SAVE THE DATE
A NIGHT AT THE RACES
BEEFSTEAK
FEBRUARY 6, 2014
For many of the women starting the Oasis Workplace Readiness Program (OWRP),
careers are something that other people have. Most of the students have little or no
work experience, and if they do, those jobs have typically been short-lived. The
internship component of the OWRP allows the students to experience work in a real,
yet supportive, environment.
Each woman who successfully completes the 8-week classroom component of OWRP
is encouraged to apply for one of four 15-hour per week paid internships in Oasis’
kitchen, maintenance department, or childcare centers. In addition to giving the
students a much-needed resume boost, the 8-week internship includes weekly
one-on-one job counseling during which they discuss how to handle their job
frustrations in a healthy way. As one recent graduate said, “Before, if I was working
and my boss annoyed me, I would yell and then quit. The counseling taught me how
to step back and think before I fly off the handle.”
The students who successfully complete the internship may have an easier time
finding permanent employment. Of the 20 women who held Oasis internships during
the 2012/2013 academic year, 13 (61%) found employment following the internship.
In a typical year, approximately 20% of participants who attended classes only, as
opposed to also having an internship, find employment.
The Oasis Workplace Readiness Program is supported by a Community
Development Block Grant from the City of Paterson.
59 Mill Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 973.881.8307 www.OASISNJ.org
Oasis is dedicated to feeding and clothing needy women and children and to offering them educational
resources and skills to obtain meaningful employment and to break the cycle of poverty. Oasis offers
these services in a safe, compassionate, nurturing environment. We are committed to fostering healthy
family relationships, and we seek to preserve the dignity of people and their cultures.
FALL 2013 ž VOL. 19 ž NO. 3
SHARE YOUR LOVE OF OASIS
WITH OTHERS…
NOVEMBER 14, 2013
THE BROWNSTONE
FOR INFO, CONTACT LYNN @
(973) 881-8307 X108
MESSAGE FROM
SISTER GLORIA
CARL’S KIDS CAMP
OASIS SUPPORTERS
PUMPKIN PICKING
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME
Intern Chevon Torres (center) with Director of Social Services Molly Fagan (left) and Chef Jayne Lovaglio (right)
INTERNSHIPS: NOT JUST FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Dear Friends,
Happy autumn! Welcome to the new school year here at Oasis. Our GED, ESL
and Computer classes are full, as are our children’s centers. The afternoons
have all of our After-School children and TEEN Program girls in our hallways
and classrooms. This year we have also opened our doors to two new Satur-
day programs. For our children, we have the Paterson Youth Photography
Project and for our women, we have our ten-week Culinary Arts Program.
Also, we welcome back so many of our generous volunteers who make the
work we do possible. How blessed Oasis is to have you! Volunteers and donors,
we are so grateful to have you as partners in our mission to “change lives, one
woman and child at a time.”
God bless you, Sister Gloria
MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SISTER GLORIA PEREZ
Kevin Rooney, Wyckoff Township Committeeman and
winner of the Food Network’s ‘Chopped’ amateur champi-
onship, donated his $10,000 first place prize to Oasis.
This donation now supports our new, ten-week Culinary
Arts Program focused on Food Theory, Culinary Tech-
niques and Kitchen Management. At the completion of the
course, all Culinary Arts students will be eligible to obtain
their ServSafe® Certification and will prepare the meal for
Oasis’ Semi-Annual Paterson Youth Photography Recep-
tion. The program is taught by Oasis’ Chef Jayne Lovaglio,
a CIA graduate and ServSafe Certified Instructor.
PAGE 2 CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME FALL 2013
COOKING, RUNNING, PLAYING TENNIS SUPPORT FOR OASIS COMES IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES — AND HOBBIES
Moms in Motion of Bergen County
held a shopping event on August 15 to
benefit Oasis, raising over $3,000. This
group of runners has adopted the Oasis
TEEN program and looks to support
our young women annually.
Executive Director Sister Gloria Perez
and Kevin Rooney
The annual Lobs of Love event brought out scores of paddle ten-
nis players for an elimination tournament in support of Oasis on
Wednesday, October 2. This event raised close to $13,000 and in-
cluded dozens of tricky tray items. Vendors Jamie Hoff of Flirty
Finds, Patty Corn of Preppy Player, and Margie Brenner of Red
Tee Boutique donated a portion of their proceeds to Oasis.
TEEN Program Coordinator
Lauren McDonald, Leah Malley,
Executive Director Sister Gloria
Perez, Chris Batt, Dana White,
Moms in Motion
Lobs of Love Co-Chairs,
Celine Salvi and Leslie
Rubacky
Michelle Wu (Brookside Rac-
quet Club), Sarah Whiteman
(Atlantic Club)
Karin Marte of Wells Fargo present-
ing Oasis Executive Director Sister
Gloria Perez with a $1,000 Commu-
nity Partners Grant.
Like us on
Facebook!
www.facebook.com/
Oasisforwomenand-
children
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM GOES
PUMPKIN PICKING
FUN FOR THE BODY AND BRAIN AT CARL’S KIDS CAMP
Rain and mist couldn’t prevent a great field trip
to Serenity Hills Farm on Sunday, October 6.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters John and
Tracey Crimi, students from the Oasis After-
School Program enjoyed a fun-filled day, all free
of charge. The trip included pumpkin picking,
hot dogs, hay rides, face-painting, cotton candy,
pony rides, and more. It was also a day out of
the city for the students—a rare treat!
PAGE 3 CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME FALL 2013
As in previous summers, hundreds of chil-
dren from Paterson enjoyed a range of fun
activities during July and August, from
computer classes to dance to swimming, as
campers at Oasis’ Carl’s Kids Camp.
Additionally, we are blessed to have the
Wyckoff YMCA as a generous partner.
This community organization hosts our
campers at their facility three days a week.
This year, the campers even had swim les-
sons at the Y’s indoor pools.
Through a generous grant from the Taub
Foundation, Carl’s Kids Camp also pro-
vides “first jobs” to Paterson teens to serve
as counselors and counselors-in-training.
Numerous teen and adult volunteers also
provided oversight during each session.
In a city where many children lack any
structured activities during the summer
months, Carl’s Kids Camp provides much
needed peace of mind to working families.
During the summer of 2013, there were
four two-week sessions of camp, with 85
campers in each session.
Even Summer Santa came to
camp this year!
CHANGING LIVES ONE WOMAN AND CHILD AT A TIME PAGE 4 FALL 2013
HAVE YOU SEEN…?
...the new swings in the Nurturing Center? Through a
generous donation by Raymond and Patti
Wisniewski of Keystone Freight Company, Oasis
received nine cradle swings for use in our facility, as
well as bouncers, gliders, and numerous other baby
items for distribution to our families. As you can see,
the swings are a big hit with our babies!
..the freshly painted Dining Room? Many thanks to
Leaders in Service 2017, a program of the Civic and
Community Engagement Center of Ramapo College.
Additional special thanks to our own staff members Don
Vido, Tom Carozza, Barbara Loscalzo, and Lynn McCor-
mack who finished the job!
Many thanks to all
those who donated a
“Lunches with
Love” during the
months of July
through
October!
The Murray and
Powers families
in honor of ”Moms
Everywhere”
Glen Rock Women
in Community
Service
Geri Opler in honor
of Jo Ann Romano
Susan and Ron
Di Pasquale in
memory of Pat
McLaughlin
KPMG
Taylor Financial
Group
Oasis is always so grateful for
the many volunteers who
make our organization run!
If you want to help out, con-
tact Barbara Loscalzo at
(973) 881-8307 x133 or
Lunch Service
Nurturing Center/
Children’s Center
After School Program
Food Pantry
Clothing Donations
James Ghiorse, a Ramapo High School senior, and Drew Hartmann, a Bergen
Catholic senior, founded the “Science Oasis” program in the Spring of 2011.
Students in the Michael Wagner After-School Program are invited to take part
in a series of exciting hands-on science experiments on various topics such as
properties of matter, circuitry, magnetism, crystals, robotics, and density.
James and Drew research each topic, develop a lesson plan and budget and
provide the needed materials.
“The objective of the program isn’t to provide a complex understanding of
science,” James said. “It’s simply to spark an interest. We want them to begin
looking at everyday things in a new way and to ask why and how they work.”
“The feedback from the kids is incredible,” Drew said. “I
remember one boy said, ‘I never liked science in school
but you make it so much fun. Now I LOVE SCIENCE. I
wish you would come every day.’”
This past summer, James expanded the program to
reach campers at Oasis’ Carl’s Kids Camp. James and
Drew look forward to continuing “Science Oasis”
throughout the year and hope to recruit other high
school students to help continue it when they leave for
college. Volunteers are always welcome!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT —
JAMES GHIORSE AND DREW HARTMANN
Above — Science Oasis projects
thrill Carl’s Kids Campers.
Right — Drew Hartman (left)
and James Ghiorse (right)
help After-School students
conduct electrical experiments.