The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey Awards More than $1 million in Grants to 20 Non-profit Organizations

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Jul 23, 2014, 15:30 ET


Newark, NJ (PRWEB) July 23, 2014 -- Celebrating a decade of philanthropy in 2014, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey today announced the awarding of $1,070,000 in grants to 20 New Jersey non-profit organizations, including a special award in recognition of the Foundation’s 1,000th grant.

“The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is proud to continue our tradition of supporting community-based organizations that are working to improve public health and enhance the quality of life in the Garden State,” said Robert A. Marino, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Chairman & CEO and Foundation Board Chairman.

Since its inception in 2004, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey has awarded 1,001 grants totaling nearly $36 million to support New Jersey non-profit organizations.

The Foundation awarded the following 20 grants at its June 2014 Board meeting:

  • All Saints Community Service and Development Corporation, in Hoboken, received a $15,000 grant to support the Fresh and Fit program, which is an evidence-based, health education program for children, teens and families focused on physical fitness and healthy eating.
  • Arts Guild New Jersey, in Rahway, received a $10,000 general operating support grant to fund their 2014 programming and events.
  • ChoiceOne Pregnancy & Sexual Health Resource Centers, in Lawrenceville, received a $25,000 grant to support the Optimal Health Program, a health literacy program for women of childbearing age that offers such services as health education, assistance in scheduling appointments for medical services, screenings, mentoring and referrals to health care and prescription services.
  • Cornerstone Family Programs, in Morristown, received a $15,000 grant to support the development of a community health literacy program for low-income, at-risk, minority families and seniors that offers such services as health education, case management, referrals and access to health care.
  • Easter Seals New Jersey, in East Brunswick, received a $20,000 grant to support the Be Well! & Thrive Obesity Prevention program, which offers workshops to assist individuals with disabilities to make modifiable lifestyle changes in the areas of nutrition and exercise.
  • Food Bank of South Jersey, in Pennsauken, received a $15,000 grant to support the enhancement of the Camden Citywide Diabetes Collaborative by offering diabetes-focused nutrition classes, cooking classes, and food shopping trips to participants in the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers’ diabetes self-management education program.
  • George Street Playhouse, in New Brunswick, received a $550,000, three-year grant to support an initiative to expand the statewide school tour of the musical Austin the Unstoppable and its impact on the community. The musical addresses diabetes and obesity and was developed in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health’s ShapingNJ program. A website and documentary will be produced as part of the expansion.
  • Growing Stage Theatre for Young Audiences, in Netcong, received a $10,000 general operating support grant to fund the Theatre’s main stage productions, educational programming for young people, and its Arts-In-Education program, a professional touring company for schools statewide.
  • Levoy Theatre Preservation Society, in Millville, received a $10,000 general operating support grant to fund the Summer Camp Theatre program, which offers local, lower-income youths an opportunity to engage in various aspects of theatre, and to fund a special program series celebrating the Levoy's rich history as a black and white movie palace and vaudeville house.
  • Mainstage Center for the Arts, in Blackwood, received a $10,000 general operating support grant to fund the Center’s year-round programming in arts and arts education including: Summer Stage, Studio Education Program, Harmony & Encore Show Choirs, Winter Season, and the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival.
  • Monmouth Museum and Cultural Center, in Lincroft, received a $10,000 general operating support grant to fund the Center’s arts, science, historical, and cultural exhibitions, and educational programming.
  • PEI Kids, in Lawrenceville, received a $15,000 grant to support the Crisis Intervention Program for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse. The program offers depression screening and counseling to young victims to help them heal from the trauma of sexual abuse.
  • Puerto Rican Family Institute, in Jersey City, received a $35,000 grant to support its bi-lingual Diabetes Outreach Program in Hudson County, with a focus on the Latino population. The programs provide participants with information about managing diabetes, controlling weight problems, and mental health wellness using a health-based model.
  • Saint Peter’s University, in Jersey City, received a $15,000 grant to support the HealthingAlong project, which engages health and physical education majors in educating multi-cultural school students in the City to make healthy lifestyle choices.
  • Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children, in Bridgewater, received a $10,000 grant to support the Visual and Performing Arts Education and Recreation Program, which introduces the children to various art forms and recreation events, helping them to develop new skills while giving them an outlet for their feelings and building their confidence and self-esteem.
  • South Jersey Cultural Alliance, in Pleasantville, received a $10,000 general operating support grant to fund the Arts for Students program that provides students access to quality arts experiences that they otherwise would not be able to afford.
  • The Trust for Public Land, in Morristown, received a $250,000 grant to fund Phase 2 of the development of the seven-acre Newark Riverfront Park. The new space will feature an outdoor learning space, a Fitness Zone with outdoor exercise equipment, extended walking and biking pathways, and western pedestrian access along Raymond Boulevard.
  • Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, in Summit, received a $10,000 general operating support grant to fund staffing costs, exhibition installations, and marketing and educational materials, as well as to fund other operational expenses.
  • Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, in Millville, received a $20,000 grant, $10,000 of which is renewal support for the Glasstown Collective Education Program, a group of programs for children developed to provide interactive arts education and development of the basic skills of area students. The additional $10,000 is in recognition of Wheaton being the recipient of the Foundation’s 1,000th grant award, made while the Foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
  • Young Audiences of New Jersey, in Princeton, received a $15,000 grant to support the Family Arts & Creativity program in five schools as part of its Trenton Adopt-a-School Initiative. Family Arts & Creativity is an innovative, family-centered arts education program designed to promote child learning and strengthen families.

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is celebrating 10 years of serving New Jersey’s communities. The Foundation promotes health, well-being, and quality of life across our state by supporting charitable organizations. For more information about the Foundation, visit http://www.horizonblue.com/foundation.

Thomas Vincz, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, 973-466-6625, [email protected]