The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF) has announced South Ward Children’s Alliance (SWCA) in Newark, N.J. as the recipient of the Foundation’s 2017 $50,000 Signature Grant in theHealth, Youth & Families funding priority area. The Foundation will present the check during a presentation on November 27, 2017, at 10:00 AM at South Ward Children’s Alliance, 59 Lincoln Park, Newark, N.J.

SWCA was selected for the Signature Grant for its work in the Human Services – Shelter & Residential Care focus area, and funding will specifically be used toward The Family Hub – a comprehensive case management, neighborhood-based program that helps to provide free family support and counseling to children and their families. The Family Hub helps create a stable and healthy environment with reduced toxic stress while supporting children’s academic growth and social and emotional development.

“South Ward Children’s Alliance’s Family Hub is a unique program that serves individuals and families throughout Essex County at their immediate point of need in crisis situations, which is exactly the goal of this particular grant,” said Jane Kurek, Executive Director, The Provident Bank Foundation. “A large part of our mission at the Foundation is assisting youth to reach their full potential, encouraging better health and making families stronger, and the Hub does just that. It specializes in providing free advocacy, crisis-intervention services, housing assistance and guidance, support with food security, as well as medical/mental health referral – all of the components for a better community.”

“It is truly an honor to be a recipient of the Foundation’s Signature grant. This funding will allow SWCA to continue to provide vital resources to families in the South Ward when they need it the most. Thus, we can support families in ways that help to stabilize their home environment which is essential in combating student mobility and chronic absenteeism throughout the school year. This work also plays a critical role in disrupting cycles of adversity that our families experience and provides opportunities for tangible support that they may not have access to otherwise” said Barbara Dixon, Executive Director.

SWCA’s mission is to dramatically improve the trajectory of children’s lives, making it possible for them to succeed to and through college and career. SWCA focuses on the South Ward of Newark, New Jersey. Concentrating on the South Ward allows the SWCA to provide intensive quality services to a specific community, including those who are hardest to reach- where impact can be measured. 

Over the course of 12 months, SWCA plans to case manage 100 families with 75% of participants achieving a minimum of one housing, education, career, finance, health, behavioral health or food security goal.

For more information on PBF, visit www.theprovidentbankfoundation.org or call (862) 260-3990.

About The Provident Bank Foundation

The Provident Bank Foundation was established in 2003 by Provident Bank to enhance the quality of life in the region through support of not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools and other 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services in communities served by the Bank. Since inception, the Foundation has granted more than $22 million to not-for-profit organizations and institutions working toward stronger communities. For more information about The Provident Bank Foundation, visit www.theprovidentbankfoundation.org or call (862) 260-3990.

About South Ward Children’s Alliance 

The South Ward Children's Alliance (SWCA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 by Building Responsible Intelligent Creative Kids (BRICK). SWCA uses a two-generation approach to work with parents and caregivers to improve the educational outcomes of children by improving family conditions, particularly during times of crisis, in the areas of mental health, housing, finances, and education. For more information about the South Ward Children’s Alliance, visit www.swcalliance.org or www.facebook.com/theswca.