Clients

CA's Exec. Dir. Deb Colligan's first CA Pro bono accounting Direct Service Client in April 2002 was Mommy's Light Lives On Fund Laura Munts Exec. Dir. of Mommy's Light pictured w/ Ms. Colligan. Sharon Benner, CA Board of Directors Secretary and longtime acct. volunteer became Mommy's Light Volunteer and to-date is a Mommy's Light Volunteer. Ms. Colligan was a friend of Mommy's Light Founder Mary Murphy who in November of 1996 was diagnosed with cancer. By August 1997 it was evident that the disease had progressed too far for her to expect a remission. Mary talked with her ten-year-old son Bryan to prepare him for life without her. Together they came up with the idea of Bryan continuing their tradition of making butter cookies at Christmastime. They felt that repeating an activity they had enjoyed together for many years would comfort and support Bryan during his grieving process. With vision and courage, Mary realized that all children whose mothers had died could benefit from continuing the traditions and simple pleasures they once shared. She incorporated Mommy's Light Lives On Fund in October 1997 to help facilitate traditions for maternally grieving children, teens and their families. Mary died two and a half months later.

Mommy's Light brings joy and comfort to children and teens by helping them keep alive traditions and simple pleasures they shared with their mothers. To support young people in adapting to their mothers' illnesses or deaths, Mommy's Light's key initiatives include: (1) free Tradition Fulfillment Services to eligible children and teens; and (2) the development and distribution of education and outreach materials targeting grieving children and the adults who are likely to interact with them. Go to www.mommyslight.org for information on this great organization!

New Jersey Aid for Animals is a great animal organization in NJ. Joanne Newfield, CPA, CA's Board member and longtime accountant volunteer is NJAFA Direct Service Acct. Volunteer. NJAFA has proven their success for its second straight year. They have "intended" to do more, but the projects completed were placing animals (none have come back or been returned); spaying and neutering a couple hundred animals; helping dozens of animals who were suffering in Camden City, NJ as well as all over NJ. Their big news was they brought a councilman to court for charges of cruelty to animals and won. See their website for more information. (http://www.njafa.org)