Conor Orr has a history with the Greater Newark Holiday Fund and the areas it serves. A former writer for The Star-Ledger in Newark, Orr’s wife, Alison had been involved with the fund for years. Seeing her dedication and the good work the group does inspired him to also get involved. When he was asked to be this year’s Honorary Chairman, the answer was an easy “yes.”

Agencies supported by the Greater Newark Holiday Fund help individuals and families with everything from counseling to finding a home, overcoming substance abuse, helping children achieve academically and much more.

“I got connected to the fund through my amazing wife, who played a big part in the Greater Newark Holiday Fund and she got me introduced to the people and, I think most importantly, the story and how the fund began, the ethos behind it, and from there it felt like a no-brainer to get involved,” he said.

Now in its 86th year, The Greater Newark Holiday Fund began in 1937 as a gift drive for children in Newark. Today, it raises money for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, Children’s Aid & Family Services, FAMILYConnections, Family Service Bureau of Newark, Family Service League, Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey, The Mental Health Association in New Jersey, Newark Day Center, Nutley Family Service Bureau, The Urban League of Essex County and Youth Consultation Service (YCS).

Marie Mathews

These agencies help individuals and families with everything from counseling to finding a home, overcoming substance abuse, helping children achieve academically and much more.

Orr said he wants to increase awareness of the fund, as well as donations, and wants to help in any way possible. “I’m really looking forward to getting out there,” Orr said. “It’s just so inspiring what the partner agencies do, with all the people they serve.

GNHF President Marie Mathews said she is excited about Orr’s involvement as Honorary Chairman, and is happy to see someone so enthusiastic about the fund take on a lead role.

“He’s been a supporter of the fund for awhile now,” she said. “He comes to all of our events and is a cheerleader. I’m super happy to have him. He has a big social media presence that he’s going to put to use for the fund, so that’s exciting.”

Mathews said that what makes Greater Newark Holiday Fund special is its commitment to working with and raising money for groups that have a direct and immediate impact on the communities in which they serve.

“What differentiates us from a lot of the more public and well-known organizations is that we support people in our backyard, so you can be assured that money you are giving is going to be given to those in your community,” she said. “We really focus on the Greater Newark area, so all 11 agencies are in communities surrounding Essex County. We focus on the organizations that do their work on the ground in those towns.”

The fund primarily raises money from November through February, but accepts donations year-round. Donations are received from larger businesses as well as from individuals.

Visit the Greater Newark Holiday Fund at holidayfund.org, Twitter at twitter.com/HolidayFundNJ, on Facebook at facebook.com/GreaterNewarkHolidayFund or on Instagram at instagram.com/holidayfundnj.

For more stories about the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, click here.