Basking Ridge, N.J. (March 19, 2019) Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Affinity Federal Credit Union, announced today the 2018 recipients of more than $118,000 worth of grants funding for local, grassroots charity organizations across New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Compared to $75,000 awarded in 2017, the Foundation has significantly increased its charitable contributions.

“We are committed to supporting local organizations who share Affinity’s mission of helping individuals thrive and are grateful for the strong relationships we’ve built with impactful charities across New Jersey, New York and Connecticut,” said Judi Meighan, director of the Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation. “Improving members’ financial lives means so much more than money in the bank. Affinity is proud to give back to organizations who continue to cultivate a sense of well-being for underserved communities.”
 

The following charities received grants from the Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation:

• $13,000 to New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education in Trenton, NJ to improve the personal financial literacy of New Jersey’s citizens by promoting the teaching of personal finance to people of all ages. The Coalition believes all citizens of New Jersey must have the financial literacy necessary to make informed financial decisions.
• $10,000 to Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs in Dover, NJ to support the essential human and social programs they offer to low-income individuals and families of Morris County and surrounding communities. These programs address social determinants and provide access to basic services.
• $7,500 to:
  • Community Hope in Parsippany, NJ to continue to provide support to the Hope for Veterans® Program and their mission of rescuing veteran households and disabled individuals from homelessness, poverty and despair.
  • Interfaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains, NJ to support their much-needed food purchases which help keep their clients healthy. Many clients suffer from diet-related health issues such as diabetes, obesity and celiac disease. Eating healthier can help reduce, better control and sometimes eliminate the illness.
• $7,000 to:
  • Midland Foundation in North Branch, NJ to support the programs and services provided by the Midland School and Midland Adult Services.
  • Visions and Pathways in Bridgewater, NJ to provide continued support for their Prosperity Independent Living Skills program. This program serves adolescents ages 14-24 throughout Central and Northern New Jersey, as they will receive independent-living skills education, career counseling and employment preparation through weekly workshops, mentoring groups and one-on-one support.
• $6,000 to Lunch Break in Red Bank, NJ, to alleviate hunger and lead those they serve to self-sufficiency and healthier lifestyles. The grant will support Lunch Break’s Soup Kitchen, which served 73,662 hot, nutritious meals in 2017 and Client Choice Pantry, which distributed 42,640 bags of groceries last year as well.
• $5,000 to:
  • America's Grow-a-Row in Pittstown, New Jersey which provides fresh produce to those in need to support their hunger relief efforts in New Jersey.
  • Cornerstone Family Programs & Morristown Neighborhood House in Morristown, NJ to support their Teen Pathways to Brighter Futures program which prepares teens for education after high school, the workforce and beyond, providing opportunities for teens to learn and grow into community-minded mentors and leaders.
  • Elijah's Promise in New Brunswick, NJ to support their Community Soup Kitchen, Homeless Empowerment Action Response Team, Code Blue Critical Warming Centers and Promise Culinary School, which provide essential human services for those in need throughout Central New Jersey.
  • HomeSharing, Inc. in Bridgewater, NJ, to serve the working poor, those whose incomes are at or below the poverty level and are not eligible for social services via the only agency in New Jersey using the shared affordable housing model. This grant will support their shared affordable housing program in central and northern New Jersey.
  • Pioneer Family Success Center in Somerville, NJ to continue to support their Family Fun Nights, workshops and programs, and to provide general operating support.
• $4,000 to Central Jersey Housing Resource Center in Raritan, NJ to provide continued support for their Pre-Purchase and Post-Purchase individual and group counseling initiatives for 2019.
• $3,600 to HABcore, Inc. in Red Bank, NJ to support their Coffey Residence Boarding Home program. This program provides permanent supportive housing to low-income individuals with disabilities.
• $2,500 to:
  • Deidre's House in Morristown, NJ to support the Healing Fund, which offers a foundation of support during a time of crisis and trauma so families can focus their attention on the welfare of the child. Families supported by the Healing Fund can concentrate their efforts on healing and building financial and family stability.
  • Haverstraw King's Daughters Library in Garnerville, New York to support their “Reach for Hired Ground” program. This program includes eight workshops aimed at teaching high school juniors and seniors how to create a successful job search plan and develop a financial plan for the future.
  • New Jersey Foundation for Aging in Trenton, NJ, to promote services that enable older adults to live in the community with independence and dignity.
  • Norwalk Grassroots Tennis & Education in Norwalk, CT to support their Junior Coach Program. This program helps high school students develop their critical leadership, as well as prepare for college and their careers.
  • Preschool Advantage in Morristown, NJ to provide preschool scholarship assistance for Morris and Somerset County children. The best way to invest in the future of our community is by investing in today’s children, giving every child the same opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.
  • Somerset Health Care Foundation in New Brunswick, NJ to provide ongoing support for their Medication Assistance Program. This program targets underserved patients who truly need help obtaining medication for chronic illness.
  • Summit Area YMCA in Summit, NJ to support their Healthy Hearts & Cardiac Rehab Maintenance Program. This is a 12-week program that teaches participants how to exercise independently so that they can continue to maintain cardiovascular health.
• $2,000 to New Reach in New Haven, CT to support their Emergency Shelter, a critical entry point into a solution-oriented process designed to help families move beyond homelessness by reclaiming and rebuilding their lives.
• $1,500 to Curbing Hunger, Inc. in Basking Ridge, NJ to obtain more food from community gardens and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter months.
• $1,000 to:
  • 180 Turning Lives Around in Hazlet, NJ to support their emergency domestic violence shelter which provides a two-pronged approach to helping survivors move toward ongoing safety and independence.
  • Central Connecticut Coast YMCA in New Haven, CT to support their New Haven YMCA Youth Center Walk-In Program, their after-school program for all neighborhoods of New Haven. The program serves 1,194 youth and teens living in the Dwight neighborhood, and had over 6,000 check-ins in 2017 across 350 youth.
  • Helping Hands for the Homeless of Rockland in Spring Valley, NY to support their new “Hope Center.” Helping Hands offers homeless adults laundry and shower facilities, a clothing closet and the services of a case manager to assist them in finding the resources they need to transition out of homelessness.
  • Hunterdon County YMCA in Flemington, NJ to support membership, childcare, summer camp and programs.
  • Middle Earth in Bridgewater, NJ to support their Youth College Readiness Program at Bound Brook High School, a program that keeps youth engaged in school so they graduate on time, improve their academic performance and extracurricular resumes and learn how to make post-secondary education a reality.
  • North Rockland School District in Rockland, NY to support their scholarship fund.
  • Table to Table in Englewood Cliffs, NJ to support their efforts of redistributing fresh, perishable food. This grant will help Table to Table deliver 10,000 healthy meals.

For additional information about Affinity Federal Credit Union, or to speak with an executive from the company, contact Anjelica Sena of Stern Strategy Group at amsena@sternstrategy.com or (908) 325-3873.

About the Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation:

The AFCU Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Affinity Federal Credit Union and its Community Connected. The Foundation delivers financial education resources to empower vulnerable populations through financial independence. We also invest in local, grassroots organizations that support those in need, both through contributing grant dollars and also connecting charities with skilled volunteers to elevate their mission. Through our volunteer efforts, the Foundation works to strengthen communities by providing the helping hand many don’t have or even realize they need.

About Affinity Federal Credit Union:

With more than 20 branches across the tri-state area, Affinity is the largest credit union headquartered in the state of New Jersey, proudly ranking in the top 2% of all credit unions in terms of asset size1. It is a member-owned, not-for-profit, full-service financial institution federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). For more information, visit affinityfcu.com.