December 18, 2020
With initial supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine beginning to arrive in New Jersey, OceanFirst Bank and OceanFirst Foundation and several locally headquartered banks and foundations have partnered to pledge $265,000 to hospitals to support their vaccination efforts. Several hospitals serving our neighbors in New Jersey will be receiving the donations, including: Hackensack Meridian Health, RWJBarnabas Health, CentraState Medical Center, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Cape Regional Medical Center, Inspira Medical Center Vineland, and Shore Medical Center.
OceanFirst Bank and OceanFirst Foundation, Manasquan Bank, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, and Valley Bank are among the banks pledging this important funding. Hospitals are working closely with the New Jersey Department of Health to assist with the state’s wide-scale distribution program with a goal to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population in the state in a six-month period.
“Regional banks realize that the pandemic has demonstrated the unwavering commitment of our health care workers and hospitals and we appreciate all that they have done to serve our communities,” said Christopher D. Maher, Chairman OceanFirst Bank and OceanFirst Foundation. “We are hopeful the vaccine will bring relief and we realize the next challenge is distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to those who are most vulnerable. I applaud my fellow bankers who have pledged funding to assist our dedicated hospitals in their vaccination efforts and encourage all business leaders to consider supporting this pivotal step to winning the fight against a global crisis.”