New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation, Inc.

The New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation was established in 2005 as the New Jersey Bankers Education Foundation, Inc., to honor fallen or permanently disabled military members in the post-9/11 Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts by providing scholarships to their eligible dependents. The veteran or dependent must have a connection to New Jersey. In 2015, the purpose of the Foundation was expanded to include broader charitable causes in addition to veteran causes.

Initial funding for the Foundation was provided from the generous support of banks throughout New Jersey. With the expansion of its purpose, additional funding was provided by the New Jersey Bankers Association and its subsidiary, NJBA Service Corporation and its affiliated company Bankers Cooperative Group, Inc. The New Jersey Bankers Association is the trade association representing banks doing business in New Jersey.  The NJBA Business Services is its for-profit subsidiary that provides the banking community access to quality products and services to enhance their competitive standing.  Bankers Cooperative Group is the licensed brokerage facility of NJBankers that provides members with one-source shopping for insurance coverage needs. 

Since inception, the Foundation has provided scholarship assistance to spouses of service members that have given their lives in service to our country that enabled them to earn their college degrees.  It also provided funds to Rutgers University’s Office of Veteran Services to assist veteran students that faced temporary financial hardships that, without assistance, would interfere with the completion of their education.  Additionally, the Foundation has supported organizations such as Operations First Response, an organization that supports tutoring programs for veterans and their dependents and a Veteran Entrepreneurial boot camp program at Rider University that prepares service members and veterans for starting their own businesses.   

If you are a dependent of a fallen or permanently disabled military members in the post-9/11 Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts that interested in applying for a scholarship, please contact John McWeeney at 908-272-8500, ext. 627, or jmcweeney@njbankers.com, for an application and additional information.

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and governed by a board of industry trustees. 

New Jersey Bankers Association Charitable Initiative supports NJ Pandemic Relief Fund

As we navigate these uncertain times together, NJBankers launched a charitable initiative to raise donations for the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF). The NJ Pandemic Relief Fund was founded by Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey on March 24th to stop the spread of COVID-19, support the healthcare community, provide help for the vulnerable and rebuild. NJBankers charitable initiative helps to support their efforts to meet critical needs and fight the economic and social impact of COVID-19.

The NJBankers Charitable Foundation trustees approved to match member donations up to $50,000. NJBankers is excited to report that this initiative resulted in a total contribution of $112,700 to the NJPRF. The Financial Institutions and service providers that have participated to date include 1st Colonial Community Bank, Columbia Bank, First Bank, Investors Bank, Lakeland Bank, Matrix Analytics, Mariners Bank, McCarter & English, LLP, OceanFirst Bank, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Regal Bank, RSI Bank, SB One Bank, Somerset Savings Bank and Valley Bank. This does not include the generous donation made by member PNC Bank of $250,000 directly to the NJPRF. In addition, we greatly appreciate the number of individuals that contributed to this initiative. To date NJBankers Charitable Foundation and member banks have raised nearly $400,000 for the Covid-19 Foundation.

Banks all over the Garden State have been developing special relief programs for organizations to support the needs of local communities. These organizations provide necessary housing and shelter, finance, transportation, healthcare, food, medicine and basic necessities to the residents of communities throughout the state of New Jersey. Below is a sampling of what some of our member banks are doing:

  •  Kearny Bank along with the banks Charitable Foundation is supporting healthcare organizations with a $200,000 donation to eight critical care institutions and charities in six different New Jersey counties. Those include: Joseph's Health Foundation, Paterson; Chilton Medical Center Foundation, Pompton Plains; AtlantiCare Foundation, Atlantic City; Center for Food Action, Englewood; Eva's Village, Paterson; Oasis, Paterson; Urban League of Essex County, Newark; Monmouth Medical Center and Southern Campus Foundation, Lakewood.

     

  • Manasquan Bank together with the banks Charitable Foundation Inc., has set aside reserve funds of $100,000 for additional grants to support the relief needs of local communities. Each grant will be available for up $2,500 that reflect the urgent needs for immediate relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

  • Provident Bank is offering multiple level grants towards Community and economic development programs that address obstacles to workforce development or barriers to employment; Innovative programming that expands access to, and improves the quality of, academic development opportunities and education experiences; and supporting innovative solutions to chronic problems that impact quality of life for people of all ages and means.

     

  • Unity Bank has made a generous donation to support Hunterdon Medical Center’s efforts in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Funds will be used to erect a free-standing Respiratory Illness Center to triage patients. It will be located in the back of Hunterdon Medical Center in a parking lot with easy access to the hospital.

 

These relief programs are essential for organizations to continue to serve their respective communities amid hardships brought about by the viral outbreak.

 

 

NJBankers Charitable Foundation supports SoupKitchen 411 FeedNJ Campaign

The New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation has donated $5,000 to the Soup Kitchen 411 FeedNJ campaign to support their efforts in helping connect local restaurants with soup kitchens to feed families affected by the COVID-19 Crisis. FeedNJ is co-chaired by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.

FeedNJ’s mission is not only to provide food to local soup kitchens in a time of increased need, but also to help support local restaurants, many of whom are facing long-term economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 outbreak. All funds raised in the FeedNJ campaign go directly to pay for meals from local restaurants and eateries, who will then deliver the food to a local soup kitchen.

Soup Kitchen 411, was founded by Ken DeRoberts in 2015 with the goal of connecting soup kitchens with those neighbors in need of a warm meal.