Sandy NJ Relief Fund Awards $3.5 Million to 15 Organizations

On Oct 29, 2014

Today, the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, chaired by First Lady Mary Pat Christie, announced $3.5 million in new grant awards to 15 nonprofit organizations. The announcement brings the amount awarded by the First Lady’s Relief Fund to more than $37.2 million since the storm.

“Building back from Sandy has shown the true spirit of the New Jersey people. We support one another, look out for each other and pull together when disaster strikes to help our neighbors and communities in need,” said First Lady Mary Pat Christie, Chair of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. “The Relief Fund is proud to be an active partner in the recovery effort, supporting 106 nonprofit organizations that have assisted more than 300,000 New Jerseyans. Today we mark two years since Sandy, but more importantly we recognize and give thanks for the leadership, service and generosity of countless volunteers, donors, nonprofits and local leaders who have made recovery possible.”

The largest grant announced today provides an additional $1 million in support of the Gap Funding Initiative (GFI), administered by New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC). According to NJCC President Wayne T. Meyer, “The Relief Fund has now committed $6 million in total to GFI. This additional funding will move 50 families off of our wait list and one step closer to the completion of their home. New Jersey Community Capital is honored to partner with the Relief Fund, an organization without which the state’s recovery would have been far less effective.”

A majority of the Relief Fund’s final awards went to organizations providing housing assistance, including more than $750,000 in support of two Habitat for Humanity chapters. “The First Lady’s Relief Fund continues to lead the Sandy rebuilding efforts with its genuine, heart-felt commitment to the nonprofits and people of New Jersey,” said Sue Fichtner, Executive Director of Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity. “We are proud and humbled to walk with the Relief Fund over the next year rebuilding homes in Ocean County.”

The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund will continue to post all grant awards on its website and track distributed dollars from start to finish, ensuring its grantees deliver the promised assistance to families and communities.

Related Articles: