Community Corner

OritaniBank Donates $1M To Center For Food Action

Money will be used to support emergency services programs over the next 5 years

The OritaniBank Charitable Foundation awarded a $1,000,000 grant to the Center for Food Action (CFA) during the CFA Gala Evening of Fine Wines and Gourmet Cuisine on May 7, 2012.

This grant, payable over a five year period, will help fund CFA’s Emergency Food, Homeless Prevention and Heating and Utility Assistance Programs. These programs provide: 7-day emergency food packages to low-income families and seniors, help households pay their rents during difficult times and keep the heat and lights on for many of our neighbors. CFA provides these critical services from eight sites in northern New Jersey.

According to the bank's SVP Rosanne Buscemi, "All eight of CFA’s locations are funded as needed through the headquarters located in Englewood," including the Mahwah location. "Each year, CFA will receive $200,000 from our Foundation to support their emergency services programs."

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“We are proud that this grant is going to have such an immediate and sustained impact on the lives of more than 17,000 low-income Bergen and Passaic County residents,”  said Kevin J. Lynch, President of the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation and Chairman, President and CEO of Oritani Bank. “Our support will go directly to help CFA continue to put nutritious food on the table and a roof over the heads of our neighbors in need.”

In 2011, CFA collected and distributed more than $3,200,000 worth of food to area residents. CFA also provided nearly $1,000,000 in financial assistance to prevent nearly 1,500 local households from falling into homelessness or having vital utilities disconnected.

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“Without the services that CFA provides, many of our neighbors would not be able to put food on their tables, keep a roof over their heads or keep on their heat and lights”, commented Patricia Espy, Executive Director of CFA. “Partnership with Oritani Bank and the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation has meant that we can deliver essential services to many local residents and help them regain their self sufficiency and strengthen our community.”

Espy stated that this funding will ensure that CFA can help many more individuals and families over the next five years. CFA also offers counseling, advocacy, and support services to individuals and families struggling to make ends meet. For more information visit http://cfanj.org.

Oritani Bank established the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation in 2007 to assist not-for-profit organizations that help to improve the quality of life for area residents, especially those members of its’ communities most in need. Since its inception the Foundation has donated more than $3 million to local charitable organizations, primarily in support of education, health & human services, youth programs, and affordable housing.

Oritani Bank is a 101-year-old community bank with over $2.8 billion in assets, based in the Township of Washington, New Jersey. Oritani Bank is a publicly held company trading on the NASDAQ with the trading symbol “ORIT.” Oritani Bank offers a full line of deposit and loan services to both retail and commercial customers. For more information, call 888-ORITANI, or visit their website, www.oritani.com.

The above is a press release from OritaniBank.


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