OceanFirst Foundation awards grants to schools

Thousands of students across Ocean and Monmouth counties will see upgrades to their school library and media center. OceanFirst Foundation has awarded $322,000 in grants and gift certificates as part of its annual Library and Media Center Enhancement Grant Program.

Now in its fourth year, the Library and Media Center Enhancement Grant Program has contributed more than $1.2 million to schools in the OceanFirst service area, according to a press release. The program is an effort to enrich the learning experience and encourage a love of reading. Celebrating its 12th anniversary, OceanFirst Foundation has contributed nearly $20 million to more than 600 local charities in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties since its inception.

OceanFirst Foundation received 107 applications from eligible public and private schools, K-12 for the 2008 school grant program.

OceanFirst Foundation awarded 10 elementary schools $10,000 each and awarded four middle schools and four high schools $25,000 each.

Each school not selected to receive a major award received their choice of a $250 gift certificate from Follett Library Resources, Scholastic Books or Staples, making OceanFirst Foundation's total contribution for the 2008 program $322,000.

Three high schools in Ocean County each received $25,000 grants. They are: Barnegat High School, Lakewood High School and Toms River North High School North. One Monmouth County High School, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology at Sandy Hook, received $25,000.

Four Ocean County middle schools each received $25,000 grants. They are: Central Regional Middle School in Bayville, Lakewood Middle School, Memorial Middle School in Point Pleasant and Pinelands Regional Junior High School in Tuckerton.

Eight Ocean County elementary schools each received $10,000 grants. They are: Bayville Elementary School, Clifton Avenue Elementary School in Lakewood, Lanoka Harbor Elementary School, Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School in Point Pleasant, Oak Street Elementary School in Lakewood, Ocean Gate Elementary School, Seaside Park Elementary School and Whiting Elementary School.

Two Monmouth County elementary schools each received $10,000 grants. They are: Ardena School in Howell and Taylor Mills School in Manalapan.

John R. Garbarino, chairman, president and chief executive officer of OceanFirst Bank, said, "We recognize the critical role school libraries and media centers play in a student's academic and lifelong success and also the challenges presented by school districts' limited resources. We are proud to report that in just four years, this special initiative has provided more than $1.2 million in grants to support positive youth development and education, a core priority of OceanFirst Foundation."

Ocean County Executive County Superintendent of Schools Bruce Greenfield said, "As the Ocean executive county superintendent, I know the importance of having excellent library/media programs. The opportunities that OceanFirst Foundation has created for schools to enhance their programs through the awarding of more than $1.2 million has been outstanding. On behalf of the schools of Ocean County, I would like to thank OceanFirst Foundation for their generosity and community spirit that will go a long way to help our young people read at a much higher and more interesting level."

Founded in 1996, OceanFirst Foundation is the first foundation in the nation to be established by a bank as part of an initial public offering, according to a press release. OceanFirst Foundation contributions to local charities continue to grow and are expected to reach nearly $1.75 million in 2008. Its four priorities include housing, health and wellness, improving the quality of life, and youth development.