The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County awarded 24 grants, totaling $124,950, to nonprofit agencies responding to increased need in the community.  Founded in 1933 during the Great Depression, The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, supports local nonprofit organizations serving people in need in eastern Bergen County, New Jersey.   These nonprofit agencies focusing on the arts received grant awards: Bergen Performing Arts Center, Encounters in Black Traditions, and JCC Thurnauer School of Music.

The nonprofit agencies will use their grant awards to provide services that meet The Chest's 2023-2024 priorities in these areas: Mental Health services; Food Insecurity and Healthy Eating; Home Care (Health Care Staffing and Services); Educational Enhancement/College and Career Prep; and Racial Justice Education.

The grant recipients will provide services to residents in need from these communities: Alpine, Bergenfield, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Rockleigh and Tenafly. 

Requests Exceed Funds Available: With a mission to strengthen the community through partnership, leadership and philanthropy, The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County awarded the grants to local nonprofits through a competitive process managed by the organization's Allocations Committee and approved by the Board of Managers.  During the organization's 90th year, funds were raised through an annual campaign and fundraisers to address increasing needs in the areas of food insecurity and mental health in eastern Bergen County.  This year, the nonprofit agencies' requests reached $267,900, exceeding the budget for grant awards.

"This year, The Chest's Allocation Committee focused specifically on maximizing our finite resources to support the increased demand for services in the priority areas of mental health, food insecurity, educational enhancement and racial justice education.  Agencies that provide services to people in need in our region, especially in the areas of mental health and food insecurity, were prioritized," said Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director, The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Since the organization's founding 90 years ago, The Chest has raised over $12 million and served over 100 nonprofit organizations.  The Chest supports area nonprofits addressing a range of issues, including health and mental health, hunger, arts programming, the environment, and volunteerism for approximately 50,000 people annually.

Founded in 1933, The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, has supported local not-for-profit agencies for 90 years.  The Chest leads initiatives and supports nonprofits that make our communities stronger and benefit people in need in eastern Bergen County.  Each year, The Chest raises funds and allocates them to agencies demonstrating the capacity to provide services to local citizens.  The organization also provides coordinating and planning services in its communities, serving as a bridge between agencies and organizations and investing in the stability and quality of the service network.

The Community Chest's Board of Managers is comprised of community leaders dedicated to improving the lives of neighbors in need.  People interested in being considered for board membership may contact Executive Director Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer at (201) 568-7474.