b'The MaplewoodFoundation Grows $1.1 MillionCharitable FundNew organization awards $50,000 in grants in its first yearBY MASON LEVINSONSusan and Fred Profeta update The Maplewood Foun-dations fund thermometer, October 2023. The Profetas kickstarted the foundation with a $500,000 donation. Photo credit: Jin S. Lee.A s the remnants of HurricaneFoundation, a philanthropic community investmentProfetas interest in starting such a philanthropy IdarippedthroughMaple- fund whose stated mission is to improve the qualitydates back to his time in local government, when he wood and South Orange onof life of all Maplewood residents. The foundationrealized that the nonprofits who sought money from Sept.1,2021,claimingthejust completed its first year of operation, surpassingthe TownshipCommitteewererunbydedicated, lifeofalocalresidentandits initial goal of $1.1 million after raising more than endangeringmanyothersin$71,000 during its sold-out Celebrate Maplewood someoftheworstfloodingevent at The Woodland. The organization is the re-the towns had ever seen, the South Orange Rescuesult of the vision of a former Maplewood mayor, the Squad had a relatively quiet evening. dedication of a diverse group of almost 20 volun-There was nothing any of us could do, says Vic- teer trustees, and the generous donationslarge and tor Rothstein, the squads chief. We were just sit- smallof many local residents.ting here in our building. We only had three callsReachingthegoalenabledthefoundationto the entire night. award $50,000 in grants, including $8,000 to the With most residents huddled at home to avoidSouth Orange Rescue Squad to help fund new water the weather, there wasnt a great need for ambulancerescue equipment. Five other established 501(c)(3) service, the squads everyday focus. So while local fireorganizations also received program grants. A new-departments were overwhelmed responding to alarmser nonprofit, Together We Bloom, received a seed and area police fought to rescue several people fromgrant to help it get off the ground quickly. There are high waters that night, Rothsteins teamunequippedmore than 250 registered 501(c)(3)s serving the two and untrained for water rescuemostly stayed at theirtowns, according to the foundations research.Sloan Street station, comforting residents who cameThe former mayor who pursued the idea of the to the building after their homes flooded. foundationisFredProfeta,84,anearlylifelong Thats really the amount of what we could haveMaplewood resident who spent nine years on the offered the town, said Rothstein, whose squad alsoMaplewood Township Committee from 2003-2011, servesMaplewoodandothersurroundingtowns.includingfourasmayor.Profeta,presidentofthe We want to be able to do more. foundations board of trustees, and his wife, Susan, The squad and six other local nonprofits will nowalso a trustee, donated $500,000 to kickstart the or- South Orange Rescue Squad Chief Victor Rothstein (left) and Melanie Troncone, EMT, model the squads be able to do more, thanks to The Maplewoodganization. new dry suits. Photo credit: Mason Levinson.12/ matters magazine / winter 2024'