Rider Community Scholars/Bonner Leaders

The Bonner Foundation
The Bonner Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Bertram and Corella Bonner.  It strives to promote community involvement in students across the country as well as aiding these students in the funding of their education.  The Bonner Foundation makes it possible to devote their time to serving the community while maintaining financial stability.  Download our brochure! (pdf)

Thanks to all who applied for the Rider Community Scholar/ Bonner Leader program for the 09-10 academic year.  The application deadline was February 2, 2009 and we are no longer accepting applications at this time.  All applicants will be notified after April 1, 2009.

Mission
Through sustained partnerships with colleges and congregations, the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation seeks to improve the lives of individuals and communities by helping meet the basic needs of nutrition and educational opportunities.

Types of Bonners

Bonner Scholars:

• Funded by the Bonner Foundation
• Consists of 27 schools across the nation

Bonner Leaders:

	Funded by Americorps, federal work study, and individual institutions
	Consists of 47 colleges and universities across the country

Rider University - Bonner Leaders
Bonners participate in nearly every aspect of community service and community based learning.  As a Bonner you would attend annual meetings, conferences, and workshops to educate yourself on community service.  You would also participate in hands on service projects throughout the year as well as take on a weekly site in which you would dedicate the majority of your service time.

Workshops and Conferences Attended by Bonners:

• First year student orientation
• Student Leadership Institute (SLI)
• COOL National Idealist Conference
• First Year Service Trip

First Year Bonner Orientation
All students entering their first year of service with the Bonner Program are required to attend the Orientation.
Orientation will inform and prepare participants on what a Bonner is and what they will be doing for the next year in the program.
Service sites will be chosen and goals will be formulated for the year.

Student Leadership Institute
Mission – assist young people in the development of their leadership philosophy and skills by exposing them to a Biblically-based, practical, multifaceted, yearlong program.
This conference is attended by all sophomores in the Bonner Program and is meant to strengthen ones leadership and service skills.

COOL National Idealist Conference
The COOL Conference is held every year for service minded idealists who look to better the world through service and civic engagement.
It offers hundreds of workshops covering all areas of service, leadership, and organization.
Students attend the COOL Conference to learn of new service opportunities and obtain the skills they need to make a difference.

First Year Service Trip
The First Year Service Trip is taken by all freshman Bonners after completing their first year in the Bonner Program.
This trip will serve as an opportunity for Bonners to share their first year experiences with one another.

Service Sites at Rider University

• Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)
• EL Centro After-School Program
• Mercer Street Friends
• HomeFront
• Trenton After-School Program
• Minding Our Business Xtreme (MOB)

Other Service Opportunities:

• Midnight Run
• Gleanings
• Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (HAHA)
• Martin Luther King Day of Service