16 minute read
Meet Your Neighbor
Meet Your Neighbor
Lin Fong-O’Neill
By LiliAnn Paras
Lin Fong-O’Neill was born in China, raised in Hong Kong, and has lived in Colts Neck for more than 27 years and counting. Lin spent 33 years in the corporate world at J.P. Morgan Chase, managing global project implementation. She met her husband Ben there and in 1993, they moved to Colts Neck from New York with their son David, who is now married to Stephanie and has two daughters, Olivia and Catalina. A wonderful life together changed abruptly for Lin with the sudden passing of Ben last year. Fortunately, Lin has a myriad of interests, talents, and causes she supports which help her to cope with her new way of being in the world. She is an author of published children’s books, she paints, and she derives great satisfaction in using her creativity in ways to benefit others. She helps young readers learn empathy and kindness through her children’s books, addressing topics of diversity and acceptance. And as a life-long reader and fan of libraries, Lin chose the Colts Neck Friends of the Library (CNFOL) as a beneficiary of the proceeds of her book sales. CM met with Lin to learn about the inspiration for her books and paintings.
CM: You moved to America when you were 17. What are some of the challenges you encountered?
Lin Fong-O’Neill (LFO): Because I came from a protective environment, I was young, naïve and oblivious. It worked to my advantage in that I just soaked up every wonderful thing America had to offer. My family settled in Harlem. The diversity of the neighborhood shocked my parents but its colorfulness resonated with me.
CM: What inspired you to write books for children?
LFO: I always liked to write, love children, and am fascinated with art. Though transitioning from writing business memos to creative writing was a challenge, I was determined to tackle it after I left my corporate career. Being a master of multi-tasking, I decided to pen children’s stories, design illustrations with artists, and to write a monthly column (mostly life experience stories) for a Long Island magazine. The column ended after 15 years as COVID has forced the magazine to shut down recently.
CM: What led you to focus on stories about diversity?
LFO: I address cultural diversity because I embraced what I have learned dealing with it in my global role professionally, and in my personal life. Trust me, daring an interracial marriage at 19 was not a walk in the park, especially in my traditional family.
CM: When did you begin to paint, and did you have formal training?
LFO: I began in 2013, mostly self-taught, and I took classes regularly through the Monmouth Park System. My preferred medium is acrylic and my favorite subjects are buildings, animals, and people.
CM: You recently donated all the proceeds from your paintings of homes to the CN Library. How did this idea come about?
LFO: The first house I painted was as a thank you to a neighbor and friend. It took three years because I was painting on and off and in no hurry! I then painted other homes within a few months. With the isolation as a result of COVID, I thought it’s a great way to use my skill to paint the beloved homes of others, and the task serves as an outlet to channel my bottled creative energy.
CM: You have traveled extensively. What are some of your favorite places and why?
LFO: I love to travel: from snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, wandering in the rain forests of Costa Rica, touring English castles in Wales, and admiring the 14th century Gothic cathedral in Majorca. I believe the wonders of the world can inspire us to accept diversity among people as well.
CM: What are some of the other things you enjoy doing?
LFO: I enjoy gardening, tennis, working out, bonding with girlfriends over lunch, meditating by my koi pond, and occasionally ballroom dancing, as well as aerial yoga.
CM: Your philosophy?
LFO: I believe in gratitude – I am grateful for every good thing and every true person that comes in my life and I give thanks continuously. I am an open book!
Subject to availability, Lin Fong-O’Neill is offering an 11”x14” acrylic painting of homes. A printed picture of the front of the structure must be provided, along with a 50% deposit (payable to Colts Neck Library Foundation). Prices and completion times may vary due to complexity; generally completed within two months. Contact linfongo@yahoo.com
Anna Appolonia is an accomplished full-time real estate professional at Heritage House Sotheby’s International Realty, Holmdel Office.
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By Cathy Padilla
At the Impact 100 Jersey Coast annual meeting, sponsored by The Center for Women and Wealth at Brown Brothers Harriman, New Jersey Natural Gas, Grunin Foundation, Stillwell-Hansen, and Bayshore Recycling, 456 Impact 100 members gathered virtually for their opportunity to vote on the recipients of this year’s transformative grants. Each member contributed $1,000 toward the 2020 grant fund that awarded four inspiring and high-impact projects $114,000 each. The winners were: Monmouth Museum, HABcore, Fulfill, and the Aslan Youth MinArts & Culture Grant Winner Monmouth Museum
Monmouth Museum Board Member Michael Rubin (left) and
Acting Executive Director Erika Hellstrom. serves. by showcasing their abilities and creativity in a public setting. um. For more information on Making Art Possible! or the Monmouth Museum, visit monmouthmuseum.org or email: art@ monmouthmuseum.org. istries. As the runner-up finalist, American Littoral Society was also awarded $2,500 from OceanFirst Foundation, who was inspired by the impact of the night. “Although we see an uncertain future, we know that as a collective we are stronger together. This evening encapsulates what can happen when women unite together to pool our individual donations to help our community. We are truly Impact Strong!” commented Deirdre Spiropoulos, Impact 100 Jersey
Coast President and Co-Founder.
Children & Families Grant Winner
An independent, non-profit organization established in 1963 that presents changing art, history, and science exhibitions to educate and entertain while providing a destination for creative expression and lifelong learning to the diverse community it The Impact 100 grant will bring personalized art programming consistently to adults with special needs, providing therapeutic benefits during these uncertain times. The project, known as Making Art Possible! addresses the needs of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, one of the most vulnerable populations in Monmouth County. Every other week for twelve months, customized art kits will be delivered to the group homes and residences of The Arc of Monmouth. At the end of twelve months, the program will be recognized with a community-based gallery exhibit, building confidence and breaking down societal perceptions of people with disabilities “I am so excited for this transformational project and share our appreciation for the generosity of the Impact 100 Jersey Coast Members for selecting Making Art Possible!” said Erika Hellstrom, Acting Executive Director of the Monmouth Muse-
HABcore
(L to R) Marta J Quinn, HABcore, Sr. Director of Development; Kathleen Mullarkey, HABcore President; Denise Liotta, Impact 100 Jersey Coast Impact Chair; and Sue Harbison, HABcore board member.
An organization that provides permanent housing and individualized support and helps homeless families, veterans, and individuals with special needs move through crisis to stability, giving them the opportunity to improve their lives. “It was an honor to work on the Impact 100 grant and have an opportunity to learn and grow from such a generous, supportive, and dedicated group of women,” said Kate Ryan, HABcore Grants Administrator. “The level of detail and thoroughness of the Impact 100 Jersey Coast to ensure integrity and fairness to the process is unmatched. HABcore is deeply grateful for the grant, and that Impact 100 acknowledges the importance of our Independence Pathways Program in transforming the lives of so many families who have experienced homelessness or might be facing homelessness in Monmouth County. $114,000 will indeed make a huge IMPACT.” The Independence Pathways Program combines affordable housing with coordinated services to help people struggling with chronic physical and mental health issues to maintain stable housing while receiving appropriate support and employment services.
For more information, visit HABcore.org.
Education Grant Winner Aslan Youth Ministries
Health & Wellness Grant Winner Fulfill of Monmouth & Ocean Counties
(L to R) Deirdre Spiropoulos, Impact 100 Jersey Coast President & Founder; Rowena Crawford-Phillips, Impact 100 Grants Committee, Chair; Denise Liotta, Impact Sponsor Coordinator; Craig Bogard and Lynn Ann Bogard, Founders of Aslan Youth Ministries.
Founded in 1975, the mission of Aslan Youth Ministries is to effect permanent change in the hearts and minds of at-risk youth residing in Red Bank, Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Neptune. By participating in afterschool and summer programs that incorporate supportive relationships and positive expectations for achievement and are targeted toward specific needs, students see improvement in their social skills, emotional development, and academics. “We owe our most heartfelt thanks to Impact 100 Jersey Coast for choosing Aslan as a 2020 grant recipient,” shared Founders Craig and Lynn Ann Bogard. “With this gift we will be able to hire our first-ever, full-time Volunteer & Resource Director. We know this is a major step in ensuring that Aslan will continue to serve children in need for the next 45 years. We are thankful beyond words for the wonderful work Impact 100 accomplishes!”
For more information or to help, visit aslanyouth.org.
Fulfill staff members with Impact 100 volunteers.
Dedicated to alleviating hunger and building food security in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Fulfill’s vision is a food secure community where all people always have access to enough food to lead active and healthy lives. “Impact 100’s generous grant to Fulfill will help us feed hungry kids falling through the cracks during the pandemic in our own backyard. We will be able to serve 88,000 healthy meals to 450 children in need in Monmouth County, through an expansion of our Backpack Program and Kids’ Cafe After School Meals Program. The nutrition these kids will receive will give them a fighting chance to thrive. As such, the impact of this grant on their development and their lives overall is priceless,” said Fulfill CEO and President Kim Guadagno, the former Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey. The demand for food at Fulfill has increased by 40% since the pandemic hit our area.
If anyone would like to donate or volunteer, please go to fulfillnj.org.
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