Montclair, NJ (September 29, 2023) – Schumann Fund for New Jersey, an independent foundation with deep roots in Essex County, has appointed four esteemed community leaders to their Board of Trustees. Since 1988, the Fund has invested more than $86 million in non-profit organizations serving primarily low-income children and families of color in Essex County and the state of New Jersey. Growing the Board will lend to this important work.
Schumann Fund for New Jersey Board Chair Martha Day noted, “Our new Trustees bring deep non-profit, business, and community expertise that will amplify Schumann Fund’s impact in the communities we serve. We are thrilled about the enhanced opportunities for collaboration and authentic community connection these talented individuals will bring to the Board.”
Barbara Bell Coleman, who led the nominating process on behalf of the Schumann Fund, shared, “Our new Trustees bring a deep commitment to the mission and work of Schumann Fund for New Jersey. They care strongly about our Newark and Essex County communities and seek to advance racial equity and social justice. We are proud to appoint such a talented, diverse cohort of Trustees who – together with our committed and knowledgeable long-serving Trustees – will work to move the mission of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey forward.”
“As Schumann Fund for New Jersey embarks upon a new strategic direction that centers racial equity and advances ideas and opportunities to empower low-income children, families, and communities of color to thrive, it is an honor to welcome this enthusiastic and experienced cohort of Trustees,” added Schumann Fund for New Jersey Executive Director Lucy Vandenberg.
Their new Trustees are:
Marla Higginbotham is an outstanding leader, lawyer, and active advocate in New Jersey’s nonprofit sector. She has over 25 years of professional experience encompassing corporate engagement, educational excellence, high value donor recruitment, and advocacy for youth in the legal system. Expertise and passion have led Marla to increasing levels of success and executive leadership positions in the nonprofit community. Marla currently serves as Executive Director for CASA’s oldest and most visible program in New Jersey, CASA of Essex County. Under her leadership, CASA has heightened corporate engagement and support while increasing the number of children within the county’s foster care system who benefit from CASA’s advocacy. Marla previously served as a Trustee of The Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA).
Carlos Lejnieks is Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union counties and past chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Jersey. Carlos has helped strengthen and expand the agency in his 15-year tenure. Under his leadership, BBBS received numerous awards, including a formal recognition by President Barack Obama. Carlos harnessed his grassroots experience to advise on state and federal policy related to youth and family support, including service on the New Jersey Governor’s Council to advocate for families most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlos also served on Governor Chris Christie, Governor Phil Murphy, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s transition teams.
Joseph Matara is the Chief Operating Officer at Unbound Philanthropy. He oversees all aspects of the organization’s finance and operations, human resources, information technology, and grants management. Joseph joined Unbound in May 2023. Most recently, Joseph served as Chief Financial Officer at the Victoria Foundation, a place-based foundation in Newark, N.J. He was previously the Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer at New Community Corporation in Newark, where he worked for 15 years. Joseph is originally from Kenya. He is the founder of the GRACE Project, a not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities for families in rural Kenya through education, healthcare, and vocational training.
Rhonda Robinson is the Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management at Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey. She designs relevant strategies to assess, report, and mitigate risks across the organization. Rhonda has been in the health insurance industry for over 25 years holding numerous leadership positions at Horizon and other health plans in risk, vendor, program, and process management. Born, raised, and still a resident of Montclair, Rhonda is active in the community, including the Montclair public schools, and has volunteered with Sister to Sister, a mentoring program for preteen/teen girls in Montclair.
The Trustees will begin their terms of service in January 2024.
About Schumann Fund for New Jersey
Located in Montclair, where Schumann family members were residents and active in their local community, Schumann Fund for New Jersey traces its roots to the Florence and John Schumann Foundation, created in 1961. In 1988, Florence Schumann and her children created the Schumann Fund for New Jersey to continue the lifelong philanthropy of Mrs. Schumann and her husband, John, with a focus on giving in the state.
Today, Schumann Fund for New Jersey advances ideas and opportunities to empower low-income children, families, and communities of color to thrive. The Schumann Fund invests in non-profit organizations rooted in Essex County and statewide that work to advance racial and economic equity. Their vision is for children, youth, and families in Essex County and the State of New Jersey to have equitable access to high quality education, affordable housing, economic opportunity, and healthy communities so they can reach their full potential.
Schumann Fund Names Lucy Vandenberg Executive Director
Continuing Over Three Decades of Community
Investment and Support with New Leader
Lucy VandenbergMontclair, NJ (December 7, 2021) — The Schumann Fund for New Jersey, a private foundation with deep roots in Essex County and a proven track record of advancing innovative social and educational systems reform statewide, as evidenced by its pioneering work in early childhood, has appointed community advocate Lucy Vandenberg as its next executive director. Board chairperson, Barbara Bell Coleman said, “Lucy’s passion for improving the lives of children and their families and her commitment to racial and economic equity, already a focus of the foundation, supported by her impressive background in public service, nonprofit leadership, and the philanthropic sector make her the right person for the job, and the board looks forward to working with her.”
Vandenberg will begin her new role in January 2022. She will oversee the Schumann Fund’s grantmaking efforts and will be a thought leader and strategic partner to grantees working in community, to philanthropic peers throughout New Jersey, and to government decision-makers. “Joining public policy, philanthropy, and on-the-ground implementation will be an intentional focus of my work,” Vandenberg said.
The Schumann Fund for New Jersey supports local, direct-service programs aimed at meeting the social and educational needs of vulnerable children, youth and families that have a lasting positive influence on their lives and the broader community. “Public policy is an important complement to the direct service work,” Bell Coleman noted. “The Schumann Fund for New Jersey supports efforts to engage the public in informed discussion of policy issues facing New Jersey, particularly in the areas of racial and economic equity, education, and child welfare. Lucy’s commitment and experience will advance the Schumann Fund for New Jersey’s mission to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families.”
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead this organization with its deep roots in the community and important mission,” said Vandenberg. “I look forward to working in partnership with the Board and stakeholders to identify opportunities for community empowerment to support healthy families and resilient communities.”
Vandenberg is currently a senior program officer at The Fund for New Jersey, a private foundation that works to improve public policy decision-making on the most important issues facing New Jersey. During her tenure, she has led initiatives to end childhood lead poisoning, advance mission-related investing, support environmental justice, and make grantmaking more effective and equitable. Previous roles include serving as executive director of PlanSmart NJ, a nonprofit regional planning organization, executive director of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, and senior policy advisor for Governor McGreevey. She is an active volunteer and has served on many nonprofit boards. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and is a Council on Foundations Career Pathways Fellow.