Father Jeff Putthoff

January 2012 JerseyMan of the Month

Father Jeff Putthoff has worked in Camden, NJ for the last thirteen years. He is the founder and Executive Director of Hopeworks ‘N Camden, a youth technology portal using the technologies of website design/development and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to work with youth ages 14-23 in Camden New Jersey. Hopeworks is a direct response to the current youth crisis that exists in for many youth today. In Camden, where Hopeworks office is located, over 50% of the population is under 18, only 25% of adults have a high school diploma and the per capita income is $5700. Hopeworks is a nonprofit organization based in Camden, New Jersey, the poorest city in the country. Its mission is to create opportunities for youth to follow their D.R.E.A.M.S. (Dynamic Realizable Efforts to Attain and Maintain Success). Hopeworks exists to create hope-filled futures for inner-city Camden youth by offering learning opportunities, enhancing their self-esteem through real-world jobs, and teaching them to be successful and self-sufficient.

There is an estimated 70% dropout rate from the public high schools in the city of Camden while 53% of all youth live below the poverty line. These factors combine to make life challenging for young people. Hopeworks is a direct response to this situation. During the past 12 years, Hopeworks has worked with over 1700 youth, providing 300 youth jobs, 1700 college credits and helped over 140 youth begin college. Father Jeff has been recognized for his youth development work in the following ways:

For his efforts, father Jeff has been the recipient of many awards, including the Camden Mayor's Youth Council Award For Community Service And Service To Youth; Camden Diocese Msgr. Michael Doyle and Msgr. Robert McDermott Award for Parish and Community Ministry; and the Campbell Soup Hometown Hero Award; and induction into the and NJ Technology Hall Of Fame.

Educational Background:

• Bachelor in Philosophy from Saint Louis University, 1987
• Masters in English from Loyola Chicago. 1989
• Masters of Divinity from Weston School Of Theology, 1997
• Masters of Theology from Weston School of Theology, 1998

Father Jeff is currently studying at the University of Pennsylvania for a degree in Organizational Dynamics and is a certified AKRI Consultant. He has been a Jesuit priest for 13 years and has been a Jesuit for 26 years.

Father Jeff can be found on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/jeffputthoffsj and Twitter at twitter.com/putthoff.

For more information about Hopeworks, visit www.hopeworks.org.