Monthly Archives: April 2015

April 28 2015

Jon Bon Jovi Honored with Lifetime Philanthropy Award

To view photos from the evening visit our Photo Gallery

Below is the press release announcing the Common Wealth Awards.

2015 Recipients to be honored April 25 for Lasting Contributions to Modern Culture

WILMINGTON, Del., March 19, 2015 – Three renowned achievers will be honored for their lifetime accomplishments with the 36th Annual Common Wealth Awards of Distinguished Service. The awards recognize individuals who have enriched modern culture through their professional and personal endeavors.

The 2015 Common Wealth Award recipients are:

Jon Bon Jovi, lead singer of Grammy Award-winning rock band and humanitarian, for Public Service;
Edward Norton, award-winning actor, screenwriter, director, producer and philanthropist, for Public Service;
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, for Mass Communications.

The honorees will be recognized at the Common Wealth Awards ceremony hosted by The PNC Financial Services Group on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington.

The Common Wealth Awards of Distinguished Service were first presented in 1979 by The Common Wealth Trust which was created under the will of Ralph Hayes, an influential business executive and philanthropist. The awards are now made by The Ralph Hayes Common Wealth Foundation, which is funded by the Common Wealth Trust. PNC Bank, National Association, serves as trustee of the Common Wealth Trust and administrator of the Ralph Hayes Common Wealth Foundation.

In the 36-year history of the Common Wealth Awards, more than $6 million has been awarded to 192 honorees. The 2015 honorees will each receive an award of $75,000.

“The 2015 Common Wealth Award honorees are distinguished achievers in their respective fields who share a broader commitment to global social responsibility,” said Nicholas M. Marsini, Jr. regional president for PNC Bank, Delaware. “We applaud these individuals for their numerous accomplishments and we look forward to their future contributions to society.”

Ralph Hayes, creator of the Common Wealth Awards, served on the board of directors of one of PNC’s predecessor banks in Delaware from 1935 to 1965. Through the awards, he sought to recognize outstanding achievement in eight disciplines: dramatic arts, literature, science, invention, mass communications, public service, government, and sociology. The awards also are an incentive for individuals to make future contributions to the world community.

For three and half decades, the Common Wealth Awards have recognized heads of state, scientists and inventors, explorers, authors, performing artists and activists. Past winners include 11 Nobel laureates, among them, human rights leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, statesman Henry Kissinger and authors Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Toni Morrison. Other high achievers on the Common Wealth Awards roster include former Secretary of State Colin Powell; H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan; dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov; Hollywood icons Sidney Poitier and Meryl Streep; astronauts John Glenn and Buzz Aldrin; primatologist Jane Goodall; ocean explorer Robert Ballard; television journalists Walter Cronkite, Wolf Blizter and Jane Pauley; and World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee.

Since 2000, PNC has sponsored the annual Common Wealth Awards writing contest for Delaware high school students who are inspired by the honorees. Students are asked to explain which Common Wealth Awards honoree they most want to meet and why. A winning essay is selected for each honoree. In recognition of their achievement, the students and their parents/guardian are invited to attend the Common Wealth Awards Ceremony and a pre-event reception. To date, 52 student winners representing various Delaware high schools have met the high achievers honored by the Common Wealth Awards.

Jon Bon Jovi

Musically and philanthropically, Jon Bon Jovi’s work honors the spirit of America and salutes the principles that define our nation. Self-reliance, optimism and community are key concepts he embodies, not just in his music, but also in his charitable efforts. These common threads have resulted in millions of dollars raised while bringing heightened awareness to the issues that adversely impact our society.

Mr. Bon Jovi is Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing about positive change and helping the lives of those in need “one SOUL at a time.” The Soul Foundation focuses on finding solutions to the issues that force families and individuals into economic despair with programs and partnerships targeted at breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness. To date, Jon Bon Jovi and the Soul Foundation have provided funding for affordable housing and shelter for thousands of low-income individuals and families throughout the country.

The projects funded by the Soul Foundation address the issues of food and shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Facilities and projects which have benefited range from temporary shelters, transitional housing for teens, permanent supportive housing including housing for vets and special needs populations, as well as home ownership opportunities. In October 2011, the Foundation expanded by opening the JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, NJ to address issues of food insecurity, and has since served more than 34,000 meals. The community kitchen serves nutritious, culinary dishes in a restaurant atmosphere where diners contribute either volunteer hours or a minimum donation for their meals. Staying true to Bon Jovi’s roots, the Foundation also aided in local recovery efforts and helped those in need in the days following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The following year, he reaffirmed the band’s ongoing commitment to the people of their home state by donating $1 million to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

As the Foundation continues to expand, the goal is to assist with rebuilding pride in one’s self and one’s community – one SOUL at a time.

Musically, the Grammy Award winning rock band Bon Jovi has set the bar for over three decades as one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Globally, they have sold more than 130 million albums, performed more than 2,900 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 37.5 million fans. Throughout the years, the band has consistently delivered #1 albums and Top Ten hits – most recently, Mr. Bon Jovi’s 14th album, WHAT ABOUT NOW, debuted at #1 around the globe while the accompanying Tour closed out 2013 as the #1 tour in the world.

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April 14 2015

The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, the Peoples Pantry (Inspire NJ), and Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation Join Forces to Form the B.E.A.T. Center

Located in the Silverton section of Toms River, N.J. and accessible by public transportation, The B.E.A.T. Center will serve as an “one-stop shop” catering to the urgent needs of the community by connecting residents to resources such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program also known as food stamps), affordable healthcare and tax preparation services, as well as access to a community food pantry, meals for at-risk children and seniors, and culinary training program.

“As food lines grow longer across our 133 programs in Ocean County and 1 in 10 of our neighbors struggle with hunger, we continue to build collaborative partnerships to expand our food distribution while also providing services for families that help shorten the line. Bringing our complementary programs and services under one roof at The B.E.A.T. Center will leverage our strengths and change lives in Ocean County,” said Carlos M. Rodriguez, Executive Director of the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The B.E.A.T. Center will also house the second location of JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant where diners can pay for their meal by making a minimum suggested donation of $10 each or volunteering. One hour earns volunteers a dining certificate for them and up to four family members.

“The B.E.A.T. Center is a unique model and today’s announcement is the beginning of something great. At the Soul Kitchen, we see each week how food brings families, and communities, together. So we were excited for the JBJ Soul Foundation to join with the FoodBank and The Peoples Pantry to offer several services under one roof—it helps make our diners’ lives a little easier. One meal at a time, we hope to make a sustainable impact on hunger in Ocean County,” said Jon Bon Jovi, chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.

Ocean County is New Jersey’s fastest growing county and was “ground zero” for Hurricane Sandy. According to FEMA, over 40,000 structures in the county were damaged or destroyed in the storm – 55% of the state’s total. The creation of The B.E.A.T. Center is in response to the reality that today, more than two years after the storm, there are still thousands of families that are still struggling to regain housing, financial stability and to overcome food insecurity—and they are turning to local agencies in record numbers for assistance. The impact of this collaboration is projected to provide $5 million in support to families in need in its first year.

“Of all of the lessons learned from Sandy, the most jarring one was how financially stretched our middle class neighbors are. This collaboration will allow us to continue our work and provide the services that are so desperately needed and deserved by this underserved demographic,” said Patricia Donaghue, Executive Director of The Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ).

One of The B.E.A.T. Center’s goals is to also establish a strong, visible presence in Ocean County that will raise hunger awareness, attract volunteers and advocates, and encourage food donations and financial support. The B.E.A.T. Center is being launched with initial philanthropic support from The David Tepper Foundation.

“We are excited to contribute to the launch The B.E.A.T. Center,” said David Tepper, founder of The David Tepper Foundation, “This is a unique partnership and a fresh approach to meeting the needs of communities that were hard hit by disasters like Superstorm Sandy and where families are still struggling to recover. We believe that The B.E.A.T. Center can become a model to help families attain food security and financial stability.”

“It is with great honor that we welcome the B.E.A.T. Center to Ocean County. This endeavor has been two years in the making and is needed more now than ever. It has been a privilege for my office and myself to be a part of it,” said Thomas F. Kelaher, mayor of Toms River, N.J.

The B.E.A.T. Center grand opening will take place later this year. For more information and to learn how to help, please visit TheBEATCenter.org.

To view photos from this event, visit our Photo Gallery

To view a video of Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bongiovi speaking on the importance of creating The B.E.A.T. Center, visit our Video Gallery

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The B.E.A.T. Center

To view photos from this event, visit our Photo Gallery

To view a video of Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bongiovi speaking on the importance of creating The B.E.A.T. Center, visit our Video Gallery

“Whether you need access to a food pantry, want to learn about health care benefits or social services, or even receive training through our culinary program, this is a place where everyone is welcome. It is in the true spirit of collaboration that we, the community benefit.”

– Jon Bon Jovi, Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

Toms River, NJ (May 10, 2016) – The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ) and Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation announced today the opening of The B.E.A.T. Center (Bringing Everyone All Together) – a place where families and individuals can access food, job training and resources to help end the cyclical causes of hunger in Ocean County.

This “one-stop shop” will serve as a FoodBank satellite location that includes a food distribution center, production kitchen for at-risk children in after school programs, culinary skills training program and resources such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program also known as food stamps), healthcare and free tax preparation, as well as the permanent home of Peoples Pantry, a client-choice model food pantry and a second location of JBJ Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community restaurant where diners can pay for their meal by making a minimum donation of $10 or volunteering to work in the kitchen and restaurant.

“The B.E.A.T. Center functions like a 21^st century town square where programs and services are brought together and where the community can gather to get help and give help,” said FoodBank Executive Director, Carlos Rodriguez. “We know that there are 1 in 8 people in Ocean County who struggle with hunger. We support 134 feeding programs in Ocean County and the need for resources beyond food is critical. We aim to shorten the food lines by providing a variety of resources that lead to financial health and well-being. Having all of that under one roof is a game changer.”

Ocean County is New Jersey’s fastest growing county and was “ground zero” for Hurricane Sandy. According to FEMA, over 40,000 structures in the county were damaged or destroyed in the storm – 55% of the state’s total. The creation of The B.E.A.T. Center is in response to the reality that today, more than three years after the storm, there are thousands of families who are still struggling to regain housing, financial stability and to overcome food insecurity—and they are turning to local agencies in record numbers for assistance.

“Of all of the lessons learned from Sandy, the most jarring one was how financially stretched our middle class neighbors are. This collaboration will allow us to continue our work and provide the services that are so desperately needed and deserved by this under served demographic,” said Patricia Donaghue, Executive Director of The Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ).

Ocean County Hunger Facts:

1 in 5 Ocean County residents are low-income (200% of poverty) or poor (at or below poverty) – that’s $15,000 for a family of 4.

71,300 residents, or 1 in 8 people in Ocean County receive food and benefits.

Seniors make up 21.4% of the population compared to the 14.1% statewide.

Nearly 13% of New Jersey’s veterans live in Ocean County.

There are 134 feeding programs in Ocean County. Programs include Pantries, Mobile Sites, Soup Kitchens, Shelters, After School and Back Pack, Senior Food and others.

The impact of this collaboration is projected to provide $5 million in support to families in need in its first year. One of The B.E.A.T. Center’s goals is to also establish a strong, visible presence in Ocean County that will raise hunger awareness, attract volunteers and advocates, and encourage food donations and financial support. The B.E.A.T. Center is being launched with initial philanthropic support from The David Tepper Foundation, and a generous grant from the OceanFirst Foundation.

“We are excited to be involved in the creation of the B.E.A.T. Center,” said David Tepper, founder of the David Tepper Charitable Foundation, Inc. “This is a unique partnership and fresh approach to meeting the needs of those members of our community that are suffering economic hardship. The B.E.A.T. Center brings a combination of critical yet basic services under one roof and provides our citizens with a central location where they can get the help they need. It’s a tremendous concept and we are confident that facilities like the B.E.A.T. Center can become a model to help families attain food security and financial stability.”

The B.E.A.T. Center is now open to the public. It is located at 1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ, and is accessible by public transportation. For more information and to learn how to help, please visit www.thebeatcenter.org.