WASHINGTON, D.C.— Renowned musician and philanthropist Jon Bon Jovi received the 2017 Service to America Leadership Award from the NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) for his ongoing efforts to combat poverty and homelessness. Mr. Bon Jovi, whose music and public service signify the spirit of America and the principles that define the nation, received the honor at NABEF’s Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 20 in Washington, D.C.

The Service to America Leadership Award recognizes individuals and organizations responsible for improving the lives of others through extraordinary public service. Considered NABEF’s highest individual honor, the award was presented during the Celebration of Service to America Awards, held Tuesday, June 20 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Bon Jovi is the front man of the iconic Grammy Award-winning band Bon Jovi, which has been credited as one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Over three decades, the group has sold more than 130 million albums and performed nearly 3,000 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 37.5 million fans.

Mr. Bon Jovi is also chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering positive change and helping the lives of those in need “one soul at a time.” Specifically, the foundation supports programs and partnerships targeted at breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness in the United States. To date, the Soul Foundation has provided grants to nonprofit organizations across the nation working to create affordable housing for thousands of low-income individuals and families.

“Jon Bon Jovi has entertained audiences for decades and earned world-wide fame as an artist and performer,” said NABEF President Marcellus Alexander. “Despite his fame, Jon has never lost sight of community. His generous support of programs that address hunger and homelessness exemplifies the Leadership Award for which we will honor him.”

In October 2011, the Soul Foundation opened the first JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, New Jersey, which is Mr. Bon Jovi’s home state. The Soul Kitchen addresses the issue of food insecurity and has served almost 60,000 meals. In May 2016, the foundation, along with Fulfill (formerly known as The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties) and The Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ) opened The B.E.A.T. Center (Bring Everyone All Together). The community hub allows families and individuals in need to access food, job training and other resources in Ocean County, New Jersey. Also, The B.E.A.T. Center houses the second JBJ Soul Kitchen.

The foundation also aided in local recovery efforts in the days following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The following year, Bon Jovi donated $1 million to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

This years’ Service to America award winners are listed here.

Additional information about the Celebration of Service to America Awards is available here.

About The Celebration of Service to America Awards
The Celebration of Service to America Awards are sponsored and produced by NABEF with major support from the National Association of Broadcasters and presenting sponsors Bonneville International and Hearst Television. In recent years, Sharon Stone; Gary Sinise; Paul Simon; Stevie Wonder; Glenn Close; Jeff Bridges; Quincy Jones; Sir Elton John; Bill Clinton; Laura Bush; Muhammad Ali; Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter; and Nancy Reagan; among others, have been presented with the Celebration of Service to America Leadership Award at the event. Details about the Celebration of Service to America Awards are available at http://www.nabef.org/events/sta/.

About NABEF
The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to reinforcing the future of broadcasting through a commitment to education and to advancing excellence in the diversity and community service efforts of our industry. Learn more at www.nabef.org.

About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.

Over the past year, THE B.E.A.T. CENTER has provided more than $5 million in support to local families in need

Toms River, NJ (May 10, 2017) – The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Peoples Pantry (INSPIRE NJ) and Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation celebrates the one year anniversary 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” serves 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 home of Peoples Pantry, a client-choice model food pantry and a second location of JBJ Soul Kitchen, that serves an in-need and paying customer. Those in-need volunteer an hour of time for their meal while the paying customer donates to cover their meal of those volunteering.  Together, in year one, The B.E.A.T. Center partners have:

• Distributed over  $3 million in emergency food – 1.8 million pounds – across Ocean County
• Prepared over 21,000 meals, including healthy meals for after school and summer programs for kids, and for diners at JBJ Soul Kitchen
• Helped families access over $1.5 million in benefits through SNAP, Affordable Health Care and tax returns
• Supported nearly $500,000 in job training and empowerment programs

The B.E.A.T. Center has also been embraced by the community in which it serves.  Since opening, more than 22,000 volunteer hours have been logged and over 400,000 pounds of food have been donated by community members.

“The numbers, we believe speaks volumes to the enormous need in the community and to the enormous support of the community,” said Dorothea Bongiovi.

“The success of our efforts are in large part due to the embrace, support and partnership of the Toms River and greater Ocean County community. Together, hunger won’t win here!” said FoodBank Executive Director, Carlos Rodriguez.

“It continues to be an honor and a privilege to serve our community. This is our home and these are our neighbors,”  said Patricia Donaghue, Executive Director of The Peoples Pantry.

The B.E.A.T. Center 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.

In celebration of the 1 Year Anniversary of JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River, we are asking you to Raise your Hand with Jon Bon Jovi to help combat hunger. To raise your hand, you can Pay it Forward by making a donation and then add a name and/or message of hope in the “name recognition” section. We will print your message on Jon Bon Jovi’s hand print and display it at Soul Kitchen Toms River during our celebration!

By Paying It Forward, you are helping to cover the cost of someone’s meal who volunteered as payment and are raising YOUR hand to help combat hunger.  Raise Your Hand here

We will be posting photos of the hand prints on our social media sites so be sure to check and look for yours!

When Bon Jovi’s This House Is Not for Sale Tour touched down at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on March 4^th, it was “Bon Jovi Day” in the city – officially. Before taking the stage, the band was presented a proclamation from Phoenix Mayor, Greg Stanton, by Phoenix Suns President, Jason Rowley, and Sr. VP and General Manager for Talking Stick Resort Arena, Ralph Marchetta.

Rowley and Marchetta were also on hand to make an announcement with Bon Jovi, as the Phoenix Suns and the band have partnered for an exciting charity auction. In an effort to raise funds for Phoenix Suns Charities and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the Suns have designated two pairs of season tickets and each pair will be matched with a prize pack featuring autographed Bon Jovi memorabilia, souvenirs, and merchandise. 

Bids on the auction items will be accepted from noon MT on Thurs., March 9 through noon on March 19 at www.ebay.com/jbjsuns.

Photo by: David Bergman

On February 25, 2017, MGM Resorts Intl. presented the JBJ Soul Foundation with a $10,000 donation. A huge thank you to MGM Resorts Intl. for their support of our mission to help those in need…one soul at a time.