August 23, 2017
The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) today announced that it is granting a total of $1.1 million in scholarships to 225 students for the fall term. The scholarships come from funds CFNJ manages on behalf of philanthropic families and companies.
Among the 225 scholarships that CFNJ granted to deserving students to start college this fall:
- some are for students focused on specific fields of study, such as architecture, journalism, environmental science, or even sailing;
- others for students who attend specific schools, such as students graduating from Chatham High School or those attending Seton Hall University;
- and still others for students with specific backgrounds or characteristics, including relationship to a specific company’s employees, as well as acute need or exceptional perseverance.
Recipients of CFNJ scholarships are currently attending more than 100 colleges or universities.
“We noticed an uptick this year in those students who are working multiple jobs or providing for family members, making these scholarships a determining factor in whether they’re able to pursue higher education,” said Hans Dekker, president of the Community Foundation. “At the same time, we know a college education is a determining factor in future employment, salary, and financial independence. So these scholarships are really providing a critical bridge to a much brighter, more sustainable future.”
“The [scholarship from the Community Foundation] truly helped launch my college career on the right track,” said Cynthia Amuruotu of Orange, a recipient of a scholarship from the Elsie E. and Joseph W. Beck Memorial Scholarship Fund. “While I am excited about and proud of these accomplishments, I know that his is just the beginning of what life has in store for me and I cannot wait to see how next year plays out.”
Despite this extraordinary generosity – CFNJ grants more than $1 million in scholarships every year – there is still tremendous need among New Jersey’s aspiring college students. In response, CFNJ has launched a Scholarship Opportunity Fund with the goal of making college a reality for even more deserving New Jerseyans. To learn more about the Scholarship Opportunity Fund, visit www.cfnj.org/morescholarships.
“Many of the applicants have left a lasting impression on our Scholarship Committee and we are determined to get even more of them into college,” said Faith Krueger, CFNJ’s COO and scholarship administrator. “Gifts to the Scholarship Opportunity Fund will enable us to begin building a sustainable fund for the young people in our communities who hold so much promise.”
To learn more about scholarship funds at CFNJ or to create your own, please call Faith Krueger at 973-267-5533.
About the Community Foundation of New Jersey
Since 1979, individuals and businesses have opened charitable funds at the Community Foundation of New Jersey to fulfill their charitable goals and craft their philanthropic legacies. These Legacy Funds and Donor Advised Funds have granted tens of millions of dollars each year, and enabled the Foundation to launch its own Changemaker Projects that are improving New Jersey and its dynamic communities. The Foundation’s funds currently hold over $400 million in charitable assets and made over 5,000 grants last year to charitable work in New Jersey and around the world.
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