township
Woman noted for her recent efforts with
township’s youth group
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
Karen Theer, East Brunswick, holds the Friends of Recreation and Parks Award that she received during Monday night’s Township Council meeting.
EAST BRUNSWICK — For Karen Theer, volunteering is more than something she does in her spare time. It’s her life.
Township officials are taking notice, as the governing body awarded Theer a Friends of Recreation and Parks Award at Monday night’s Township Council meeting.
Theer, most well known as the adviser to East Brunswick’s Youth Council, received a bouquet of roses and a trophy.
The award was given for her years of volunteer service to East Brunswick, including time on the Lawrence Brook School PTA and the township’s Future Municipal Land Use Committee. It’s the first time she’s won the award, which has been given annually for 12 years.
Her résumé is impressive.
Theer, a township resident for the past 19 years, found time not only to serve on the PTA for six of those years, but also served on the East Brunswick Public Schools Planning Committee, the SPACE Committee, Youth Services Commission and the Board of Education’s Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee.
The Planning Committee studied projected enrollment increases that would affect the schools, she explained, and the SPACE Committee helped raise funds to build a playground.
She said she served on the Youth Services Commission from 1995 to 2001, and spent three of those years as president. The commission was instrumental in creating the Friends of Community and Youth Services, whose goal is build a community center. She is still president of the Friends group, as well as a key communicator for the school board.
She also used to coach soccer
"I’ve been volunteering for stuff my whole life, and with East Brunswick since I moved here," she said.
She said her career, in fact, is in nonprofit work.
"I feel like when I get up every morning, I need to make a difference," she said, adding her primary passions are children and animals.
Theer, who lives with her son, Brian, 15; her niece, Hadas, 14; and nephew, Aviv, 16, said she was surprised to receive the award.
"I feel extremely honored," she said. "I know a lot of residents who do a ton to strengthen our community. I was really honored when the Friends called. There are a lot of residents who do so much to make a difference."
The award was presented this week because July is Recreation and Parks Month in the township.
Officials chose Theer because of her contributions to the parks and recreation system and for her years of service improving the quality of life for local youth.
Two other entities were honored with Friends of Recreation and Parks awards Monday night. The business award went to The Home Depot in Milltown, and the civic organization award went to the Buddy Ball division of the East Brunswick Baseball League.
The Buddy Ball division was formed in 1990 and provides challenged youth — including boys and girls ages 5 to 18 — the opportunity to play organized baseball, with full uniforms and weekly practices. More than 80 volunteers known as "pals" assist players on and off the field at practices and games. The Buddy Ball players played last year at the White House as a guest of President Bush.
The Home Depot, according to material provided by the township, has continuously donated materials and supplies as well as expertise and labor to assist in the development of a drop-in recreational teen center at the site of the former Nature Center. The teen center provides an inviting place for students in grades nine through 12 and helps keep them free from the influences of substance abuse or at-risk behavior.
As for Theer, she is most proud of her work with the youth council. The group started with only 22 children, but now includes more than 200.
The council is meant to provide children in grades nine through 12 with "social activities in a safe and positive environment. It also promotes individual self-esteem and leadership through participation in meetings, events and community service projects."
Theer said the council helps teenagers deal with all types of problems. The teens benefit from having others to talk to about such things as college and just fitting in.
Her biggest challenge is finding space for youth activities. She said a volleyball club is part of the youth council, but finding somewhere to play is very difficult.
"Trying to get a gym in East Brunswick is so hard," she said.
Last year, the council was allowed to use the Nature Center as a home of sorts. But that’s simply too little, she said.
"We’re grateful for the Nature Center, but it’s too small for us," she said, adding that when the council has a general meeting, it cannot fit everyone in the center.
"Space is a huge problem for us," she said. "We have a poetry night, open mike night at the teen center. We had 52 kids there one night and they couldn’t move."