>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS.

ONLINE AT NJCHAMBER.COM.

NJBIA HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS, AND IS BUILT TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS IN TODAY'S NEW NORMAL.

NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, WHERE BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.

>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," ADVOCATES MARK PRIDE MONTH BY CALLING FOR BETTER PROTECTIONS IN WORK PLACE ENVIRONMENTS FOR LGTBQ WORKERS.

PLUS IT IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS ADDED TO THE ECONOMY AS NEW JOBLESS CLAIMS DROP.

>>> AND NEW JERSEY GIVES BACK.

WE PUT PHILANTHROPY IN FOCUS HIGHLIGHTING HOW BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR STATE.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

>> Announcer: THIS IS "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>>> HELLO, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

>>> MORE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE FOR WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS COMPANIES ARE STAFFING UP AGAIN.

THIS WEEK ADP SAID PRIVATE COMPANIES HIRED NEARLY 1 MILLION WORKERS IN MAY.

THAT WAS MORE THAN EXPECTED.

A TOTAL OF 978,000 NEW POSITIONS WERE CREATED WITH A MAJORITY OF THOSE JOBS IN THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

>> WITH THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT, PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE INOCULATED, IT ALL POINTS TO STRONGER JOB GROWTH.

THE GROWTH WE KNEW WAS THERE, IT HAD BEEN HIDING FROM US BUT IT'S FINALLY STARTING TO SHOW UP IN THE NUMBERS.

>>> THIS WEEK PRESIDENT BIDEN RECOGNIZED PRIDE MONTH AND SAID HIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR FULL EQUALITY FOR AMERICANS.

TODAY'S WORK PLACE IS FALLING SHORT OF FULL INCLUSION INCLUDING A 2020 SURVEY FROM THE CONSULTING FIRM MACKENZIE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THAT SURVEY FOUND THAT LGBTQ WOMEN ARE UNDER REPRESENTED, AND THEY FACE INCREASED RATES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

WE TALKED TO ONE BUSINESS OWNER WHO FELT SHE HAD TO HIDE HER IDENTITY AT WORK.

WHEN THE TRUTH CAME OUT, SHE LOST HER JOB.

NOW SHE OWNS HER OWN BUSINESS.

MONICA, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.

TELL ME HOW BEING AN OPENLY GAY WOMAN IMPACTED YOUR CAREER JOURNEY.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING.

IF I LOOK BACK, I WASN'T ALWAYS OPENLY GAY.

WHEN I WAS IN THE WORKFORCE, WORKING OUT OF COLLEGE, I WAS IN THE CLOSET, LIKE MANY OF THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WASN'T UNTIL 20, 21 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS DOING ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY IN THE WORKFORCE, BUT I WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY UNHAPPY.

AND ULTIMATELY, WHEN I DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO COME OUT, I HAD FOUND SOMEBODY THAT I WANTED TO BE WITH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

AND IF I HAD ENOUGH COURAGE TO TELL MY PARENTS, I HAD ENOUGH COURAGE ULTIMATELY TO TELL THE REST OF THE WORLD, RIGHT.

ONCE I DID THAT, I DID LOSE MY JOB.

AND I STARTED MARKET SMITH A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT, BECAUSE I JUST -- TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I JUST -- RHONDA, I JUST DID NOT WANT TO AGAIN GO BACK INTO A WORLD WHERE I COULDN'T BE MY FULL ME.

SO THAT REALLY STARTED MY JOURNEY.

>> OVER THIS PAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

>> RIGHT.

>> ARE WE SEEING THAT IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

DOES THE COMMUNITY FEEL LIKE IT'S A SAFER SPACE IN THEIR WORK PLACES?

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

IT REALLY IS.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME MORE WORK TO DO FOR EVERYONE TO -- YOU KNOW, TO COME FORWARD AND BE WHO THEY ARE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF SINGLE MOMS AND FOLKS THAT MIGHT FEEL MARGINALIZED BECAUSE OF THEIR WEIGHT OR MAYBE THEIR PARENTS WEREN'T -- MAYBE THEIR ENGLISH IS NOT PERFECT.

THERE IS A LOT OF AREAS WHERE, IN BUSINESS, WE CAN IMPROVE UPON.

AND I THINK THAT WE'RE TAKING THOSE STEPS.

BUT I THINK CHANGE IN BUSINESS REALLY COMES FROM THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE BUSINESS.

AND WHEN EMPLOYEES RAISE THEIR VOICES, WHEN IT'S ON ANY SUBJECT, THE COMPANIES TEND TO LISTEN.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S -- IT'S UP TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATION.

BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP EVERYONE.

AND I THINK THAT'S HOW BUSINESSES REALIZE BECAUSE -- THAT THEY HAVE TO CHANGE AND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING THEM MAKE -- HELP THEM GO TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT IN A WAY YOUR JOURNEY, IT SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS, IN THAT YOU STARTED YOUR OWN COMPANY.

YOU HAD THE CONFIDENCE TO DO THAT.

SO I THINK SOME PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT YOUR STORY AND ALSO BE INSPIRED.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T -- LIKE I SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THE OLDEST PERSON ON "AMERICAN IDOL".

I DIDN'T GET HERE OVERNIGHT.

IT TOOK BRICK BY BRICK YEAR OVER YEAR AND STUMBLING AND FALLING.

I WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT -- I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS TO BE HAD HERE.

THE FIRST IS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

AND ONCE I WAS TRUE TO MYSELF, I RECOGNIZED I WAS UNSTOPPABLE.

DOES THAT MEAN I HAD FAILURES?

MULTIPLE.

BUT I WAS ABLE NOT TO BE DETERRED BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I ALREADY COULD -- I HAD TO KEEP GOING.

AND I ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE A LIFE THAT WASN'T TRUE.

YOU DON'T GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY DOING THE WORK THAT I'M DOING BY MYSELF.

IT REALLY -- IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE.

AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE COMPANIES, AS WELL AS REALLY GREAT EMPLOYEES, HELP ME OUT ALONG THE WAY.

>> MONICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING TO ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, RHONDA.

TAKE CARE.

>>> A KEY FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT PROVED TO BE A LIFELINE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES HAS ENDED.

THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION'S PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED TO NEW LOAN APPLICATIONS.

THE PPP PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR.

IT PROVIDED NEARLY $800 BILLION TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS ACROSS THE U.S.

INCLUDING NEARLY $26 BILLION TO BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS RIGHT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

ACCORDING TO SBA REGIONAL DIRECTOR AL TATONE.

>> WE REALLY TOUCHED A LOT OF LIVES WITH THIS AND HELPED A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

I KNOW THERE WILL BE BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT NOT EVERYBODY GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED.

BUT I THINK FROM A NATIONWIDE STANDPOINT THIS HAS BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL.

>> WHILE THE DOOR CLOSES ON PPP FUNDING STATE GRANT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS.

THERE IS STILL A FINANCIAL NEED, ESPECIALLY FOR CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP RESIDENTS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR NONPROFITS, THE NEW JERSEY STATE ASSOCIATION, FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY IS BY FAR THE GREATEST CHALLENGE NONPROFITS FACE.

A SURVEY CONDUCTED A FEW MONTHS BACK FOUND THAT 25% OF NEW JERSEY'S NONPROFITS HAD TO LAY OFF WORKERS LAST YEAR.

66% NEEDED TO APPLY FOR A PPP LOAN, 25% SAID THEY NEED MORE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE THIS YEAR, BUT 62% EXPECT TO SEE FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR AS WELL.

HELPING TO BRIGHTEN THE OUTLOOK, MANY NONPROFIT GROUPS HAVE HAD SUCCESSFUL FUND-RAISING COMPANIES.

RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES STEPPED UP, DONATING GENEROUSLY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND.

TODAY WE'RE PUTTING CHARITABLE DONATIONS IN FOCUS, LOOKING AT HOW THE BUSINESS OF GIVING CHANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND HOW PHILANTHROPY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES HIT BY COVID.

IF YOU WANT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF GENEROSITY, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE NEW JERSEY PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND.

LAUNCHED IN MARCH OF 2020, THE FUND IS STILL GOING STRONG AND THE AMOUNT OF DONATIONS RECEIVED HAS IMPRESSED A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY WHO IS THE RELIEF FUND'S FOUNDING CHAIR AND BIGGEST ADVOCATE.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE TOUCHED BASE WITH YOU ON NEW JERSEY'S PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND.

BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHERE THINGS STAND.

>> SURE.

THANK YOU.

THE NEW JERSEY PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND HAS, TO DATE, RAISED OVER $66 MILLION.

THAT FUNDING CAME FROM OVER 62,000 INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES.

AND WE HAVE -- THAT'S LITERALLY FROM ALL 21 COUNTIES IN ALL THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND 11 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

AND WE HAVE WORKED IN -- ACROSS THE STATE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO HELP IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS THE GREATEST NEED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT'S IN EVERYTHING FROM FOOD SECURITY TO HEALTH CARE TO HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED, WHO WERE LEFT OUT OF ANY OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

WE'VE WORKED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS NOW, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE.

>> WE WANTED TO TALK TO YOU SINCE THIS WEEK WE'RE FOCUSED ON CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY BECAUSE THIS FUND I THINK REALLY EXCEEDED A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.

THERE'S JUST BEEN AN OUTPOURING OF GIVING THIS YEAR AND IF THERE'S ANY POSITIVE THING THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, I WOULD SAY THAT WAS IT.

IT'S JUST BEEN AMAZING.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THIS FUND, NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE INDIVIDUALS, THERE WERE SOME WHO GAVE -- ONE PERSON GAVE A DOLLAR A WEEK FOR EVERY WEEK THAT THE FUND HAS BEEN IN OPERATION.

AND THEN YOU HAD THE LIKES OF MACKENZIE SCOTT, WHO JUST MAGICALLY DROPS $20 MILLION IN OUR LAPS.

BUT IN BETWEEN WE HAD EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS THAT VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME AND GAVE THEIR OWN STAFF, YOU HAD FOUNDATIONS THAT LEANED IN.

WE HAVE ON THE GROUND PARTNERS, SOME THAT GAVE IN-KIND GIFTS AND DONATIONS.

WE HAD LEMONADE STANDS AND HAIR CUT -- YOU KNOW, FRATERNITIES THAT COULDN'T GET TOGETHER THEY HAD ALL OF THEIR MEMBERS GIVE -- WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE SPENT ON A HAIR CUT IN A GIVEN MONTH WHEN THEY WERE SEPARATED.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

AND NOT INCLUDING THE INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY OF SOME OF OUR CELEBRITIES, MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS WHO LEANED IN ON THE NEW JERSEY FOR NEW JERSEY EVENT WHO GAVE THEIR TIME AND TALENT AND HELPED GIVE A VIRTUAL HUG TO OUR STATE.

I WOULD SAY OVERALL, RHONDA, THE LEVEL OF GIVING, THE LEVEL OF HAVING ONE ANOTHER'S BACKS AND THE FACT THAT WE ALL CAME TOGETHER AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, IT'S EXTRAORDINARY, THAT'S NEW JERSEY.

>> THE PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND, WILL IT REMAIN OPEN FOR A WHILE OR IS THERE A PLAN TO WRAP THAT UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> SO WE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING THAT AS LONG AS THERE IS A NEED WE KNOW THERE'S AN ENORMOUS NEED.

AS LONG AS THERE'S A NEED AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE FUNDS TO MEET THAT NEED WE WILL BE OPERATIONAL.

JUST YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A MEETING AND WE JUST AGREED TO LEAN IN HEAVILY AND WORK WITH THE THREE BANKS ACROSS THE STATE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DISTRIBUTING DIAPERS AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO THOSE MOST IN NEED AS THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE WITH CHILD CARE, WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE TRYING TO GO BACK TO WORK.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING HARD TO LOOK AT ONGOING CHALLENGES AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT SPACE BETTER GOING FORWARD.

SO WE HAVE PILOT PROJECTS GOING ON WITH MENTAL HEALTH, NURSE-TO-NURSE PEER COUNSELING, WITH STUDENTS SO THEY CAN GET MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THEY MIGHT HAVE.

AND ALSO CHILD CARE WITH A PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE UNITED WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING NOT JUST TO FILL A GAP AND PLUG A HOLE BUT TRYING TO THINK, HOW DO WE REINVENT AND REIMAGINE A CHALLENGE THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A LONG TIME AND USE THIS CRISIS TO PROPEL US FORWARD IN A WAY THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE BOX AND HOPEFULLY THAT PILOT PROGRAM WILL COME TO SOME GREAT RESULTS AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A GREAT WAY FORWARD IN THIS PANDEMIC.

>> FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> ONE HARD HIT NEW JERSEY INDUSTRY IS PAYING IT FORWARD.

WHEN THE STATE WAS ONE OF THE WORST HOT SPOTS FOR COVID-19 NEW JERSEY HOSPITALS RECEIVED DONATIONS OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO HELP MANAGE THROUGH THOSE DIFFICULT MONTHS.

NOW THOSE SAME HOSPITALS ARE DONATING EQUIPMENT AND CASH TO HOSPITALS IN INDIA, WHICH IS STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH A SEVERE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.

ABOUT 30 HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE MAKING THESE DONATIONS, ACCORDING TO THE NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, KATHY BENNETT IS PRESIDENT AND CEO.

>> SO AS OUR NUMBERS IN NEW JERSEY ARE IMPROVING AND WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN INDIA WHERE THEY'RE NOW A THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IS COVID AND OVER 300,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED, OUR MEMBERS, OUR HOSPITALS WANTED TO STEP UP AND HELP OUT.

>> THERE'S BEEN AN OUTPOURING OF DONATIONS TO MANY ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY, THE STATE'S LARGEST ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATION, SAW A SHARP INCREASE IN GIVING.

KAREN LEASE, THE FOOD BANK'S VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT HOPES THE MONEY WILL CONTINUE TO COME IN 'CAUSE AS SHE TOLD ME HUNGER IS STILL A PROBLEM.

>> THIS WAS QUITE A YEAR FOR THE FOOD BANK GIVEN THE PANDEMIC, WHAT DID WE SEE IN TERMS OF AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> RHONDA, IT'S BEEN PRETTY INCREDIBLE, I HAVE TO SAY.

WHERE WE SEE TREMENDOUS NEED, WE'VE ALSO SEEN GENEROSITY.

MORE NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS AND ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE COME OUT TO MAKE MONETARY DONATIONS, VOLUNTEERING AND GIVING FOOD THEMSELVES.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> HOW IS THE LEVEL OF GIVING OR TYPES OF DONORS CHANGED OVER THE PAST YEAR FOR YOU?

>> WELL, THE VOLUME OF GIVING BASICALLY DOUBLED.

AT THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL AND AT OUR HIGHEST LEVELS OF CORPORATE PARTNERS, FOUNDATION AND PUBLIC PARTNERS WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

IT'S BEEN UNIVERSALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A BETTER PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PERSISTENT PRE-PANDEMIC NOW IS -- HAS BEEN ELEVATED AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF THIS.

AND THE PANDEMIC HAS CERTAINLY EXACERBATED IT.

CORPORATE SUPPORT HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLY GENEROUS AT ALL LEVELS.

INDIVIDUAL GIVING FROM EVERY DOLLAR THAT CAN PROVIDE THE EQUIVALENT OF THREE MEALS TO $1,000 TO A MILLION DOLLARS, FRANKLY.

IT'S -- IT SPANS THE GAMUT.

>> HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CORPORATE DONATIONS CONTINUE TO FLOW?

A LOT OF CHARITIES AND OTHER NONPROFITS HAVE REPORTED IT'S BEEN A REALLY STRONG YEAR FOR FUND-RAISING BUT OBVIOUSLY NEEDS DON'T GO AWAY EVEN WHEN THE PANDEMIC RECEDES.

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP IT FRONT AND CENTER FOR CORPORATIONS IN THE STATE?

>> IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUESTION, RHONDA.

THANK YOU.

I THINK EVEN AS OUR STATE REOPENS, I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THE STRUGGLE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED IS FAR FROM OVER.

THERE'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO USE UP THEIR SAVINGS WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO THEIR FULL LIVELIHOOD YET.

WITH THIS IN MIND, OUR WORK REMAINS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER.

AND I THINK OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS UNDERSTAND THAT AND ARE COMMITTED IN THE LONG-TERM.

PEOPLE WHO BECAME NEW PARTNERS DURING THE PANDEMIC HOPEFULLY WILL SEE THEIR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN ACTION FIRSTHAND AND REALIZE THAT SUSTAINED SUPPORT IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

I THINK ANOTHER PLACE THAT CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN SO ESSENTIAL TO OUR OPERATION AND WAS REALLY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC IS VOLUNTEERISM.

WHEN EMPLOYEES COULDN'T GO TO THEIR WORK PLACES, THEN THEIR WORK PLACES DIDN'T SEND THEM HERE IN GROUPS TO VOLUNTEER.

WE'RE REALLY HOPING NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE RETURNING TO THEIR OFFICES OR HAVING HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENTS WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT THAT IT'S VERY SAFE AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND REALLY IMPACTFUL TO COME AND VOLUNTEER HERE AT THE FOOD BANK.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ONE BIG LESSON LEARNED OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO IN TERMS OF SECURING DONATIONS OR REACHING NEW PARTNERS, A LESSON THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE FORWARD WITH YOU?

>> I THINK IT REALLY GOES BACK TO PUBLIC AWARENESS.

WHEN YOU'RE HELPING WITH THIS CONVERSATION, PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THAT FOOD INSECURITY LIVES IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IN THE STATE, IN EVERY TOWN.

WE HAVE INCREDIBLE AFFLUENCE IN NEW JERSEY.

WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE IN GREAT NEED.

AND THE PANDEMIC REALLY AFFECTED EVERYONE BUT OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN LARGER PROPORTIONS.

SO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DON'T JUST GET TO FLIP THE LIGHT SWITCH BACK ON AND IT'S ALL OF A SUDDEN OVER.

THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT.

IT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRING ALL OF OUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN GETTING BACK TO, YOU KNOW, QUOTE/UNQUOTE NORMAL.

>> THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS EFFORT AND GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AS WELL.

>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>>> FINALLY, WE WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A STORY OF A GROUP OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS WHO FELT GRATEFUL TO GIVE, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC THAT WAS IMPACTING THEIR OWN STORES.

WHAT BEGAN AS A ONE-TIME FUND-RAISING EVENT IS HAVING A LASTING IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR APPROACH TO BUSINESS.

I SPOKE WITH KATHLEEN AND ERIKA.

KATHLEEN, I'D LOVE TO START WITH YOU, IT'S GREAT TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

EXPLAIN TO ME YOUR STORY.

HOW DID YOU FIND A NEED AND DECIDE TO SERVE IT?

>> SO WE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES HERE, WHICH WE ONLY RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF.

I GUESS WE NEVER REALLY LOOKED INTO THAT.

DURING INTERNAL WOMEN'S MONTH WE HAD ALL BEEN LOOKING TO TRY TO BRING BUSINESS BACK AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE ALL IN NEED OF THAT.

AND INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT OURSELVES, I KNEW THAT OASIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION THAT HELPED WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIND A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY THROUGH EDUCATION.

AND DECIDED THAT MAYBE COLLECTIVELY IT WOULD BE NICE FOR ALL OF US TO DO A FUND-RAISER FOR THEM, IT WOULD HELP ALL OF US, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE COULD GIVE BACK TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN DURING SUCH AN IMPORTANT MONTH.

>> SO ERIKA, WHY DID THIS IDEA CATCH ON WITH YOU PERSONALLY?

>> SO IT CAUGHT ON WITH ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE IN A MOMENT WHERE WE WERE ALL LOOKING, AGAIN, TO BENEFIT OUR BUSINESSES, KATHLEEN BROUGHT THIS MOMENT OF GRATITUDE IN AND SAID WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO STILL BE IN BUSINESS, AND IT'S SORT OF FELT -- IT FELT LIKE THE RIGHT MOMENT INSTEAD OF THINKING OF OURSELVES TO THINK ABOUT WOMEN WHO WERE STILL IN NEED.

SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS -- IT WAS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR ME PERSONALLY AND I KNOW FOR THE WOMEN THAT WE COLLABORATED WITH, TO SHIFT OUR GEARS AND THINK ABOUT GIVING BACK.

>> KATHLEEN, WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON PHILANTHROPY NOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU ORGANIZED THIS?

>> WELL, OUR STORE HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO HAVE SOME PHILANTHROPY INVOLVED, WE'VE DONE FUND-RAISERS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND GIVEN THEM QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.

WE'VE ALSO DONE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CERTAIN SCHOOLS.

SO I FEEL LIKE PHILANTHROPY IS A BIG PART OF MY STORE AND GIVING BACK, AS ERIKA SAID, THE FACT THAT WE WERE STILL IN BUSINESS, WE ARE STILL IN BUSINESS AND THE FACT THAT THERE ARE WOMEN WHO STRUGGLED TO FEED THEIR FAMILY, IT JUST WAS A VERY EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE.

AND WE'VE TOLD OASIS THAT WE WILL BE CONTINUING FOR QUITE A -- YOU KNOW, FOR THE -- AS FAR AS THE FUTURE SEES.

>> ERIKA IS THIS SOMETHING THAT GOING FORWARD YOU WOULD ALSO THINK THAT PHILANTHROPY IS A KEY INTEREST OF YOURS NOW, TOO?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S SO INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY BUSINESS, I KNEW THAT I WANTED PHILANTHROPY TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND AS A START UP, WHEN YOU'RE AGGRESSIVELY, AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING, THAT CAN SORT OF GO BY THE WAYSIDE.

IT WAS INTERESTING THAT KATHLEEN BROUGHT THIS TO US -- KATHLEEN IS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SHE LIVES THIS BOTH IN HER STORE AND IN HER PERSONAL LIFE.

SO WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT TO US, IT KIND OF JOSTLED ME BACK TO REALITY, TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR STORE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M GRATEFUL TO HER LEADERSHIP IN THAT AND I'M GRATEFUL TO NOW BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OASIS, YOU KNOW, MONTHLY TO DO THINGS.

AND HOPEFULLY TO DO -- TO ANNIVERSARY OUR BIG DRIVE AND >> KATHLEEN, WHEN YOU TOLD OASIS THIS WASN'T ONE AND DONE AND IT WAS SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON WITH THEM AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE YOU GOT?

>> THE RESPONSE WAS -- THE RESPONSE FOR ALL OF IT, I THINK THAT IT BLOSSOMED FROM MY INITIAL REACH OUT TO OASIS THAT I WANTED TO, AS A SINGLE STORE HELP THEM, TO BEING 11 WOMEN WITH BUSINESSES IN TOWN AND AT THE END OF IT ALL, THERE WAS A CUSTOMER OF MINE THAT CAME AND SHE ACTUALLY MATCHED ALL THE FUNDS THAT THE STORE HAD RAISED.

SO IT WAS QUITE A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE RAISED FOR THEM, AND THEY WERE -- THEY WERE QUITE EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.

AND VERY HAPPY THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THEM.

IN TOTAL, THERE WAS OVER $14,000 THAT WE RAISED AND THREE BIG TRUCKS FULL OF PANTRY ITEMS.

>> PRETTY AMAZING.

LADIES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING ME YOUR STORY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY, NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS.

ONLINE AT NJCHAMBER.COM.

NJBIA HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS AND IS BUILT TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS IN TODAY'S NEW NORMAL.

NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, WHERE BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.