1. The Elizabethport Presbyterian Center, Inc.
Mr. Roderick Spearman, Executive Director
184 First Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07206
Phone: (908) 351-4850/Fax: (908) 351-8082
March 1, 2005
Mr. David R. Ficca, President
The Bartimaeus Foundation, Inc.
296 Feather Lane
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417-2110
Dear Mr. Ficca:
The Elizabethport Presbyterian Center takes pleasure in requesting support for our family services
programs that help the poorest and most deprived residents in the Port section of Elizabeth. Our research
indicates that your foundation is committed to breaking the cycles of poverty and despair in underserved
communities. The Fabretto Foundation and the Elizabethport Presbyterian Center are faith-based
organizations dedicated to bringing the healing power of Christ to the community.
It is with our mutual commitment to the welfare of our youth that we come to you with this proposal.
According to the 2000 Census Bureau statistics, approximately 25% of the families in Elizabethport fall
below the poverty level. In addition, single parents head 59% of the households. These statistics directly
contribute to a 60% crime rate in the neighborhood. The Association for the Children of New Jersey
concludes that in New Jersey’s 25 largest urban areas (including Elizabeth City) accounted for 59% of all
children in poverty even though they claim just 26% of the state’s population.
The City of Elizabeth has the highest number of individuals without a high school diploma and college
degree. This is most evident in Elizabethport, where more than half of the adult population has no high
school diploma.
What can be done to economically empower the family structure? A working mother of three has written
her first resume in eight years. In addition, she now feels comfortable enough with computers to use
them. She not only learned marketable skills in our Job Readiness Program, but through interaction with
her instructor she now understands the importance of following a healthy lifestyle. Upon completing the
Program, she will enroll in Union County College for a 9-month computer-training program. Every
month, about 30 individuals start the Job Readiness Program at the Elizabethport Presbyterian Center.
Her success story is one of transitioning from welfare to the work and from poverty to prosperity.
What can be done in Elizabethport (E-Port) to lift families and children out of poverty? Founded in
1965, the Center has been and is the most involved and effective social service agency in the E-Port
community. We continue to provide vital services found nowhere else in the community. We understand
the importance of families staying together and of agencies providing needed service to low-income
families. The Center celebrates 40 years of connecting the community through compassion, commitment
and culture!
The Center will help families to be self-sufficient and break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Our
programs mend broken families through employment and empowerment. Positive character traits like
self-esteem, self-love and communication skills are built. Our children need the opportunities to dream
and know that if you truly want to succeed, you can despite the circumstances.
Families rely on our food distribution programs. In 2003, The Food Pantry Program provided food for
437 families. Our Food Pantry serves everyone in need of food assistance. The free pantry is open after
the 15th of every month on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

2. What makes us unique? Most of our staff has grown up in the Center. From after school programs to
youth programs, our professional staff has a deep personal commitment to the community. Our dedicated
staff represents over 120 years of experience, and their commitment to doing more than their call of duty
is their willingness to volunteer time to develop this community based model approach. The
Elizabethport Presbyterian Center develops community programs that reflect and respond to the needs of
the community that we serve.
The Center and the State Division of Youth and Family Services are creating Family Strengthening
Programs that keep our families together. The Program is intended to reduce substance abuse and
negative behavior in youth ages 6-14 whose parents were substance abusers. The program offers courses
that improve communication between parents and children. Major goals include building self-esteem and
skills resisting peer pressure. This program has helped 162 families and planned expansion will help
another 360 families.
Elizabethport has gone through many social and economic changes and the Center is the focal point of
spiritual and economic revitalization. The Center routinely delivers food after business hours to disabled
seniors, families with emergencies and any other situation that may require extra effort. Eighty-three
percent of the community has an excellent or good perception of the Center.
One dollar up front prevents the spending of many dollars down the road.
Marian Wright Edelman
In 2004, the centers food programs operating expenses totaled $14,000.00 dollars. Overall our food
services budget has been reduced by $6,500.00 dollars. The Center is requesting funds to help restore
the deep financial cuts in our program and advocate for all the needy families that this program helps.
A grant of $5,000.00 from your foundation will provide 25 individuals/month x one year with a $15.00
package of healthy and nutritious food on a monthly basis. Your social responsible grant will help:
parents feed school age children with healthy breakfast meals and encourage quality family dinnertime.
sustain low-income individuals with healthy meals that improve health and prevent disease.
senior citizens who must make the gut-wrenching decision between buying their medications, paying rent
and utility bills, or feeding themselves. Please help our senior citizens to make healthy choices.
Is it not the highest form of social responsibility to help transform a person’s life?
We think of this project as an investment with a tremendous return and we hope you will to!
We promise to stand accountable and to share all results of the program with your foundation. Please
contact my office with any questions you may have. If you would like, we can provide you with an Annual
Report and support materials that describes our programs in greater detail. The Elizabethport
Presbyterian Center is a 501(C) 3 organization. If you would like a visit to our Center or have questions,
please contact Martin Schwartz, President Marketing & Development
Phone: 908-351-4766/E-mail: martinschwartz1@verizon.net