Ashley Lauren Foundation – Family Outreach Assistant
Overview
The Ashley Lauren Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides hope and help to children with cancer and their families in New Jersey.
Duties
- Work with families who have a child suffering from cancer through phone calls
- Assist with promotional materials/marketing, advocacy, fund-raising and education
Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Undergraduate or Graduate Student
- Passion to help others
How to Apply
Contact Monica Vermeulan, Founder/CEO of TALF
Contact Information
The Ashley Lauren Foundation
315 Rt. 34 Suite 135
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Telephone: (732) 414-1625
Student Feedback
While at my site, I often spent my time filing, conducting research, and organizing the office. While at times this grew tiresome, I began to understand the importance of these tasks and was always willing to do what my supervisor needed most. At times, I was able to meet with kids and get to know their stories. This was the most interesting part. At times, I was able to use various courses from Brookdale and Monmouth to my advancements. This includes courses like information technology and abnormal psychology as well as childhood development. My Microsoft office skills, and psychology skills not only helped me in my work, but it also helped as a teach opportunity for my supervisor.
The most enjoyable part about my placement, was being able to meet with the kids and their families. I am naturally a people person, and I just enjoy the physical aspect of things. In my opinion, this is the most important role an intern here has, and it was both uncharted for me and familiar all at the same time. Having interacted with kids my whole life, in my mother’s in-home daycare, this experience was truly eye-opening. If another student were to intern here, they should be open-minded and ready to grow. My supervisor always told me that most interns do not want to meet the kids. While originally, I was scared to do so myself, I knew that it was important to my development and for the healing process of these families.
~David Rodriguez, Spring '19
At the Ashley Lauren foundation I spent my days preparing for our upcoming parties by creating crafts, pricing and organizing gifts, shopping for gifts to add to the holiday wish list, and reaching out to families. Through all these tasks and more, I was able to practice my communication skills, especially over the phone, and being able to complete tasks independently as my supervisor frequently gave me little instruction of what to do the entire time I was at my site. The most enjoyable thing about my experience here was being able to work behind the scenes at preparing and purchasing things I knew would bring smiles to the children.
In order to intern at the Ashley Lauren Foundation I believe the student needs to have a bubbly and energetic personality, as well as a positive outlook on life. Since you are working with children who have cancer, there can be moments where sadness and grief may creep up, but it is important to look at what your doing is making the lives for the children and their families much easier, as well as giving them a reason to smile.
~Megan Lindstrom, Fall '18
Have you interned here? Add your feedback to help other students by emailing [Goodwin].