Basking Ridge, NJ -December 6, 2022– The Affinity Foundation is pleased to award sixteen tristate-area organizations with grants ranging from $1,000 - $5,000 in support of programs that align with the Foundation’s mission and three areas of focus: education, financial wellbeing and healthcare. The Foundation awarded grants to the following organizations:

A Place to Nourish Your Health in New Haven, CT received $1,000 as a first-time awardee for medical nutrition therapy for their clients who are living at 200% or less of the federal poverty level, with HIV and comorbidities, and are underserved by the medical community.

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland in Haverstraw, NY received $2,000 to support their Eviction Prevention Program which assists about 100 families who are living below or at the federal poverty level with maintaining stable housing.

Center for Great Expectations in Somerset, NJ was awarded $2,000 for their Adult Residential Mommy and Me program for mothers and their children, helping to break the intergenerational cycle of abuse, addiction, homelessness and poverty, all of which leads to poor long-term mental and physical health outcomes.

Chrysalis Center in Hartford, CT received $2,000 for their Community Supportive Housing program which helps formerly homeless individuals and families obtain permanent housing, increase their skills, income, self-manage their health, and achieve greater overall independence.

Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants in Bridgeport, CT was awarded $2,000 to support their Economic Empowerment program that provides refugees with the tools needed to become financially independent and self-sufficient, including financial literacy training, employment basics and job interviewing strategies, while working with businesses to foster friendly workplace environments for refugees.

Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center in Morristown, NJ received $2,500 for their medical and mental health services which include forensic interviews, medical diagnosis and treatment, clinical counseling, and psychiatric evaluations for child victims of abuse and/or neglect and their caregivers who are very low or low-income and uninsured or underinsured.

Homes for the Brave in Bridgeport, CT was awarded $2,000 for their Training for Success Vocational and Education program that provides veterans resources and training opportunities to enhance their education level and financial wellness by obtaining secure employment opportunities. 

HomeSharing, Inc. in Bridgewater, NJ received $4,000 to support their model of shared affordable housing where seekers find below market-rate rents enabling them to live better on their income and providers to stay in their homes without leaving the community and utilizing public assistance.

Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss in Mountainside, NJ received $1,000 as a first-time awardee to support their monthly adult support group for recent high school graduates of schools in Newark where they build resilience and learn healthy ways to cope with grief.

NewBridge Services, Inc. in Pequannock, NJ received $3,000 for their Jobs Plus program which serves young adults who leave high school without graduating and helps them obtain their diploma and teaches them soft and professional skills to help them thrive in the workplace.

New Reach, Inc. in New Haven, CT was awarded $2,500 to support their mission to inspire lasting independence for all people affected by homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing and support using the most innovative, progressive, equitable and inclusive methods.

NJ Reentry Corporation in Jersey City, NJ received $1,000 as a first-time awardee to support their Training Center which helps court involved individuals and those returning from incarceration find meaningful and sustainable employment that improves their lives and helps them become responsible, integral members of society.

Oasis in Paterson, NJ received $2,000 for their After School Academy that provides low-income families with holistic academic and socio-emotional support to ensure each child reaches or exceeds grade-level proficiency in math, language arts, and becomes college and career-ready.

Princeton Child Development Institute in Princeton, NJ received $1,000 as a first-time awardee to support their mission of providing effective, science-based intervention for children and adults with autism and, through research and dissemination, to extend treatment resources to people with autism.

Rutgers University Foundation in New Brunswick, NJ received $2,000 for the Rutgers H.O.P.E. Clinic which increases access to health-related services for vulnerable populations living in Plainfield, educates the community to facilitate self-efficacy in health, and educates the next generation of socially-responsible healthcare providers.

Visions and Pathways in Bridgewater, NJ received $5,000 for the Prosperity Independent Living Skills Program which provides financial literacy, employment search, housing management and other workshops, while allowing youth to participate in mentoring groups to help learn effective communication and decision-making skills.

About the Affinity Foundation:

The Affinity Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2005 to carry out the philanthropic work of Affinity Federal Credit Union. We invest in local organizations that deliver programs aimed at alleviating financial stress and helping people reach financial independence, empowering them in the pursuit of educational, employment, and individual goals, and providing peace of mind for financially disadvantaged individuals and their families. Through our volunteer efforts, we connect charities with skilled professionals to elevate their mission, provide financial education resources and strengthen communities. The Affinity Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization, you can further our mission by donating today (EIN #20-2706810).