Charity and Community Service

We Acknowledge with Great Pride, Some of Our Staffs’ Efforts and Generosity in Charity and Community Service

globeOriginally organized and effectuated by Blume Forte’s Administrator, John Finnegan, and for the past 23 years during the Holiday Season, Blume Forte has been active in a Toys-for-Tots campaign benefiting the underprivileged children of Newark, New Jersey. This seasonal charity drive in the “spirit of giving”, involves the collection of new boxed toys and money from Blume Forte staff. All funds collected are used to buy additional gifts. The toys are donated to the Division of Youth and Family Services in Newark, which distributes them to underprivileged children during the Holidays. Since 2001, Blume Forte’s Calendar Coordinator, Amy Roman, has spearheaded the Toys-for-Tots drive.

globeMelissa Carlo, Legal Secretary to attorney Carol L. Forte, was a chairperson on the Board of the Budd Lake First Aid & Rescue Squad Auxiliary, and has been a volunteer member of the Auxiliary for the past 4 years.

globeCindy Blau, Paralegal to Ronald Goldfaden, and her daughter Hannah, together donated 20 inches of their hair to Locks of Love. Heather Champagne, Legal Secretary to a Blume Forte attorney donated 14 ½ inches of her locks. Legal Secretary Donna Catrone’s daughter Allison, donated 14 inches of her hair, Ileana Montane, Legal Secretary to Blume Forte attorney donated 11 inches, Partner John Molinari’s daughter Tori donated 10 inches, and, Paralegal Michael Durst’s daughter, Sasha, has donated a total of 30 inches of her hair on 3 occasions. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides prosthetic hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. For more information click this link, or log on to: http://www.locksoflove.org/.

globeDonna Catrone, Legal Secretary to Kenneth Elwood, and her family, participate annually in the Light the Night walk to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This will be the 5th year in which Donna’s family participates; with her daughter Courtney acting as team captain. For more information click this link, or log on to: http://www.lightthenight.org/.

globeFor several years, Blume Forte’s Administrator, John Finnegan has participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. For more information, click here.

globeBlume Forte Partner Michael B. Zerres led other members of the firm’s staff in a bicycle tour to help raise funds for The Children’s Center for Therapy and Learning. The 12 mile event through New Jersey’s Somerset and Morris counties raised $30,000. for the center. For more information on The Children’s Center for Therapy and Learning (now known as the P.G. Chambers School), please click this link or log on to: http://www.chambersschool.org.

globeCindy Blau, Paralegal to Ronald Goldfaden, will be walking in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s “Out of the Darkness” Overnight Walk to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention. The 20 mile overnight walk in New York City is scheduled for June 9 – 10, 2007. For more information click this link, or log on to: http://www.theovernight.org.

globeKelly Duda, Paralegal to Carol Forte, volunteers at an animal shelter in Denville (The Red Woof Inn), which does not euthanize lost or abandoned animals. Kelly helps the shelter find suitable homes for the needy animals. For more information click these links or log on to http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NJ185.html. For additional information on how and where you may adopt a pet, click this link or log on to http://www.petfinder.com.

globeJackeline Velez, Secretary to Richard Villanova, participates in the Great Strides walk of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis programs, and to support research, care and education. For more information click this link, or log on to: http://www.cff.org.

globeBlume Forte Partner, Jeffrey Zenna, is a longstanding member of the New Jersey chapter of The Miami Project, dedicated to the cure of paralysis and the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Jeff also volunteers every other weekend at a local hospital’s rehabilitation department, where he assists patients in their convalescence and during recreational rehab. activities. For more information on The Miami Project, click this link, or log on to: http://www.themiamiproject.org/.

globeChristine Souza, paralegal at Blume Forte, participates in fundraisers for FLASE, (the Fair Lawn Association for Special Education), and walks for “Autism Speaks”. In 2009, Christine started a walking team (“Brendan’s Buddies”), for the Northern New Jersey Autism Walk held at Bergen Community College. For additional information with regard to this worthy cause, please click on the following links: Autism Speaks Home Page; Autism Speaks Walk Events

Blume Forte has also been Pleased to Support:

Voices for Patient Protection
United Brachial Plexus
RSD Syndrome Association
Special Olympics
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Tri-State Brachial Plexus Support Network
Greater Newark Fresh Air Fund
Community Food Bank of New Jersey
New Jersey State Police Survivors of the Triangle 2005
Dearheart Charitable Foundation, Inc.
The Association of Retarded Citizens
Partners for Women and Justice