October 2007 Community Day

The Lawrence Township Community Foundation took advantage of the great weather and record turnout of visitors to the annual Community Day in Lawrence Township's Village Park on October 7. Trustees informed residents about the grant opportunities available to nonprofits who are providing much needed services in our community.

President Diane Wilfrid, outgoing Vice President Robin McGovern, and incoming Vice President Michelle Cash were pleased to get the word out about the $450,000 in grants LTCF has awarded to approximately 50 local nonprofits since 2002.

During Community Day 2007, Trustees of the LTCF informed residents about the work of the Foundation. From left: Robin McGovern, Michelle Cash, and Diane Wilfrid.

Mikey Azzara of NOFA shares the "Food & Farming" vision for Lawrence Township as conceived by participants in the 2006 Sustainable Lawrence Conference.

March 2006 Community Forum
Sustainable Lawrence

As part of its commitment to an annual community conversation, the Lawrence Township Community Foundation sponsored the "Natural Steps for a Sustainable Lawrence" conference. The event was designed to create a long-term agenda to lead Lawrence Township toward a more healthy, rewarding, and satisfying connection with the natural world that is both ecologically and socially sustainable.

The conference spawned a number of task forces that need input from the entire community. Visit the Sustainable Lawrence web site to learn how we can work toward an eco-municipality in Lawrence Township, NJ. The Sustainable Lawrence nonprofit organization was born as a result of the 2005 Community Forum.

January 2005 Community Forum
The Greening of Lawrence Township

Despite the predictions of a possible blizzard, over 125 residents of Lawrence braved the elements to participate in The Greening of Lawrence Township, an informative and energizing public environmental forum sponsored by the Lawrence Township Community Foundation and The Lawrenceville School on Saturday, January 22, 2005.

Phil Caton of Clarke Caton and Hintz leads a session on sustainable community planning for Lawrence Towship.

Keynote speaker Sarah James, renowned planner and author of The Natural Step for Communities presented the results of community based efforts in Sweden and the US which could be replicated here in Lawrence. Ms. James stressed the importance of local government committing to systematic change by clearly defining sustainability objectives. This can be done using a bottom-up approach, in which the municipal government and community work together to become independent innovators and forces of change.

After the keynote address, participants were able to attend two of four very well received workshops focused on business, homeowners, education and school, and community and government.