Best of South Jersey Education Entertainment Health & Fitness Home & Garden People Sports Star Athletes Star Citizens Star Coaches Star Students Star Teachers Star Teams New Homeowner's Resource Guide
Coupons
Current Issue Previous Issues Subscribe for FREE

Power Players

by Editorial Staff--Suburban Family Magazine

How do the female role models, power players and executives of South Jersey help the community that has supported them through the years? We asked local business-women and professionals:
“As a local ‘power player,’ what have you done to give back or help others?”

Read on for a listing of these influential women, as well as what a select few had to say about charity and service.

Dr. Susan Armstrong
Armstrong Pediatric Dental
For several years, Dr. Armstrong has been involved with Project Graduation in Moores­town. “It’s a community effort that helps keep the graduates safe on what could be one of the most dangerous nights of their lives,” says Dr. Armstrong. Moorestown High School’s Project Graduation is an all-night event of supervised fun for the entire graduating class. Kids have fun and parents can relax knowing their kids are celebrating their high school graduation in a safe environment. Dr. Armstrong is also involved with Give Kids a Smile. She volunteers her services to help children who cannot afford proper dental care and helps to educate them on how to care for their teeth.
9 E. Main St.
Moorestown
(856) 235-0415
ArmstrongPediatricDental.com

Dr. Danielle Brenza
Ageless Skin and Laser
Dr. Brenza has been training tirelessly to compete in this million dollar year for “Dancing with the Gloucester County Stars,“ choosing the Komen Central and South Jersey affiliate as her charity for the event. You can make a donation to help her win the competition, and through those fundraising efforts, help end breast cancer forever. Dr. Brenza got involved with this challenge in honor of the women in her community who are dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis.
11 Park Place Blvd.
Sewell
(856) 218-4848

Kim Heller
Attitudes
“One of my favorite groups to be a part of is the Girl Scouts. I was a leader for five years and now I am the treasurer for our Shamong Service Unit. I think it is a wonderful organization.”
444B W. Route 70
Marlton
(856) 985-7270
AttitudesNJ.com

Carolyn Chang
Carolyn V. Chang Law Office
Carolyn Chang has helped others through sponsorships for area youth teams, including the Westampton In­door Soccer League, the Eastampton Youth Soccer Association, and the Rancocas Valley Little League. She also stays involved in college scholarship functions and other events for the Caribbean Association of Southern New Jersey.
133 High Street
Mount Holly
(609) 261-4224

Maria Ciocca
“I am blessed with two adorable boys. One of them has Down syndrome. I am very involved in giving back with my involvement in Bringing Up Down Syndrome (BUDS). The purpose of BUDS is to help families of children with Down syndrome address issues associated with raising a child with Down syndrome. The ultimate goal is to educate families on how to help our children be self-advocates, while showing the community that all individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities can be valuable, contributing members of society.”
504 Centennial Blvd.
Voorhees
(856) 985-5885
BringingUpDownSyndrome.org

COIT Cleaning Services
Lori Colino, owner of COIT Cleaning Services, supports the Animal Welfare Association’s life-saving programs that benefit community pets and pet owners. This year, Lori donated $5,000 in money and services to the AWA. The Coit staff also volunteers their time and services as well. They make sure that the ductwork is free of hair in the cat room, the dryer vents are clear of lint to reduce the risk of a dryer fire, and seal the grout in the lobby so it’s more sanitary and stays cleaner longer. “I’ve adopted several pets from area shelters and always wanted to give back,” says Colino.
609 Grace St.
Somerdale
(856) 566-0700 
Coit.com

Mary Farren, DMD
“I have always believed that giving back is important for everyone to do. I am trying to instill this in my children, as well. Whenever I am not working, I try to help out at their schools with special events, book fairs, etc. In the past few years, I have also gotten involved in the Go Red for Women movement through the American Heart Association. As not only a woman in business, but a woman in health care, I feel it is important to bring attention to important issues in women’s health. Another way that I try to give back is by giving blood every few months. I like the idea of helping someone that I have never met and never will meet.”
1908 Springdale Road
Cherry Hill
(856) 751-6606
MaryFarren.com

Michelle Stander
Mixellaneous
“We try to give as much and as many donations to local organizations as possible. I have always felt that if I ask the people in the community to support my business, I need to support their causes, as well. This is the way that communities take care of one another.”
947 Rt. 73 S.
Marlton
(856) 574-4310
DiscoverTheMix.com

Natalie Denize
Nannys USA
“Although new to the community, Nanny’s USA gives back by offering moms with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses free nanny services, plus a few additional hours a month while moms with cancer get pampered at a spa, get some rest, go to a doctor’s appointment or simply a night out on the town with their husband. We are looking to partner with an organization or heath care institution such as Fox Chase to do this at our new home of South Jersey, as well.”
11000 Lincoln Drive W., Suite 11005
Marlton
(856) 424-0800
NannysUSA.com

Dr. Monica Atkinson
Reliance Family Medical Center
“I choose to give back to the Romanian Church. I am from Romania and it helps the ones that I care for and where my roots are. It is the closest thing to my heart along with my family and practicing med­icine.”
1401 Marlton Pike E.
Cherry Hill
(856) 429-7600

Kathy Geller
Rooms in Bloom
“My favorite charity is the ASPCA. Who better to support than these precious and loyal creatures who can’t care for themselves?”
(856) 722-1505
RoomsInBloom.biz

Jennifer Baxter
Friends of mend
“As the current President of the Board of Trustees of Friends of MEND (Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development), I believe that affordable housing is particularly important. We raise funds necessary to assist MEND in providing safe and decent housing to those in need—the elderly, the handicapped and local families—so they do not need to skimp on food, clothing, medical care or other necessities. It is a cause dear to my heart because I believe a home is where we can all seek refuge from our busy and stressful lives and all of our fellow citizens deserve a good and decent place to call home.”
99 E. Second St.
Moorestown
(856) 722-7070
MendINC.org

Dr. Kathy McCabe-Odri
Partners In Learning
“As owner of Partners in Learning, Inc., to pay it forward, I provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to students for ABA therapy, including several full scholarships to siblings. I also provide employment opportunities for previous inclusion students at our schools."
Cherrywood Academy & Private Preschool
8 Cherrywood Drive
Clementon
(856) 566-1004

Country Acres Private Preschool
1880 Glassboro Road
Williamstown
(856) 881-0400
PartnersInLearningNJ.org

Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 4 (June, 2012).
For more info on Suburban Family Magazine, click here.
For information about advertising in Suburban Family Magazine, click here.
To find out where to pick up your copy of Suburban Family Magazine, click here.