MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY (JANUARY 3, 2017): The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF) is pleased to announce $100,000 in new Signature Grant opportunities in their Community Enrichment funding area for 2017.

In an effort to strengthen their ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities served by Provident Bank, the Foundation has made the following change:

PBF is making two (2) $50,000 grants available within the Community Enrichment funding area. Details and goals of each are as follows:

1. Community and Economic Development – Employment: To provide funding to a non-profit organization whose mission addresses the unemployment issue in the communities served by Provident Bank. This grant is dedicated to addressing the skills gap by providing training and comprehensive supportive services for individuals facing challenges in the labor force.
2. Youth Leadership Development: To provide funding to a non-profit organization whose mission is to prepare youth and teens for the challenges of adolescence and adulthood. Youth development is promoted through activities and experiences that help youth develop social, ethical, emotional, physical, and cognitive competencies.

“The continuation of our Signature, Major and Community Grants is a direct reflection of how successful the funding has proved to be over the past two years – and we couldn’t be more pleased,” says Jane Kurek, Executive Director, The Provident Bank Foundation. “It is because of the impact our grant recipients have made in the community that we’ve decided to make the change to our Signature Grant. It will enable us to offer support to even more organizations and members of the communities we serve.”

In addition to this change, PBF will be offer four (4) $50,000 grants, two (2) in each of the Foundation’s additional priority funding areas – Education and Health, Youth, and Families. Details can be found at www.providentnjfoundation.org.

PBF’s Board has approved the continuation of Major Grants and Community Grants in 2017. Community Grants range from $1,000 up to and including $5,000, and are primarily used for increasing access to funding and strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations. Major Grants range from $5,000 up to and including $25,000, and fund projects and/or programs that address one or more of PBF’s funding priority areas in a significant way. These projects and/or programs are typically more structured and robust than those supported through PBF’s Community Grants, but of lesser scale than those awarded Signature Grants.

For more information about PBF, visit http://www.ProvidentNJFoundation.org or call (862) 260-3990.