Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 20, 2022 — While 2022 comes to a close, Vitex selected four charitable organizations to support at the end of the year with recommendations from its employees. These four organizations were: Kids in Cleats, Laptop Upcycle, the Fort Lee Board of Education’s The Korean Parents Advisory Council, and Doctors Without Borders. In 2022 (and beyond), Vitex strives to lend its assistance to support nonprofit organizations and those in need.
Kids in Cleats was established in 2018 by Julio Tsasse in Montclair, NJ. The Kids in Cleats mission is to “use soccer as the vehicle for children to rise out of poverty through education, self-empowerment and sport in Cameroon, Africa,” (https://kidsincleats.org/mission-2/). According to The Montclair Girl, Tsasse founded Kids in Cleats in collaboration with a founding member, Erica Gerstman. In the article, Gerstman explained that Kids in Cleats has grown beyond providing sports equipment, such as yearly tuition for school and food security. If you or someone you know would like to learn more and how you can donate to Kids in Cleats, you can find their website at www.kidsincleats.org.
Laptop Upcycle is another local nonprofit organization in Montclair, NJ. Founders Sarah Damaskos, John Wisniewski and Jon Bonesteel are helping bridge the gap between technology and education for in-need students. Laptop Upcycle and its team are “committed to obtaining, refreshing, and distributing technology to students who need the tools to succeed in school … regardless of their family’s income level,” (quote from https://www.laptopupcycle.org/). From its founding, the team has been able to provide 815 laptops to eligible students in the Montclair Public School system with help from their generous supporters and donors. If you or someone you know would like to learn more and how you can help Laptop Upcycle, you can find their website at www.laptopupcycle.com.
The Fort Lee Board of Education’s Korean Parents Advisory Council, or KPAC, was founded in the 1980s by the Superintendent of Fort Lee Public Schools to assist Korean-American parents and students with translation assistance and educational events. The KPAC also strives to promote and educate others on Korean culture. Their assistance program helps students through all grade levels – from elementary school to high school. More information about the KPAC can be found at https://www.flboe.com/parents/parent_advisory/kpac.
Doctors Without Borders has grown into a global movement and organization that helps those in need by providing independent, impartial medical humanitarian assistance. Founded in France in 1971, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, provides aid for a number of reasons, including but not limited to: victims of conflict, natural disasters, epidemics and health care exclusion. Today, MSF has grown into 24 sections worldwide with their US Office comprising of 231 people based in New York City, NY. To find out more about Doctors Without Borders and how you can help, go to their website at www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
About Vitex
Vitex, founded in 2003, is a leading supplier of fiber optic products and solutions. Based in northern NJ, the company develops innovative, high-performance optical solutions to customers in telecom, military, medical, and other industries. Vitex’s skilled staff of highly trained engineers are knowledgeable and discerning about new product offerings and can provide technical advice and solutions customized to business needs.
