OceanFirst Foundation recently presented a $40,000 check for student scholarships to Georgian Court University. Pictured (left to right) are Lori R. Thomas, GCU assistant vice president for corporate foundations and grants; GCU President Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D.; Michele Wilson, CTP, vice president at OceanFirst Bank; and Matt Manfra, GCU vice president for institutional advancement.
More than a dozen Georgian Court University students will benefit from $40,000 in scholarship funds donated by the OceanFirst Foundation of Toms River. The foundation’s gift to the students of GCU highlights the organization’s emphasis on the value of education, which is one of their main priorities.
“With this gift, the OceanFirst Foundation continues its tradition of providing 16 Georgian Court students with opportunities for access,” said Matt Manfra, GCU’s vice president for institutional advancement. “We are grateful for the many years of OceanFirst support—amounting to more than $1 million—to directly benefit Georgian Court students.”
As a longtime supporter of Georgian Court, OceanFirst received GCU’s Corporate Service Award at the university’s 2021 Scholarship and Golf Classic. As of this year, OceanFirst Bank and OceanFirst Foundation’s generosity to GCU totals over $1.1 million in grants for scholarships and university programs. More than half of the funding has been awarded directly to deserving students from Ocean and Monmouth counties.
About OceanFirst Bank
OceanFirst Bank N.A., founded in 1902, is a $11.8 billion regional bank providing financial services throughout New Jersey and in the major metropolitan markets of Philadelphia, New York Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Boston. OceanFirst Bank delivers commercial and residential financing solutions, trust and asset management and deposit services and is one of the largest and oldest community-based financial institutions headquartered in New Jersey.
About OceanFirst Foundation
OceanFirst Foundation empowers organizations to think bigger, solve more problems, and make life better in the neighborhoods served by OceanFirst Bank. OceanFirst Foundation’s priorities include Health & Wellness, Housing, Improving the Quality of Life, Youth Development and Education. Since 1996, OceanFirst Foundation has awarded more than 8,400 grants totaling more than $43.75 million to over 1,500+ non-profits and schools. Learn more at oceanfirstfdn.org.
