Freehold school receives $25,000 library grant

FREEHOLD — The Freehold Learning Center elementary school, Dutch Lane Road, has been awarded a $25,000 grant to enhance its library/media center.

The OceanFirst Foundation announced the recipients of its new School Library/Media Center Enhancement Grant program at a reception in Point Pleasant. Grants were also awarded to six Ocean County schools and two other schools in Monmouth County and one school in Middlesex County. The assistant commissioner of educational programs and assessment for the New Jersey Department of Education attended the event.

According to a press release, the program is an effort to enrich the learning experience and encourage a love of reading and learning among students in the OceanFirst service area. The foundation received 133 applications from eligible public and private schools, K-12. Each applicant that was not chosen for a $25,000 grant received their choice of a $250 gift certificate from either Scholastic Books or Follett Library Resources, making the foundation’s total contribution for the program worth more than $280,000.

The Freehold Learning Center will use its grant to enhance its “Reading Buddies” and “Lunch-Time Book Club” for grades three, four & five, and its “Battle of the Books” program for grades four and five. It also will replace many outdated books and audio visual materials, and purchase computers.

Principal Dennis Levinson said, “We have a large number of economically disadvantaged students and bilingual students who need materials for programs we have set up. This grant will help us purchase the resources we need. It will also help as we plan to expand our library into a media center. This is a big shot in the arm for us.”

John R. Garbarino, OceanFirst Foundation chairman, said, “School libraries and media centers play a critical role in a student’s academic and lifelong success, yet resources are limited. We believe this special initiative is consistent with a core priority of the foundation, which is to support positive youth development and education.”

Founded in 1996, OceanFirst Foundation is the first foundation in the nation to be established by a bank as part of an initial public offering. The foundation is currently valued at approximately $40 million and its contributions to local charities continue to grow. The foundation has contributed more than $13 million to more than 600 local charities in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties since its inception. In 2005, the OceanFirst Foundation is expected to donate $2 million to community initiatives. Its four priorities include housing; health and wellness; improving the quality of life; and youth development.

OceanFirst Foundation will again offer the media grant program in 2006. For more information, call (732) 341-4676 or visit www.oceanfirstfdn.org.