Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) has announced a community partnership with ECLC’s Chatham School. The ECLC acronym stands for Education, Careers and Lifelong Community. The partnership initiative was facilitated by Livingston resident Michele Florio-Campisi, a long-time ECLC educational staff member and lifelong friend of LPI founder and director Jeff Friedman. ECLC’s Chatham school enrolls approximately 160 students with a range of special needs, primarily autism, Down syndrome, and multiple disabilities, explained Friedman. “Its goal is to mirror a ‘typical’ school experience with clubs, activities, trips, proms and a beautiful graduation ceremony,” he noted.Friedman recounted, “ECLC’s talented students, under the guidance of Ms. Florio-Campisi, created some 100 birthday cake kits for distribution at the Free Grocery Giveaway at LPI’s respected distribution partner, Newark Emergency Services For Families (NESF). The kits include a cake pan, cake mix, frosting, candles, and a decoration. The students also prepared toiletries and goody gift bags for the many recipient families who are experiencing difficult times.”Special thanks, Friedman added, “go to ECLC Chatham School principal, Jason Killian, who supported the initiative and was actually outside helping students load the many kits into the LPI truck. I would also like to salute Stacie Webber, work skills program coordinator at Chatham School for her assistance, guidance and good cheer.”Friedman noted, “I’m reaching out to Livingston’s religious, service, educational and business/corporate neighbors to consider partnering with their local 501(c)(3) non-profit, Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI). Our mission is ‘providing for the homeless, profoundly poor and disenfranchised.’ ”Tax-deductible contributions may be handled at paypal.me/njhomeless; at LPI’s newly revamped website, njhomeless.org; or sent by mail to LPI, 8 Country Club Road, Livingston, NJ 07039. “Please send me an email for any reason to njhomeless@aol.com,” Friedman said.In closing, Friedman noted, “I’d like to quote Charles Dickens, author of the beloved A Christmas Carol: ‘Scrooge was better than his word. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.’ Let us all be like the reformed Scrooge, and reach out to help those around us.”Photo: Long-time Livingston resident Michele Florio-Campisi facilitated a new partnership between Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) and the students at ECLC’s Chatham School. LPI founder Jeff Friedman received some 100 birthday cake kits created by students for families living below the poverty line.
