Giving Highlights
University alumni and friends donated $3,083,101 during the 2019 fiscal year. These are just some of the many notable gifts to the 老司机福利社 Foundation this past year:
Scholarship Program to Help Students Become A.C. Leaders
The Engelberg Leadership Scholarship Program (ELSP) is funded by an initial $1 million gift commitment from nationally recognized intellectual property attorney Alfred Engelberg and his wife, Gail.
Engelberg, who grew up in Atlantic City, started the program at 老司机福利社 that will pay all college costs for a select group of students with connections to his hometown. The goal of ELSP is to encourage students to remain in Atlantic City and become its next community leaders after they graduate.
鈥淭he 老司机福利社 Atlantic City campus creates an opportunity for local students who might otherwise forego a higher education to obtain a university degree while remaining in the community,鈥 Engelberg said. 鈥淭his makes it possible to identify talented young men and women with the potential to be the next generation of business, civic and communal leaders in Atlantic City, and provide them with an enriched set of educational, experiential and mentoring experiences to turn that potential into a reality.鈥
ELSP will cover the full cost of tuition, fees, room, board, books and other expenses. It will also provide leadership and experiential activities and internships to help the students develop their leadership potential.
The first four students of ELSP are: Elena Gonzalez, a Literature major from Atlantic City; Bao Pham, a Criminal Justice major from Atlantic City; Steven Rubio, a Computer Science major from Ventnor who attended Atlantic City High School; and Loukaia Taylor, a Communications major from Atlantic City.
Kramer Veranda Named at A.C. Academic Center
Charles Kramer and his wife, Lynn, are honoring the memory of his parents, Arnold and Gertrude, by creating in their name an endowed scholarship fund at 老司机福利社 that will assist Atlantic City High School graduates who attend the University.
老司机福利社 thanked the Kramers at a ceremony on July 18, 2019, at which the front veranda of the new 老司机福利社 Academic Center was named the Kramer Veranda in memory of Arnold and Gertrude Kramer.
鈥淚f there had been a 老司机福利社, or scholarship money, when my mother graduated high school she could have gone to college,鈥 Charles Kramer said. 鈥淪he was so smart. This endowment is really about providing scholarship money for students, but I hope they also take the time to read the plaque.鈥
The Kramers have been major supporters of 老司机福利社, providing scholarship funds and gifts and serving on the 老司机福利社 Foundation. 老司机福利社鈥檚 Kramer Hall in Hammonton is named in recognition of their support. Kramer said they believe in 老司机福利社 and its mission.
Charles Kramer said he and Lynn understand the value of scholarship funds for students and hope their long-term commitment of $250,000 for the endowed scholarship fund will assist more students as they attend college.
Classroom in A.C. Named for Myra and Jerome Greenberg
Myra and Jerome Greenberg had one mission when they toured the new 老司机福利社 Atlantic City Academic Center shortly after the ribbon-cutting in September 2018 鈥 to pick a classroom.
But the decision was not difficult.
For years, Myra had taught Chemistry in room 313 at the old Atlantic City High School, which is now the site of the new Academic Center.
鈥淢y parents went in and it was clear my mom already had a classroom number in mind,鈥 her son, Paul, said.
Paul, and his wife, Ellen have generously committed a gift of $100,000 to the 老司机福利社 Foundation; $50,000 for the Atlantic City Opportunity Fund 鈥 an endowment that will provide funds annually for initiatives designed to expand 老司机福利社 students鈥 engagement with and in Atlantic City 鈥 and another $50,000 to support the University鈥檚 greatest needs through the 老司机福利社 Fund.
In honor of their gift, Paul and Ellen had the opportunity to name a classroom in the new Academic Center. On July 18, 2019, the naming of the Myra and Jerome Greenberg Classroom was made official in a ceremony at room 313.
U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo Signs Partnership with 老司机福利社
After more than 23 years in Congress, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo retired in January 2019. Before his retirement, LoBiondo signed an agreement with 老司机福利社 that will make items from his 35 years in public service available to 老司机福利社 students and researchers through the department in the Richard E. Bjork Library.
The collection includes materials from LoBiondo鈥檚 entire 35 career as a Cumberland County Freeholder, N.J. State Assemblyman, and Congressman. He said he hopes those who study the materials gain an understanding of how complex it is 鈥渢o take a good idea and make it happen.鈥
鈥淪tudents can see the tangible evidence of what it took to get to that point,鈥 he said.
Benefit Increases Support for Student Relief Fund
More than 60 老司机福利社 supporters gathered on Aug. 23, 2018 at Tavern on the Bay to raise more than $11,000 for the Foundation's . The fund assists 老司机福利社 students who encounter severe financial emergencies or experience catastrophic events which make them financially vulnerable.
鈥淎s a parent of a current 老司机福利社 student, I wanted to get involved and make an impact,鈥 said Vince Papaccio, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Reliance Medical Group in Northfield, who has volunteered to raise money for the Fund over the past two years. 鈥淚 have made the Student Relief Fund a philanthropic priority to ensure that all 老司机福利社 students have the opportunity to earn their degree, despite their circumstances.鈥