Partnership with Sisters Academy Empowers Students to Make an Impact
June 25, 2025
“What is one way you can spread kindness or generosity to someone that has a lasting impact?” OceanFirst Foundation posed this question to students at Mercy Center’s Sisters Academy of New Jersey through its ongoing partnership with OceanFirst Bank. The partnership allows OceanFirst team members to regularly engage with students and host visits to the Red Bank headquarters.
Based in Asbury Park, Sisters Academy prepares girls from surrounding communities for success in high school, college, and beyond. To support that mission, OceanFirst mentors lead sessions focused on career exploration and financial literacy.
During their final session of 2024, as part of that conversation, students discussed pressing needs in their communities. Recognizing the high cost of basic baby and postpartum supplies, they identified an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Together, they chose to support teen mothers through a hands-on service project. With careful planning, budgeting, and support from an OceanFirst Foundation grant, students assembled care baskets. Each basket included essential baby and postpartum items to help ease financial strain for young mothers.
Through this initiative, Sisters Academy students showed how kindness – paired with knowledge, opportunity, and support—can spark a ripple effect of hope and understanding throughout a community.
OceanFirst Foundation proudly supports programs that empower young people to lead with compassion and create lasting, positive change.