Info

The "Champions in the Community" program between Champion Mortgage® and the New York Mets began during the 2005 baseball season, honoring a person or persons who have made extraordinary efforts to support their community and change people's lives. Each month during the season, Champion and the New York Mets honored a "champion" during a pre-game presentation on the field at Shea Stadium. Champion Mortgage donated $1,000 to the charity of the recipient's choice. The remarkable stories of all "Champions in the Community" recipients were featured on the MSG network. The following recipients have been recognized as the 2005 Champions in the Community recipients: Carol and Ed Post have made it their personal mission to help give foster children, adopted children, and other special needs children a safe place to grow and thrive. They have accomplished this through a number of efforts designed to help the larger community in Morris County, N.J. understand the issues of foster care and families in need while experiencing the joy of giving back to the community. Reginald Smith has served on the board of directors of God's Love We Deliver, a NYC organization that prepares and delivers meals to the seriously ill, and has personally made weekly deliveries of food for the past 15 years, bringing care and companionship along with hot nutritious meals. Over the years, he has delivered more than 60,000 nourishing, life-sustaining meals to God's Love We Deliver clients, donating nearly 1,800 hours of his time. Laurie Lazovick is a Play It Smart® coach in the New Brunswick, N.J. high school system, working tirelessly with the players of the school's football team to not only help their performance in the classroom, but to teach them the enduring value of giving back to their community. Her efforts have brought tremendous success. From 2004-2005, participants have contributed over 6,500 hours of community service. In addition, 100% of the 2005 Play It Smart seniors in New Brunswick high school are going on to college - five will attend Division 1 schools, and receive scholarships for their academic and athletic excellence. Geneva Johnson created the non-profit organization, "Bring It On," a Bronx, New York based organization that helps teens make positive life choices. In addition, she's created partnerships with other non-profit organizations to sponsor events that impact youth, and support entrepreneurship for teens as well as the environment. She holds a monthly empowerment forum for girls called "You Go Girl Go," and in September rolled out a similar program for young men. This is just the tip of the iceberg! She has volunteered a remarkable 400 hours and raised over $25,000 for charity. Due to her impact, Geneva is a highly sought after voice in New York City for non-profit organizations as a speaker on youth development and economic empowerment programs. Joseph Mure is a critical Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation board member and volunteer. He has spearheaded numerous, successful fundraising events, including a holiday light show called The Little North Pole, which raised over $20,000 in 2004. In addition, Mr. Mure has been essential in coordinating the JDRF's Promise to Remember Me campaign, Queens & Kings Ball, and many Walk to Cure Diabetes events. Diane Hoffmann has been an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society for over 15 years. Ms. Hoffman was instrumental in the formation of the American Cancer Society "Feel the Smile of a Child" program, which provides support to children suffering from cancer and their families. The program is designed to emphasize the care, treatment, support and rehabilitation of infants, children and young adults up to eighteen years of age diagnosed with cancer. Hoffmann has made this program a great success through her diligent planning and managing of fundraising efforts. Champion has a long-standing commitment to making a difference in the community through our relationship with the American Cancer Society, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, as well as other organizations. It's a privilege for us to honor the outstanding accomplishments of our "champions," who make an extraordinary difference in their communities and help change people's lives every day.