Toms River, NJ – OceanFirst Foundation of Toms River has awarded $150,000 in grants to 66 nonprofits throughout central and southern New Jersey through its Arts and Cultural Grant Program. Supporting local arts and cultural organizations is key to the growth and development of people and the economy. Grants awarded support a range of activities including live theater and music, museums, galleries, festivals, and other special events happening throughout the year.
Grants were awarded to: Allaire Village (Monmouth), Art Society of Monmouth (Monmouth), Atlantic City Arts Foundation (Atlantic), Barn Studio of Art (Cumberland), Bay Atlantic Symphony (Atlantic), Belmar Arts (Monmouth), Cape May County 4-H Foundation (Cape May), Cape May County Coast Guard Community Foundation (Cape May), Cape May Stage (Cape May), Cape Shore Chorale (Cape May), East Lynne Theater Company (Cape May), Exit 82: A Toms River Theatre Company (Ocean), FAF Coalition (Gloucester), Garden State Film Festival (Monmouth), Greater Ocean City Theatre Company (Cape May), Guild of Creative Art (Monmouth), Hammonton Arts Center (Atlantic), Lighthouse International Film Festival (Ocean), Mainstage Center for the Arts (Gloucester), Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (Cape May), Middletown Arts Center (Monmouth), Monmouth County Historical (Monmouth), Music at Bunker Hill (Gloucester), Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum (Cape May), Ocean City Arts Center (Cape May), OCVTS – Performing Arts (Ocean), Old Barracks Museum (Mercer), Phoenix Productions (Monmouth), Pine Shores Art Association (Ocean), Red Bank RiverCenter (Monmouth), South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble (Atlantic), T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center (Monmouth), Wetlands Institute (Cape May), and Young Audiences Arts for Learning/NJ & Eastern PA (Mercer).
“The past few months have been an incredibly challenging time for our nonprofit partners and so we’re happy to continue our support of the Arts and Cultural community. We know these organization will help to bring people and neighborhoods back together” said Katherine Durante, Executive Director of OceanFirst Foundation.
Since its founding in 1902, OceanFirst Bank has built a solid reputation and legacy as a good neighbor and responsible corporate citizen. The Bank’s strong commitment to helping families, organizations, schools, and communities throughout central and southern New Jersey has spanned several generations, reaching new heights in 1996 with the creation of OceanFirst Foundation. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that meet community needs within the OceanFirst footprint. Since its inception, OceanFirst Foundation has contributed in excess of 7,950 grants totaling over $40 million to over 900 local charities.