Heather Scism (center) receives her award from the current President of the Southern New Jersey AFP Chapter, Ronald F. Barisano, CFRE and JoAnne LaPergola, National Philanthropy Day Co-Chair. Seashore Gardens Living Center is pleased to announce that the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Southern New Jersey Chapter, nominated Heather Scism, MA as the Fundraising Executive of the Year. Heather currently serves as Fund Development Coordinator for Seashore Gardens Living Center, a non-profit Nursing Care, Rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s and Assisted Living organization located in Galloway Township New Jersey. Heather received her award on November 19th at the Inaugural Celebration for National Philanthropy Day held by the Southern New Jersey Chapter of the AFP at the Mansion in Voorhees, NJ. Members of Seashore Gardens Living Center Management attended the awards ceremony to show their support and appreciation of Heather’s dedication to both Seashore Gardens Living Center’s Fund Development, as well as to the enhancement of the Fund Development profession in Southern New Jersey.

From left to right, Heather Scism, recipient of the Southern New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals “Fundraising Executive of the Year” award enjoys breakfast prior to the awards ceremony with Shelley Bernstein, Chair of Seashore Gardens Board of Directors and Janice Cambron, Assistant Executive Director of Seashore Gardens Living Center. Heather was among the founding members of the Southern NJ Chapter of the AFP. After contacting AFP’s International headquarters, she, along with a group of other Development professionals, solicited for membership, completed the necessary paperwork, and comprised a Board of Directors for the Chapter, with Heather serving as its first President. The Chapter was officially chartered in July 2008, and their first educational workshop was held that September.

Heather Scism’s colleagues from Seashore Gardens Living Center attended the Inaugural Celebration of the Southern New Jersey AFP chapter’s National Philanthropy Day to show their support and appreciation of Heather’s dedication to the profession of Development. From left to right, Louise Smith, Marketing Associate, Ron Lapointe, Assistant Administrator, Janice Cambron, Assistant Executive Director, Heather Scism, Fund Development Coordinator, Shelley Bernstein, Chair of the Board and Martin Klein, President and CEO. The chapter now serves many of the fundraisers who previously had to travel long distances to attend events held by either the New Jersey (northern) Chapter or the Greater Philadelphia Chapter. With the support of both of those chapters and the dedication of Heather and the original Steering Committee, Development professionals in southern New Jersey now have the opportunity to network with peers and attend educational workshops in their own area. “When we first initiated the process, we were pleased with the level of enthusiasm in starting an official AFP chapter to represent the southern part of the state,” states Heather Scism.

The Southern New Jersey Chapter of the AFP will provide educational breakfast workshops monthly at Hammonton Inn, Route 30 in Hammonton, throughout 2010. For more information on the Chapter’s programs, please call (856) 873- 5653 or email SNJAFP@aol.com.

For more information on Seashore Gardens Living Center’s array of compassionate services and accommodations or to learn how to make a charitable donation to Seashore Gardens Living Center, please call 609-404-4848 or email office@seashoregardens.org.