Bernice vanSteyn-Weiss cares deeply for nonprofit organizations, both from her heart and from her intellect. “If you really feel deeply about the mission of the non-profit organization, it’s important to show your support. They need support – not only financially but whatever support you can give. Volunteers are essential to the organization.”
Her words are imbued with decades of being engaged with NJCTS, from its very earliest days, first building a friendship with Faith Rice. Bernie and her husband Nathan were introduced to Faith (and her husband Mike) through Bernie’s sister and brother-in-law (Dorothy and Richard Harth). What began as an introduction among friends deepened into empathy, admiration, and support.
Like most parents whose children have TS, Faith and Mike struggled for years to get a diagnosis and help for their son.
“Faith and Mike were faced with a situation with their son, Kim, and could get no answers – until Faith finally did something about it. She sent an invitation to families and she got the organization to go from nothing to an impressive organization. I was impressed with her tenacity, passion, and sensitivity, and could picture when she spoke to parents and how these parents could feel that someone cared.”
Bernie’s husband, Dr. Nathan Weiss, retired as president of Kean University (then Kean College) in 1989 and passed away in 2013. Bernie retired as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 2007. They met Faith and Mike as retirees in 2011 when Faith was “pretty early in her journey. Nate and I had some wonderful discussions with Faith on a variety of issues and she helped us to understand Tourette’s more fully. I was not that familiar with the disorder, which is not uncommon.”
Though Bernie and Nate were retired, they brought their full intellect and energy to TS as they had to their careers. Nate, though he had been Kean’s president, taught political science in the classroom every year he was president. Bernie commented that “he was a good role model for many people and a down-to-earth man which Faith liked; she could talk very openly with him.” Describing Faith, Bernie expressed her admiration for her passion. “It was a soft-spoken passion that made everyone feel comfortable and attracted donors and built relationships.”
In order to enhance the organization’s revenue streams, Faith embarked on grant writing. “Faith and I were discussing the process associated with grants when she remarked that granting agencies required mission and vision statements and that NJCTS hadn’t formalized these statements at this time.” With a background in University administration and finance, Bernie offered to develop draft statements for NJCTS and set to work. “I thought she had the essence (of the mission and vision) in her materials, so I extracted wording that formed the basis of the first mission and vision–which stood the test of time for many years. It has since been revised, as it should with program enhancements.” Bernie and Nate soon became Advisory Committee members, offering advice and support in many ways.
“I wish more people knew more about TS. Sharing what I learned with friends and others was something I could do.” In addition, Bernie stressed the importance of supporting non-profits with donations. She has been a long-time donor and has included NJCTS in her will.
Bernie understands the fuller picture of nonprofit funding, empathizing with those – like NJCTS – who benefit from government funding as well as private support, “I do understand that many nonprofits are largely dependent on government grants; however, funds can be reduced/taken away at any time.” Therefore, the importance of unrestricted/independent funding to nonprofit organizations cannot be overstressed.
Bernie and Nate, who had no direct benefit to the programs and services of NJCTS, felt strongly that parents of NJCTS youth, and others, should support NJCTS as volunteers and donors and know that their support “can make a real difference.”
Bernie’s belief in giving back was shaped from a young age. Her parents were involved with church and community and gave of their time and money to help others throughout their lives. Their actions stuck with her.
NJCTS is grateful to Bernie and Nate Weiss for their donations over the years as well as the generosity of time, insights, and financial support they have provided. We hope that others are inspired by their character, their commitment to giving back, and their call to see a need and take action.