Great Oak Awards: Medium Companies

Read about these extraordinary companies, who employ between 101 to 1,500 Jersey workers.

AAA
Florham Park
Industry:
Automobile club
NJ Employees: 180
Cash giving: $55,000
Volunteer hours: 1,833
The New Jersey Automobile Club (a division of AAA Southern New England) has a vibrant volunteerism program, branded T.E.A.M. —Together Everyone Achieves More. Under the program, full-time employees with three months of service are allotted eight hours of company-paid time per year to participate in a community-based service day. The employees serve worthy causes throughout Morris, Union and Essex counties, from feeding the homeless to supporting college scholarships.

Actavis, plc
Parsippany
Industry:
Pharmaceutical
NJ Employees: 1,464
Cash giving: $400,000
Volunteer hours: 4,000
Actavis supports programs that enhance education, health and economic development. A national sponsor of the March of Dimes March for Babies Campaign, Actavis doubled employee participation in three years. As a primary corporate sponsor of the American Medical Chest Challenge, run by the Partnership for a Drugfree NJ, Actavis funded 10 medicine drop boxes for Jersey police agencies.

Campbell Soup Company
Camden
Industry:
Food processing
NJ Employees: 170
Cash giving: $2 million
Volunteer hours: 22,000
Long headquartered in Camden, Campbell focuses on benefiting local residents by providing access to fresh, affordable and nutritious foods; physical activity; nutrition education and training; and community-engagement opportunities. Volunteer projects include Cooking Matters classes, which help educate Camden participants about healthy foods. In-kind giving in 2013 exceeded $12 million.

Cintas Corporation
Union
Industry:
Uniform & facility services/rental services
NJ Employees: 190
Cash giving: $6,300
Volunteer hours: 350
Through unique activities such as bake sales, smoothie days and dress-down days, Cintas employees can have fun at work and feel great giving back. The company holds team-building sessions in conjunction with charities including Habitat for Humanity. Every month, Cintas volunteers also assist at the area food bank.

CohnReznick LLP

Roseland
Industry:
Accounting
NJ Employees:
571
Cash giving: $271,638
Volunteer hours: 1,410
Through the CohnReznick Foundation and the CohnReznick CARES initiative, the firm has become the top corporate donor to Make-A-Wish New Jersey. Its annual Bowl-A-Thon helped raise more than $105,000 in 2013. The company’s National Social Impact Committee promotes community service and charitable giving. Roseland employees volunteer at venues such as Eva’s Village and Morristown National Historical Park.

The Conti Group
Edison
Industry:
Construction
NJ Employees: 344
Cash giving: $150,000
Volunteer hours: 230
Through Conti’s Community Program, full-time employees can take up to 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer for the charity of their choice. Conti’s group events support Habitat for Humanity, Komen Race for the Cure and other worthy causes selected by employees.

C.R. Bard, Inc.
Murray Hill
Industry:
Medical devices
NJ Employees: 348
Cash giving: $1.13million
Volunteer hours: 1,045
The firm has a comprehensive Corporate Giving Program that includes cash grants, product donations, a matching-gifts program, federated campaigns and employee volunteerism. In 2013, Bard’s workplace campaign raised $379,890 for Community Health Programs and United Way.

DCH Auto Group
South Amboy
Industry:
Automotive sales & service
NJ Employees: 1,162
Cash giving: $1.06 million
Volunteer hours: 3,900
DCH focuses its charitable efforts on promoting safe driving among teens.Dealerships and team members work extensively with New Jersey high school chapters of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). They also partner with other nonprofits, such as the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey.

Edison Properties
Newark
Industry:
Real estate
NJ Employees: 192
Cash giving: $314,500
In 2000, Edison Properties established the Newark Charitable Trust to support nonprofits. Edison is particularly committed to supporting the city of Newark and its underserved school-age children. The company matches eligible charitable donations made by employees or their spouses up to $500 (or up to $1,000 for a Newark-based education-related program). Edison locations forgo holiday decorations, donating the money instead to community-based organizations.

Genova Burns Giantomasi Webster LLC
Newark
Industry:
Law practice
NJ Employees: 147
Cash giving: $500,000
Volunteer hours: 33,811
The firm makes significant donations of cash and pro bono legal services to a variety of charitable organizations. Much of the firm’s philanthropy supports efforts to improve living conditions, education, health care and social justice in Newark, Camden, Jersey City and other urban areas.

JAG Physical Therapy
West Orange
Industry:
Physical therapy
NJ Employees:
130
Cash giving: $100,000
Volunteer hours: 50
JAG aligns itself with physical-fitness events such as the Valerie Fund walk and its own JAG Physical Therapy 5K Run. The company helps with logistics, fund-raising and corporate sponsorships. It has helped raise more than $1 million for the Valerie Fund for each of the past two years.

Kline Construction Inc.
Galloway

Industry: Construction/traffic control
NJ Employees: 320
Cash giving: $60,000
Volunteer hours: 1,000
Since 1945, Kline Construction has been a champion for children, the elderly and the infirm along with the environment and wildlife. In 2013, the company built community gardens in Atlantic City and hosted a blood drive with 300-plus employees. Under one program, Kline employees constructed Save the Turtles road barriers on the Margate Bridge, which they continue to maintain.

Investors Bank
Short Hills
Industry:
Banking/finance
NJ Employees: 1,300
Cash giving: 4.86 million
Volunteer hours: 50,000
Investors Bank’s Care2Share program automatically generates donations to their customers’ favorite nonprofits and causes. The company’s philanthropy includes support for educational programs, medical research, arts programs and festivals, and elder care.

Massage Envy Spa of Central and Northern NJ
Florham Park
Industry:
Therapeutic spa services
NJ Employees: 1,000
Cash giving: $64,187
Volunteer hours: 2,658
Focusing on optimal wellness, Massage Envy partners with the Arthritis Foundation to raise funds and awareness. Through its annual, one-day Healing Hands event, Massage Envy donates $10 of every massage to the foundation. Their efforts include Camp Chat, a six-day sleepaway camp for children with arthritis and rheumatic disease.

Morey’s Piers
Wildwood

Industry: Entertainment and amusements
NJ Employees: 165
Cash giving:
$46,000
Volunteer hours: 300
In 2013, Morey’s Piers made in-kind donations to more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations. The company’s Associate Volunteer Program gives full-time and seasonal employees—including international staffers—an opportunity to partner with local community groups and volunteer for various events.

Neiman Marcus
Short Hills
Industry:
Luxury retailing
NJ Employees: 300
Volunteer hours: 1,000
The company’s The HeART of Neiman Marcus campaign focuses on arts education for children. Under the All Heart program, employees volunteer throughout the year to support soup kitchens, clothing drives and food drives. Other efforts in 2013 benefited the Goryeb Children’s Hospital Epilepsy Center, Autism Speaks and the Cancer Support Community of Central NJ.

OceanFirst Foundation/OceanFirst Bank
Toms River
Industry:
Banking
NJ Employees: 400
Cash giving: $870,738
Volunteer hours: 3,000
Since its inception in 1996, OceanFirst Foundation has invested more than $25 million in community initiatives and programs. In 2013, the foundation’s primary focus was to provide grants for nonprofits impacted by Hurricane Sandy and those involved in relief and recovery efforts.

Peapack/Gladstone Bank
Bedminster
Industry:
Banking/finance
NJ Employees: 350
Cash giving: $360,000
Volunteer hours: 300
In 2013, Peapack/Gladstone Bank partnered with more than 220 charitable organizations to support a variety of efforts, including those targeting education, health care, relief for the needy and improvement in parks and recreation facilities. Every February, employees take part in the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Campaign to promote awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Peerless Beverage Company
Union
Industry:
Beverage distribution
NJ Employees: 225
Cash giving: $55,338
Volunteer hours: 500
Peerless is dedicated to supporting its neighbors. Over the past year, Peerless has given to organizations such as the American Red Cross, St. Jude’s, the Community Food Bank of NJ and Autism Awareness.

Provident Bank
Morristown
Industry:
Private foundation/banking
NJ Employees: 1,000
Cash giving: $1.04 million
Volunteer hours: 100
The Provident Bank Foundation has surpassed $18 million in total giving since its inception 10 years ago. The bank offers employees paid time off to support activities that enhance and serve their communities. Funds were also contributed to Super Storm Sandy Relief.

PwC
Florham Park
Industry:
Professional services
NJ Employees: 1,400
Cash giving: $1 million
Volunteer hours: 4,000
PwC’s Earn Your Future commitment is a $160 million investment in youth education with a focus on financial literacy. Smaller local initiatives include offering financial-literacy lessons to thousands of students in NJ schools, as well as students participating through Girl Scouts of the USA and the All Stars Project in Newark.

QualCare, Inc.

Piscataway
Industry:
Insurance
NJ Employees: 688
Cash giving: $617,000
Volunteer hours: 2,000
QualCare supports nonprofits such as the American Heart Association, the Special Olympics, Susan G. Komen and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. For the past three years, QualCare has organized the distribution of free prescription savings cards to soup kitchens, clinics and shelters throughout New Jersey.

R&R Marketing
West Caldwell

Industry: Wholesale wine and spirits distribution
NJ Employees: 350
Cash giving: $8,700
Volunteer hours: 300
R&R partners with organizations such as Camp Hope, Habitat for Humanity and the GI GO Fund. The company selects charities that benefit children as well as those that deal with social issues relevant to R&R associates. Associates are allowed to wear jeans to work when they make a charitable donation.

United Water
Harrington Park
Industry:
Utility
NJ Employees: 1,300
Cash giving: $303,300
Volunteer hours: 2,300
United Water’s Employee Volunteer Program provides paid time off for staff doing volunteer work. United Water supports Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer Center of Bergen County, YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club. It provides food, school supplies, coats, skilled and unskilled labor and other items to the causes it assists.

Willis North America and the Willis Foundation
Morristown
Industry:
Insurance
NJ Employees: 200
Willis partners with many nonprofit clients, supporting their philanthropic missions, both fiscally and through volunteerism. Additionally, the Willis Foundation, established in 2010, is committed to charitable giving at a local level.

WithumSmith+Brown, PC
Princeton
Industry:
Public accounting
NJ Employees: 375
Cash giving: $370,000
Volunteer hours: 3,297
During Withum Week of Caring—established in 2011—all staff members volunteer at least four hours to charity in lieu of going into the office. The firm’s Community Outreach Group coordinates volunteer tasks, such as painting, sorting or preparing food, packing Thanksgiving dinner baskets or reading books to children. WS+B’s staff members provide manpower, funding and even friendship to benefit many worthy organizations. Other initiatives include $5 Jean Days and the Staff Hardship Relief Fund.

Click here to read about the other Great Oak Award finalists.

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