2026 Evening of Hope Honoree – Community Partner Award
Since 1933, The Community Chest has embraced the core value of community inclusion as a governing principle—raising and distributing funds to organizations that share and practice these same values. Based in Englewood, NJ and serving a 15-town area in eastern Bergen County, its mission is to lead initiatives and support nonprofits that make our communities stronger, providing leadership and inspiration to support those in need.
The Community Chest invests in capacity building for the organizations it supports. It has provided countless professional trainings to employees at all levels, honing skills, leadership, and community engagement. It also facilitates regular Executive Director round table meetings that provide a platform to discuss current issues and challenges, share information, and explore solutions, as well as to inspire and support one another.
The Community Chest has provided this vital assistance to Center for Hope & Safety for 24 consecutive years, including a total of nearly $200,000 in funding. These dollars have supported general operations and helped sustain some of our most essential programs, including our 24/7 Hotline, the Safe House, and Children’s Program.
Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director of The Community Chest, joined the organization in 2013 after having served as the Executive Director of the Partnership for After School Education in New York City (PASE) and the Vice President of Youth and Family Services of the YMCA of Greater New York, the largest YMCA in the country. Shelly has literally witnessed the evolution of Shelter Our Sisters and Center for Hope & Safety from its inception. A County employee at the time, she was present at the County Freeholders’ (now Commissioners) meeting when our founding Executive Director, Sandy Ramos, brought to the meeting women affected by domestic violence who were in need of safe housing, along with their children and pets. Sandy was on a mission to impress upon the Freeholders the importance of funding a shelter for domestic violence victims.
We celebrate The Community Chest’s long-term commitment to the families of Center for Hope & Safety, through steadfast financial and capacity-building support, by presenting the organization with our 2026 Community Partner Award.