For her parents, sisters, friends and colleagues – and for her own family – Lauren was an inspiration. She had integrity, self-discipline and strength of character; she always spoke up and stood up for what she believed was right. And she fought for her beliefs with determination and dignity.

These are the qualities that inspire the Lauren Rose Albert Foundation.

Established in 2000, this private, not-for-profit organization offers women’s community service and educational programs that reflect the credo that Mothers Matter – a tribute to a mother’s love – helping needy women and their children; a cause close to Lauren’s heart.

Women's Scholarship Program

The Lauren Rose Albert Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program supports the efforts of women to obtain a higher education by paying for college textbooks for income-eligible, single, head-of-household women who work, support their family and attend a participating college.

The cost of college textbooks and the burden it places on lower-income women is a great concern and is often not addressed by conventional funding assistance programs; yet it should be. Many non-traditional students do not receive financial assistance for textbooks and course related materials which cost hundreds of dollars a year. For many single parents who work, maintain a household and struggle to make ends meet, there is often a choice between paying for a textbook or a household necessity. No one trying to improve her life through education should have to make that choice! 

The Women’s Scholarship Program was launched in 2003 at Rowan University in Glassboro , New Jersey. Since then, Burlington County College, Camden County College, Cumberland County College, Gloucester County College and Salem Community College were added to the list of participating colleges.

Lauren Rose Albert Foundation scholarship recipients receive grants of up to $250 a semester; more than $125,000 in grants has been awarded since the program’s inception.

The Lauren Rose Albert Foundation is the recipient of the prestigious Wynona M. Lipman Service in Education Award presented by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Division on Women.

Mothers Matter Community Outreach

As the mother of three children, Lauren knew how important she was to her family – and how important they were to her. She was a wonderful mother, filling her children’s lives with sunshine and love. The Foundation’s Mothers Matter program is a tribute to a mother’s love.

Mothers Matter – Mother’s Day Gift Basket Project

The Mother’s Day gift basket project began in 2001 as a means to provide women’s personal health and beauty care products to working poor women. A series of meetings with social service providers determined that this was an unmet need for women who cannot afford these items. Through the years the scope of this project expanded to include “special” mothers; those with family illness, tragedy or other serious challenges.

Gift baskets overflowing with women’s necessities such as bath, toiletry and health care products are distributed every Mother’s Day to hundreds of special and needy mothers, grandmothers and caregivers.  

School children, girl scouts, businesses and community organizations and agencies as well as local and county governments and colleges participate through Mothers Matter collection drives, contributions and volunteer support.

Mothers Matter volunteers assemble beautiful gift baskets which are delivered in time for Mother’s Day; each gift bears the message that “Mothers Matter”.

Since the project began in 2001, Mothers Matter volunteers assembled and delivered more than 10,200 Mother’s Day Gift Baskets to day care centers, women’s shelters & safe houses, pediatric medical day care facilities, women’s agencies, hospitals and facilities such as Ronald McDonald House, Cooper House, Ethel Lawrence Housing After-School Program,  Samaritan Hospice, Kennedy Hospital Health Care Center, Providence House, My Sister’s Place, Anna’s Angels, St.Malachy’s Church, Gold Star Home,  Aids Coalition and Gloucester County Displaced Homemakers.

The Lauren Rose Albert Foundation is grateful to our Dollar Tree Stores for their support of the Mothers Matter program.

Mothers Matter -- Every Day

Since its inception in 2000, the Lauren Rose Albert Foundation has focused on helping women in areas of need in which there is no government or agency assistance; providing programs that fill women’s unmet needs.

The Mother’s Day gift basket project began in 2001 as a means to provide women’s personal health and beauty care products to working poor women. A series of meetings with social service providers determined that this was an unmet need for women who cannot afford these items. Through the years the scope of this project expanded to include “special” mothers; those with family illness, tragedy or other serious challenges.

With more than seven years of accomplishments and growth the LRAF is ready to expand existing programs and fulfill its vision to respond to women’s’ unmet needs by providing resources, services or financial assistance – every day --  and to improve their quality of life.

Mothers Matter Every Day will be launched in late 2008 as a pilot program and working with four or five South Jersey women’s services providers and day care centers, will strive to address a broader range of unmet needs of women who face economic challenges every day of their lives. Through our network of community partners, it is our goal to be a resource for quality-of-life emergency needs of women in the region.