$200,000 in Scholarships Awarded to the Class of 2010

OceanFirst Foundation recently announced the recipients of the 2010 OceanFirst Scholarships. “We understand the financial challenges families face when confronted with the escalating cost of higher education and we are delighted to be able to help these 140 students pursue their educational goals," said John R. Garbarino, Chairman of OceanFirst Foundation and President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OceanFirst Bank.

The $200,000 scholarship program is a partnership between OceanFirst Foundation, Brookdale Community College, Georgian Court University, Monmouth University and Ocean County College. OceanFirst Foundation awarded each college/university with a $50,000 grant to provide scholarship assistance to recent graduates from shore-area high schools. Scholarship recipients attending the community colleges each received $1,000 awards and the scholarship recipients attending the universities each received $2,500 awards. Selection decisions were made solely by each participating school completely independent of OceanFirst Foundation and OceanFirst Bank. Students and their parents were recognized at a dinner hosted by OceanFirst at Jumping Brook Country Club on June 30, 2010.

The Ocean County graduates receiving OceanFirst Foundation scholarships are:

Barnegat High School - Daniel Marseglia, Caitlyn Stevens, Emily Tomsick, and Brendan Tyrrel
Brick Memorial High School - Marissa Cusanelli, Brittany Desch, Kristen Dolan, Heather Jensen, Samantha McGreevey, Tlea Smith, and Lindsay Ulrich
Brick Township High School – Chelsea Barreto and Jonathan Cardinale
Central Regional High School - Ariel Clark and Lisa Stewart
Jackson Liberty High School - Cassandana Arthur, Jennifer Burnetsky, Lauren Frankowski and Van Pham
Jackson Memorial High School – Jennifer Crowley, Nicole Haines, Jessica Rinaldi and Raymond Torres
Lacey Township High School – Jillian Bender, Nicole Furka, Ashley Mayer, Keri McAndrew and Nicole Rovira
Manchester Township High School – Elizabeth Brister, Annette DeSilva, Ryan Doyle, Carly Johnson, Brianna Moore, Nicholas Nametko, Cassandra Noonan, Jennifer Panora, Samantha Savage, Joshua Siemanowicz, Emily Sperry, Jennifer Statile, Amanda Szewczyk and Melissa Vazquez
Monsignor Donovan High School – Jenna Bartley, Carrie Ann Curtin and Katelyn Hooker
New Egypt High School – Michael Chemris and Shane Weicberger
New Road School – Evan Laboy
Pinelands Regional High School – Carolyn Marrone
Point Pleasant Beach High School – Kevin Zbranak
Point Pleasant Borough High School – Jessica Bragen
Southern Regional High School –Kerri Close, Aimee Cornelius and Jessica Paternoster
Toms River High School East – Meghan Brown, Nicole Concepcion, William Hirschfeld, Mariory Martinez, Rachel Meagher, Melissa Meagher, Emily Milewsky, Victoria Minch, Alexa Moore, Adam Morgese, Alyssa Saunders and Kathleen Schworn
Toms River High School North – Rachel Armstrong, Anthony Cantor, Andrew DaPonte, Haradyn Dongui-is, Marc Josephsen, Jennifer Leach, Alexandra McMahon, Andres Otero, and Robert Waszak
Toms River High School South – Rayanna Ashworth, Tyler Eddy, Kelsey Haas, Nicholas Larrison, Cassandra Mauriello, Curtis McLeer, Cody Parma, Nicholas Riddle, Ashley Samson and Alexandra Venier

The Monmouth County graduates receiving OceanFirst Foundation scholarships are:

Academy Charter High School - Yoleidi Rosario and Henose Valcin
Freehold Borough High School - Marie Baldwin
Freehold Township High School - Iris Frankel, Rebecca Gluckman, Amany Hamed, Amanda Leone, Amanda Martinez, Jonathan Murray, Clare Owen and Brenda Ryan
Howell High School - Callie Ascione, Angela Bavaro, Angelina Clemente, Brianna Garajuso, Devin Hope, Kevin Iavaroni, Brittani Lazzati, Brandon Nagle, Kayla Santiago, Kristi Silver and Melissa Zecca
Manalapan High School – Andrea Blackburn, Richard Burke, Ariana Burlew, Victoria DiBitteto, Robert LaVecchia, Adam Mitchell, Alex Mitchell, Lawrence Mitchell, Scott Mitchell, Jillian Rappa and Alice Vovnoboy
Manasquan High School – Kelsey Comerford, Audrey Lintott, Tyler Pappas, Melissa Rodriquez and Colette Sabins
Marlboro High School – Daniel Abramowitz
Matawan Regional High School - Chelsea Alston, Lyndsay Caruso, Brittany Cernak, Edward Squires, Taylor Tumminia and Jessica Zygmaniak
Ocean Township High School – Claudia Masco
Saint Rose High School – Jessica Dayton, Christopher Orlando, Joanna Simonovich and Alison Slavick
Wall High School – Jamie Deem, Courtney Griffin, and Rachel Silverstein

Home Runs for Heroes is Back for the 2010 Season

After a successful debut last year in which $24,000 was donated to local organizations that help veterans and military families in need, OceanFirst Foundation, the BlueClaws and WOBM FM/AM are pleased to announce that Home Runs for Heroes has returned this season.

Cheering on the Lakewood BlueClaws this year will be nine charities, each matched up with one of nine player positions (not including the pitcher, but including the designated hitter). Every time the BlueClaws score a home run at a home game, the charity corresponding to the home run hitter will receive a $1,000 donation from OceanFirst Foundation.

"WOBM FM/AM is proud to play a part in Home Runs for Heroes this year," said Kevin Williams, Vice President of Millenium Radio New Jersey. "This is a very significant cause that is close to all of our hearts. We hope that the BlueClaws hit a lot of home runs."

The following organization's will be hoping that the BlueClaws go on a home run hitting streak this year. They are shown with their assigned player position: the American National Red Cross (RF); American Recreational Military Services (DH); Army Emergency Relief at both Fort Dix (1B) and Fort Monmouth (3B); Catholic Charities (CF); the National Guard State Family Readiness Council (SS); Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at both Earle (2B) and Lakehurst (LF) and VetGroup (C).

Results will be posted and updated throughout the year and will also be available online at BlueClaws.com.

Stepping Up Support for Arts and Cultural Organizations in 2010

At a time when many Jersey Shore arts and cultural organizations are feeling the repercussions of the economic climate, OceanFirst Foundation has taken a bold step to solidify its commitment to this important industry. A total of $300,000 has been dedicated for general operating support grants for local arts and cultural organizations for 2009 and 2010.

The 2010 Grantees include: Algonquin Arts, Manasquan; Allaire Village, Farmingdale; Brick Children's Community Theatre, Brick; Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank; Festival of the Atlantic, Brick; Garden State Philharmonic, Toms River; Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, Red Bank; Joseph P. Hayes Theatre, Beach Haven; LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, Loveladies; Little Egg Theatre Company, Little Egg Harbor; Monmouth County Arts Council, Red Bank; Monmouth County Historical Association, Freehold; Monmouth Museum and Cultural Center, Lincroft; Monroe Township Patrons of the Arts, Monroe Township; New Jersey Museum of Boating, Bay Head; New Jersey Repertory Company, Long Branch; Ocean County Artists' Guild, Island Heights; Ocean County Historical Society, Toms River; Ocean County Library Foundation, Toms River and Two River Theater Company, Red Bank.

“The Go Green School Grant Program will kick into high gear as students head back to school this fall. A total of $50,000 was awarded to 20 local schools for Green projects and programs. ”