Driven by increased humanization of companies online, an ever-evolving political landscape and a growing list of community ailments, consumers look toward their business neighbors anticipating a strong corporate social responsibility: Today, it’s as important to be a good neighbor as it is to be a good business.
The organizations highlighted by our Community Impact Awards understand their charitable responsibilities and contribute to their communities with commendable passion and dedication. From philanthropic endeavors and motivational programs to impressive volunteer hours and beyond, these institutions give back to the community that has allowed them to succeed, growing both business and community together.
Women, Words & Wisdom
Women, Words & Wisdom’s (WWW’s) mission is to “inform women of current issues affecting them so they can make informed, beneficial life choices” and to “provide scholarships to college students in financial need to be used toward their college education.”
To accomplish this mission, each year the charitable group focuses its programming around a central motif. Echoing the theme of Women’s History Month, this year’s focus is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”
WWW also holds a luncheon every year called the “Panel of Power” where issues of the day are discussed by experts in the field, scholarships are awarded and various women are honored for the work they do for their communities. In the past, keynote speakers have included Congressman Andy Kim, Gloucester County NAACP president Loretta Winters, and COO of Acenda Health and author of No Weapon Formed Melissa Fox.
Last month, the nonprofit awarded two $8,000 scholarships and is currently raising funds for its October 2025 Dr. Marianne Moore Scholarship. In total, since 2021, WWW has awarded $30,000 in scholarships in an effort to empower students to earn a college degree and ease that financial burden so they can focus on their education.
PSEG Foundation
Aiming to do what’s right, PSEG and the PSEG Foundation focus on social responsibility and corporate citizenship in the communities they serve—and where their employees live and work. PSEG supports nonprofits and other community organizations such as NJ SHARES, the Food Bank of South Jersey and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. In 2024, through corporate giving, they distributed more than $4.4 million to organizations across the state.
The PSEG Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3), supports initiatives driving tangible, lasting results. In 2024, it awarded over $7.7 million to community organizations and nearly $130 million across the past 25 years. It also funds strategic partnerships, charitable giving and in-kind donations. In December 2024, the PSEG Foundation celebrated 10 years of its Neighborhood Partners Program (NPP), which has distributed nearly $8 million. NPP set records with an 11% rise in applications and $1.2 million in grants—a 20% increase from 2023.
The PSEG Foundation also runs an employee-giving program. Last year, 900 nonprofits benefited from $1.8 million in employee giving and matches. Employees contributed 24,000 volunteer hours, supporting initiatives from mentoring to environmental clean-ups. This further demonstrates PSEG’s core belief in the power of partnerships and the impact of giving back.
First Harvest Credit Union
As a low-income designated not-for-profit credit union, First Harvest is dedicated to providing inclusive financial solutions while upholding its deep-rooted commitment to social responsibility.
In 2024, First Harvest co-sponsored the New Jersey Credit Union Food Cooperative, an initiative created to combat the growing hunger crisis throughout the state. Through this effort, the cooperative raised $10,670 and collected 10,299 pounds of essential food items, benefiting 47 food pantries and organizations across New Jersey.
First Harvest’s Charitable Journey program continues to make meaningful impacts through fundraising and community support efforts. From the annual Adopt-A-Family initiative and Pink Ribbon program for breast cancer awareness, to aiding countless local families and organizations in need, the program has raised over $56,000 to date.
As First Harvest celebrates its 85th anniversary, it is marking this milestone by committing over $85,000 in endowments to support local health care and education partners over the next several years. Additionally, First Harvest will spearhead dozens of acts of kindness, including tree-planting and neighborhood cleanup events, health care and education appreciation week celebrations, Habitat for Humanity build projects and numerous volunteer opportunities for employees to support causes that matter to them.
Samaritan Thrift
Needing medical care can often be a costly and anxiety-inducing experience and it can be hard to focus on recovery when you’re worried about how you’re going to pay off your medical bills. Samaritan understands that and has created a thrift store where every purchase made goes toward supporting Samaritan patients and families—helping to ease the stress of an already difficult time.
In addition to giving back to Samaritan patients, donation-run thrift stores have a secondary benefit of promoting sustainability, combating fast fashion by giving new life to clothes that would otherwise end up in landfills. Furthermore, because these items are donated, they don’t need to be marked up to retain a profit, allowing Samaritan Thrift to offer otherwise costly items like jewelry, household items, houseware and gifts at a more affordable and accessible price. It’s a win-win-win scenario.
For 13 years, Samaritan Thrift has been home to great deals on clothing, jewelry, collectibles, accessories and so much more. A neighborhood favorite, the store boasts a loyal following of donors, volunteers and patrons, and is a treasure trove for bargain hunters and shoppers looking for unique finds.
Fulton Forward Foundation
Fulton Bank puts its money where its mouth is through its charitable outreach, the Fulton Forward Foundation. The foundation focuses on four pillars—afforable housing and homeownership; job training and workforce development; financial education and economic empowerment; and diversity, equity and inclusion—in an effort to both uplift its communities and empower them to create a bright future for themselves and their families. In addition to volunteer hours and financial education, the foundation distributes grants to local community partners and nonprofit organizations.
Fulton Forward Foundation provided the Greater Philadelphia YMCA with a $300,000 grant to support the programs and services that impact 180,000 members and 240,000 individuals a year across the Delaware Valley. Last month, the foundation awarded a $150,000 grant to New Jersey Community Capital, bolstering its Address Yourself program. Since its start, this program has provided $6,300,000 in down-payment assistance and housing counseling for 3,192 households.
In February, the Foundation donated $500,000 to 21 nonprofits across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virgina—including a $20,000 grant to Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc. in Cherry Hill and a $25,000 grant to the LUCY Outreach in Camden. These donations were distributed to organizations sharing Fulton Banks commitment to advancing economic empowerment.
Parker McCay
Serving South Jersey for over 100 years, community involvement and activism is important to Parker McCay. The firm is active with the Red Cross of Southern New Jersey, regularly donating to its food pantry drives and participating in blood drives; furthermore, firm shareholder George Morris takes on an active role on its board of directors. Parker McCay works closely with Habitat for Humanity of Gloucester County and is anticipating a build this spring. Additionally, the firm’s Sustainability Committee has organized a team of volunteers for several local townships’ cleanup events, and this past holiday season, the firm donated more than 200 items to the Burlington County Toys For Tots. Labor and Employment counsel Amy Guerin has also focused her practice on nonprofits and hosts a free monthly webinar to help those organizations navigate difficult labor and employment issues.
The Thomas Edison State University Foundation
The foundation operates exclusively to benefit, support and promote Thomas Edison State University (TESU). Its donors—including alumni, students, individuals, corporations, foundations and university staff—share a commitment to paying it forward, creating life-changing opportunities for students and their families.
The foundation’s annual Impact Awards honor individuals who embody TESU’s mission of providing innovative and accessible pathways to education. The event also serves as a vital fundraiser, generating more than $100,000 annually to support TESU’s programs and initiatives.
Last October, Bonny Simi, a 2019 TESU graduate and president of operations at Joby Aviation, received the Distinguished Alumna Award, recognizing her leadership in expanding educational and career opportunities within the aviation industry. Founding the JetBlue Scholars program, Simi has helped nearly 500 JetBlue employees to date achieve their dream of earning a college degree.
New Jersey Restaurant Educational Foundation
In support of local restaurant workers and in the hopes of uplifting the restaurant industry in New Jersey, NJREF provides training, scholarships and workforce development opportunities. Recognizing the importance of a well-rounded student, these programs seek to enhance not just culinary skills but management and hospitality skills, as well. With a goal of nurturing upcoming talent, NJREF runs its own ProStart Program, a two-year initiative for high school students to get hands-on with their culinary education, connect with mentors, earn certifications, and access scholarships and professional development opportunities. As a way for young future restaurateurs to demonstrate their talents, each year NJREF hosts the NJ ProStart Invitational. First-, second- and third-place winners receive scholarships and the first-place team moves on to represent New Jersey in the National Restaurant Association ProStart Invitational.
TD Charitable Foundation
The charitable giving arm of TD Bank, the foundation's mission is to support, respect and improve the quality of life across the communities it serves. Since its inception in 2002, the foundation has distributed more than $361 million to local nonprofits. With special consideration given to underserved and low- to moderate-income communities, the foundation’s funding focuses on programs and initiatives that support the bank's corporate citizenship platform and are aligned to one or more of its key drivers: better health, connected communities, financial security and a vibrant planet.
The foundation provided more than $3.7 million to support 144 area nonprofit organizations during fiscal year 2024, while its Housing for Everyone program has awarded $1.15 million to local affordable housing organizations. Additionally, TD Bank colleagues passionately volunteered nearly 17,600 hours of service to NJ organizations.
The Campbell’s Foundation
Since 1953, The Campbell’s Foundation has helped to build healthy communities in Campbell’s hometowns through strategic grants and nonprofit partnerships. Focused on increasing food access, encouraging healthy living and nurturing neighborhoods, the Foundation provides funding through annual “Community Impact Grants” and multi-year initiatives such as the signature Full Futures school nutrition program.
In 2021, Campbell’s launched Full Futures in Camden in partnership with the Camden City School District and several nonprofits, aiming to advance school nutrition and ensure all students have the nourishment they need to succeed.
Virtua Health
South Jersey’s largest academic health system, Virtua Health, collaborates with generous donors to enhance the wellness of people across the region.
In 2024, over 2,200 donors invested $8.7 million in Virtua’s programs and services. This enabled Virtua to expand its growing fleet of mobile programs, enhance clinical programs, and develop the local health care workforce through nursing scholarships and other clinical education programs.
Virtua’s Patient Care Fund provides services and assistance beyond bedside care, ensuring that patients can continue to recover at home.
“It’s all about fulfilling Virtua’s mission to help people be well, get well, and stay well,” says Sarah Fawcett-Lee, FAHP, CFRE, Virtua’s senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer. “Together with our donors, we’re supporting our patients in mind, body, and spirit, and building a healthier South Jersey.”
Perkins Center for the Arts
For nearly five decades, Perkins Center for the Arts has been a cornerstone of the South Jersey region, proving that the arts are far more than a pastime—they are an essential component of a thriving, connected community.
Through free and low-cost programming, Perkins provides impactful arts experiences that promote mental and physical well-being, combat social isolation and bring people together in meaningful ways.
Studies have shown that communities that invest in the arts are more economically vibrant, better educated and healthier. Each year, Perkins enriches thousands of lives through more than 350 art classes and workshops, over 700 private music lessons, inspiring exhibitions, free community concerts and in-school residencies that align with academic standards.
Whether through music, visual arts or cultural storytelling, Perkins uses creative expression as a tool to build bridges and encourage dialogue, collaboration and healing.
National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Southern NJ Chapter
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Southern New Jersey Chapter (SNJ NCBW) is focused on creating a world in which Black women and girls no longer have to fight against socio-economic ties. Their work revolves around advocacy, empowerment and providing the right tools to aid in the success of Black women and girls. To this end, SNJ NCBW provides scholarships, mentorship and leadership development opportunities.
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
Stradley Ronon recognizes that excellence is not only about providing outstanding service to clients; it requires a culture that encourages community outreach and giving.
The firm proudly supports numerous nonprofit and community-focused organizations in the region. Their lawyers are committed to pro bono and community service—including supporting the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic, in which partner David Roeber serves on the clinic’s advisory board and sits on the founding board of directors. Partner Stephanie Sanderson-Braem and associate Andrew Barron provided a free estate planning presentation for South Jersey community members.
Sanderson-Braem and managing counsel Brandon Riley have also moderated panels for the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey’s regional economic perspective series.
In addition, the firm supported MANNA’s annual Pie in the Sky fundraiser, raising monetary donations and donating 132 pies.
Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation
In 2024, the Foundation donated more than $2.23 million to 57 community programs across New Jersey and Connecticut—including Rowan College at Burlington County, Cape May County Division of Aging and Disability Services, and the Dental Lifeline Network. These charitable contributions help support their recipients’ missions of providing free and low-cost dental services for their communities. Furthermore, for the first time the Foundation awarded SMILE Dental Workforce Initiative Grants. These grants are aimed at combating a shortage in the dental workforce by investing to establish and expand dental programs in high schools, colleges and universities. Their Captain Supertooth Program brings awareness to the importance of oral health and its educational materials are centered around helping children develop healthy habits early on.
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Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 15, Issue 4 (April 2025).
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