Foundation Recognizes Camden Leaders for Contributions to City

CAMDEN, N.J., September 25, 2008 – The Campbell Soup Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Campbell Soup Company, today recognized six Camden leaders for their contributions to the city at a breakfast held at the company’s world headquarters, here. More than 100 people attended the breakfast.

The annual Campbell Soup Foundation Awards pay tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the City of Camden. The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award received a framed certificate and a $5,000 grant for the organization; the recipient of the Hometown Hero Award received a framed certificate and $1,000. Recipients of the Unsung Hero Awards received a framed certificate and a basket of “Campbell’s” products. This year’s award recipients included:

• Emery Troy, Founder and President, Dooley House, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1988, Troy co-founded Dooley House, a transitional home for children suffering from HIV/AIDS. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Dooley House has extended its services beyond children with HIV/AIDS, and today serves youth with a host of medical issues that require personalized care. Troy’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS has been shared with the local community through his participation as the Chairperson of the Camden City AIDS Advisory Council, member of the Governor’s AIDS Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS for the state of New Jersey, and member of the Ryan White Planning Council of the Philadelphia Office of HIV Planning.
  
  
• The Rev. Jeff Putthoff, SJ, Executive Director, Hopeworks ‘n Camden, received the Hometown Hero Award. Putthoff has lived and worked in Camden since 1996. In 2000, he founded Hopeworks ‘n Camden to provide career training through technology. Hopeworks has grown from a one-room operation with four computers to one of the more prominent youth development organizations in the city. It currently serves more than 1,000 youth in its job training program. Since its inception, Hopeworks has employed nearly 250 of its trainees in web design and geographic information systems, worked with more than 200 clients and generated approximately $500,000 in revenue, which has been reinvested into the program.

Campbell also recognized four people with Unsung Hero Awards:

• Judi Godor, Resident House Manager, Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey. Twenty-three years ago, Godor became a volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House of Southern NJ and never left. She went from a general volunteer to a weekend “House Parent,” spending her weekends caring for resident families. In 2003, she became the Resident House Manager, caring for 20 families of seriously ill children from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. each day.
  
  
• Dr. Lesly D’Ambola, Medical Director, St. Luke’s Catholic Medical Services. Since 2000, D’Ambola has worked at St. Luke’s Medical Services in North Camden operating a private practice for Camden residents. D’Ambola guides St. Luke’s staff as they provide services for approximately 1,400 patients annually. She ensures that St. Luke’s delivers quality, compassionate medical and healthcare services using a sliding fee scale or at no charge to patients. D’Ambola also serves as a role model for physicians in training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey. Under her mentorship, medical students, residents and fellows learn how to become compassionate, culturally competent, and highly skilled physicians for their patients.
  
  
• The Rev. Odessa Edmond, Founder and Executive Director, Hope Community Outreach Center. The Hope Community Outreach Center was officially incorporated in 2007. In the past two years, Edmond has made a difference in the lives of the residents of Whitman Park through a food pantry serving 150 area residents, a “dress for success” closet which provides work clothes free-of-charge to the community, and an after-school program and summer camp for youth, among other programs. Edmond is being recognized for her work with the Southern NJ Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where she has chartered, nurtured and expanded three scouting programs within the Hope Center.
  
  
• Yumi Kendall, Teaching Artist, Philadelphia Orchestra. Kendall is a versatile musician from the Philadelphia Orchestra. She shares her joy of music with the students of R.T. Cream School in Camden, where she leads interactive discussions about rhythm, invites children to experience the cello and helps them appreciate the genius of composers such as Bach. The success of this educational outreach program is built on Kendall’s passion. She has made an impact on these children’s lives by connecting them to music.

“Everyone who attended the Campbell Soup Foundation Annual Awards Breakfast is dedicated to making Camden a better place to live and to work,” said Jerry S. Buckley, Chairman of the Campbell Soup Foundation. “Campbell is proud to call Camden home, and we are pleased that we can contribute to the meaningful work by the people and organizations we have honored with these awards today.”

About Campbell Soup Company

Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup, baked snacks, and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including “Campbell’s,” “Pepperidge Farm,” “Arnott’s,” and “V8.” For more information on the company, visit Campbell’s website at www.campbellsoup.com.

CONTACT:
Anthony Sanzio (Media)
Campbell Soup Company
(856) 968-4390

Share