(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Count Basie Center for the Arts and Bank of America have announced the first of twelve area nonprofits to be recognized during THE GIVING YEAR, the yearlong initiative to recognize and reward organizations for their contributions to the regional community.
Mental wellness nonprofit Shore House will receive $1 from every Count Basie Center ticket sold in January, along with tickets for the organization’s clientele and volunteers. Founded in 2010, Shore House’s mission is to empower and restore hope, independence and self-worth for people living with a mental illness. Shore House is the sole New Jersey organization accredited by Clubhouse International, which advocates for work, wellness and socialization opportunities for those living with mental illness.
“As the first and only internationally-accredited Clubhouse in New Jersey, Shore House fills a vital role to a very underserved population,” said Rich Ambrosino, Executive Director, Shore House. “Support through The Giving Year will enable us to continue our mission of providing hope, independence and self-worth for people living with mental illness.”
Shore House is a local community resource where people who participate are known as members, with membership open to adults living with a mental illness. Shore House is not a treatment program or mental health service, but rather a place where members can learn new skills, develop new relationships, and explore new opportunities.
“We are honored and thankful to be selected by the Count Basie Center and Bank of America for this support through The Giving Year campaign,” said Peder Hagberg, President, Shore House Board of Trustees. “Shore House relies on the support of community partners like the Basie Center and Bank of America to allow us to continue to be a vital community resource. We are proud to share this partnership in support of people living with mental illness.”
“Mental health is a top priority at Bank of America, and it is important that we continue to support and expand mental health initiatives in New Jersey,” said Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. “The mental wellness programs that Shore House provides are vital to our community.”
“The everyday work at Shore House exemplifies the types of organizations The Giving Year is looking to award, platform and highlight,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chairperson, Count Basie Center for the Arts Board of Trustees. “This is an organization with boots on the ground right in Long Branch, providing a community resource for mental illness – a circumstance present in most everyone’s circle of family or friends.”
Bank of America and Basie Center employees and board members started reviewing applications following announcement of THE GIVING YEAR initiative on Giving Tuesday in November. THE GIVING YEAR will focus on organizations serving causes related to arts and culture, health / wellness, food insecurity, diversity, equity and inclusion, or financial management or other services to underrepresented populations.
Organizations interested in consideration for THE GIVING YEAR may learn more and apply for consideration at www.thebasie.org/thegivingyear. Organizations need only apply once – qualifying applications will be considered on a rolling basis throughout 2023.
THE GIVING YEAR will last throughout 2023, with the Count Basie Center for the Arts donating $1 from every ticket sold to one of twelve area nonprofits, with a different organization highlighted each month. Organizations will be eligible to receive up to $15,000 during their month, in addition to complimentary tickets for distribution to their volunteers and / or their beneficiaries.
Upon announcing the THE GIVING YEAR in November, Basie Center and Bank of America officers presented the initiative as an opportunity to use the organizations’ platforms to highlight important work and causes throughout their service regions.
“The Count Basie Center is a unique nonprofit organization,” Basie Center Board Chairperson Jeremy Grunin explained. “In addition to our work in arts education, from classrooms in under-resourced communities to professional development opportunities for teachers, we have world-renowned performing artists on our stages almost every evening. We recognize the platform that affords us, and we feel it’s right to use that platform to highlight other organizations attending to vital causes in our region.”
“Bank of America and the Count Basie Center share a unified view on partnering with nonprofits that better the community and address the important needs within New Jersey,” said Bank of America’s Garofalo. “During ‘The Giving Year,’ we’ll use our long-standing partnership and platforms to highlight and reward the efforts of twelve area nonprofit organizations, whose commitments to our region help those who need it the most.”
“Part of our responsibility as a nonprofit organization is to look inwards and say, ‘What more can we do?’” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “And because we have this status as a place where world-class musicians, actors and performers come to play, we also have this opportunity – and responsibility – to lend our visibility to others. Bank of America and the Basie Center want THE GIVING YEAR to become a pedestal for organizations that deserve to have their hard work and purposes known and recognized.”
February’s beneficiary organization will be announced in mid-January.
