The New Jersey Bankers Association’s Charitable Foundation was recognized on Veterans Day during Veterans Music Fest at D’Jais Bar in Belmar.
NJ Bankers CEO and President Mike Affuso was presented with a certificate of recognition and spoke on the work being done by the foundation to support educational initiatives for New Jersey veterans.
In 2023, the foundation worked directly with the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers and Rutgers Business School to provide up to $50,000 in scholarships for a Project Management Certification program and a Mini-MBA in marketing for local veterans.
“The New Jersey banking industry has a long history of supporting our neighbors. Our veterans have given so much to our country, our state and our communities, and this is just a small way of giving back to them,” Affuso said.
The New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation was established in 2005 to honor fallen or permanently disabled military members in the post-9/11 Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts by providing scholarships to their eligible dependents. In 2015, the purpose of the foundation was expanded to include broader charitable causes, in addition to veteran causes.
Initial funding for the foundation was provided from the generous support of banks throughout New Jersey. With the expansion of its purpose, additional funding was provided by NJ Bankers and its subsidiary NJBA Service Corp. and its affiliated company Bankers Cooperative Group Inc. Since inception, the foundation has raised over $820,000 in total contributions to support New Jersey-based initiatives.
