.

EDDIE: THEY CONNECT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THERE ARE THINGS THEY CAN DO AT CAMP THEY CAN'T DO IN SCHOOL.

FOR INSTANCE, UM, IF I HAVE A KID WHO HAS CERTAIN ABILITIES, THEY CAN OPT OUT OF A PARTICULAR CLASS AND GO MORE OF AN ADVANCED CLASS.

THEY CAN LEAVE THEIR PARTICULAR SCHEDULE AND WANDER OFF AND HAVE THE FREEDOM TO FIND SOMETHING.

FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE A RECORDING STUDIO.

KIDS WRITE THEIR OWN MUSIC.

WRITE THEIR OWN HIP-HOP STUFF.

IF THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT, THEY CAN DO A DOUBLE PERIOD, AND ACTUALLY GET THAT THING DONE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN NORMAL SCHOOL, JUST CAME UP TO A TEACHER AND SAY, YOU KNOW, "I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE MATH TODAY", I'M GOING SKIP MATH FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS".

SO THAT FREEDOM, TO SORT OF, INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN SOMETHING THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT A SCHOOL IS.

BESIDES THE FACT, YOU GOT ALL OF THESE ACRES, YOU HAVE A RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH THE PLACE.

IT'S ALL A DIFFERENT WORLD.

JOANNA: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS?

EDDIE: 29 YEARS.

JOANNA: 29 YEARS.

EDDIE: YEAH.

JOANNA: YOU'RE STILL PASSIONATE ABOUT IT?

EDDIE: YEAH, I AM.

I ABSOLUTELY- JOANNA: WHY?

EDDIE: UM, BECAUSE IT IS TURNED IN TO REAL FAMILY THING.

SOME OF THE KIDS THAT I HAD AS CAMPERS BACK 20 YEARS A GO NOW ARE MY STAFF.

UM, THEY UNDERSTAND WHATEVER THE MESSAGE IS.

I DON'T HAVE TO DELIVER ALL THE TIME.

THEY DELIVER IT FOR ME.

SO IT'S LIKE VISITING FAMILY SIX WEEKS OUT OF THE SUMMER.

UM, AND IT'S SO ECLECTIC AND IT'S SO DIVERSE.

I MEAN WE HIRE KIDS FROM ALL OVER.

PLACES LIKE OUT IN POTTERVILE WHERE YOU HAVE SUBURBIA AND THEN, YOU KNOW, LARGE PART OF OUR STAFF IS FROM NORTH THAT COMES UP ON THE BUSES WITH THE KIDS.

JOANNA: HOW DO YOU FUND THIS?

WHO PAYS FOR IT?

EDDIE: HA, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S KIND OF WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT.

WE, WE NEED KIND OF HELP.

WE FUND IT FROM ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF OPERATIONS.

WE GET SOME FUNDING FROM THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM, SO WHERE OUR LUNCHES ARE PAID FROM SO AS LONG AS WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

BUT MOSTLY IT'S JUST REACHING OUT TO FOUNDATIONS AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT TO HELP US.

JOANNA: YOU CONNECTED TO THE W. CARY EDWARDS FOUNDATION WHO'S A RECENT SUPPORTER OF YOURS.

EDDIE: MMHMM.

JOANNA: TELL US HOW THAT HAPPENED AND WHY YOU'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM ON BOARD.

EDDIE: UM, THIS SUMMER, UM, WE STARTED TO REACH OUT TO FOUNDATIONS AND PLACES THAT WE NORMALLY HAD NOT CONNECTED TO.

THE SELLING POINT FOR LIFECAMP IS SHOWING UP.

YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE CAMP TO SEE IT.

THE QUESTION YOU ASKED ME FEW MINUTES A GO IS WHY WOULD THESE KIDS WANT TO GET ON A BUS AND COME BACK AND DO SCHOOL KIND OF STUFF.

BUT AS SOON AS YOU GET TO THE CAMP AND YOU SEE 300 KIDS SORT OF VANISH IN TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CAMP, SMILES IN THEIR FACES, HAVING FUN, LEARNING STUFF, IT SELLS IT SELF.

SO WHEN W. CARY EDWARDS CAME OUT THIS SUMMER, THANK GOD THEY CAME OUT.

THEY SAW IT AND GOT EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING AND GOT ON BOARD.

JOANNA: WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGES FOR ANYONE WATCHING WHO SAYS I WANT TO SUPPORT, I WANT TO GET INVOLVED, DO YOU NEED VOLUNTEERS, DO YOU NEED MORE SUPPORT?

TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN DO.

EDDIE: UM, WE HAVE PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE A LOT OF, UM, KIDS FROM BOTH THE AREAS OF NEWARK AND OUT THERE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN OPERATION THAT THEY CAN REALLY GET INVOLVED WITH INNER CITY KIDS.

UM, FUNDING PIECE IS THE CRITICAL THING.

IT'S EXPESIVE CAMP TO RUN SIX WEEKS.

IT'S NOT JUST ROLLING OUT SOME KICKBALLS AND HOPING THE KIDS HAVE SOME FUN.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE SCIENCE PROGRAMS.

THE KIDS TO WATER RESEARCH ON THE BLACK RIVER.

YOU KNOW, THEY WRITE THEIR OWN, LIKE I SAID, MUSIC.

WE HAVE A PERCUSSION BAND THERE.

WE DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS WITH THESE KIDS SO, UM, FUNDING THE PROGRAM IS A REALLY CRITICAL THING FOR US.

JOANNA: EDDIE, YOU'RE CHANGING LIVES.

YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

EDDIE: UM, THEY CHANGE MINE.

SO I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S FAIR.

(LAUGHTER) EDDIE: IT'S FAIR.

JOANNA: EDDIE FRANZ, CAMP DIRECTOR AT LIFE CAMP.

CHECK IT OUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EDDIE: THANK YOU.

(MUSIC) NARRATOR: LIFE AND LIVING HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF: THE CAUCUS EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION.

CELEBRATING OVER 25 YEARS OF BROADCAST EXCELLENCE.

AND NJTV.

FUNDING FOR THIS EDITION OF LIFE AND LIVING WITH JOANNA GAGIS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: NJIT SUMMIT MEDICAL GROUP HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY SHOPRITE SUPERMARKETS GARY'S WINE & MARKETPLACE THE GIVE SOMETHING BACK FOUNDATION AND BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: HUDSON MOD LIFE WELL LIVED AND BY NEW JERSEY FAMILY MAGAZINE AND NJFAMILY.COM ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: MELANDRE SALON AND SULIS SPA.

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