Founded in 1931, Berkeley College is focused on preparing students for lifelong success in dynamic careers. “We put a great emphasis on employment after graduation,” says President Michael W. Smith. Berkeley boasts an enrollment of more than 7,000 students—including 360 international students—in its master’s, bachelor’s, associate’s degree and certificate programs. Students attend classes at New Jersey campuses in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, as well as campuses in New York and online. The diversity of the student body is an important asset. “Students can learn from the experiences of others,” says Smith. “That makes them great global citizens.” Students are encouraged to give back through Berkeley’s annual Community Service Week. Since its inception in 2010, Community Service Day and Community Service Week have provided more than 13,000 volunteer hours to community organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Community FoodBank and the Greater Newark Conservancy. What’s more, Berkeley’s honors program has a service-learning component that provides “first-hand experience working with those in need,” says Smith. “This is our community, this is our home. It’s important that we use our skills and abilities to help everyone.”
The Prudential name has resonated in Newark since the company’s founding in 1875. Originally an insurer for the working class, Prudential has grown into a global titan offering insurance, annuities, mutual funds, investment management and more. A tradition of social responsibility guides Prudential as it serves clients and tackles social challenges. In Newark, its home city, the Prudential Foundation—a 2014 Great Oak Awards honoree for its commitment to philanthropy in New Jersey—has focused largely on improving public education, increasing access to jobs and supporting public safety, explains Sarah Keh, vice president of corporate giving. A critical Newark partner is Opportunity Youth Network, a local coalition whose mission, says Keh, is to “provide more services and programs for young people to bring them back into the educational and workforce system.” Prudential also supports community development as an investor in new downtown Newark hotels, the multi-use Teacher’s Village and the redevelopment of the Hahne’s Building. The foundation has “committed over $1 billion to the city of Newark over the last decade,” says Keh. The goal, she explains, is to create “an inclusive economy and a vibrant city for residents and visitors alike.”
As the second largest banking institution in the United States, BOA is committed to supporting the communities it serves through philanthropy as well as volunteerism. A 2014 Great Oak Awards honoree, BOA’s New Jersey giving focuses on workforce development and education, community development and basic needs. That adds up to support for such nonprofits as the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Affordable Housing Alliance and the Community FoodBank. BOA team members log more than 70,000 hours each year volunteering in New Jersey communities.
It’s no surprise that the MQS website features a blog titled “How to Teach Your Kids About Money.” Providing financial planning, investment and risk management services to individuals and families (as well as wealth creators) is at the core of the MQS mission. The firm also assists individuals and families with defining and clarifying philanthropic goals. MQS, with offices in Morristown, New York and Los Angeles, even has a special Women’s Network meant to engage, inform and empower women through events and educational opportunities.
Nearly 4,000 new jersey residents are currently awaiting life-saving transplants. Many will benefit from the services of NJ Sharing Network, the New Providence-based nonprofit responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissues in much of New Jersey. The Sharing Network, founded in 1987, works with hospitals and transplant centers to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of organ donation. In addition, its Family Services Division provides care during and after a donor family’s experience.