When the partnership behind Newport Associates Development Company announced earlier this year their plans to award $1 million to a local nonprofit as part of its 40th Anniversary philanthropy initiative, they knew it was more than just a celebratory gesture — it was an effort to fill a need.
They just didn’t realize how great it was.
This week, the partnership of the LeFrak and Simon families announced the program received 135 applications from non-profit organizations dedicated to serving the local community, underscoring the significant demand for philanthropic support across Jersey City’s nonprofit sector.
This major initiative, launched to mark Newport’s four decades of investment on the Jersey City waterfront, will distribute $1 million in charitable contributions to 40 local organizations.
The pool of applicants represents a broad and diverse cross-section of the city’s impact sectors, including social services, health care, performing arts, education, community development, environmental protection and athletics.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon saluted the families for their incredible gesture.
“Jersey City’s nonprofits are the backbone of how we deliver for residents, and 135 applications for this funding shows just how much they are carrying,” he said. “The LeFrak and Simon families have built their business in this city for forty years, and they are using this anniversary to give back at a scale that matters.
“I’m grateful for their commitment, and I hope it is the start of a broader conversation with the corporate community about sustaining the organizations doing the hardest work in our city.”
Newport’s Community Relations team is currently in the process of reviewing each submission. Grants will range from a minimum of $10,000 to cornerstone awards of $100,000 or more, reflecting each organization’s successful track record and community impact.
The 40 selected organizations will be notified in early July and invited to the Newport 40th Celebration Gala on Sept. 24, at the Westin Hotel in Jersey City, where award amounts will be announced and checks presented.
LeFrak Chairman Richard LeFrak said the initiative is part of a long-lasting effort to support Jersey City.
“Four decades ago, my late father, Samuel LeFrak, and I joined the Simon family and stood on an abandoned railroad yard with nothing else on the Jersey City waterfront,” he said. “Forty years later, I am immensely proud that we didn’t just create an outstanding community at Newport — we served as the catalyst for a transformation that benefited the whole of Jersey City.
“We continue to invest in Newport and the Jersey City community with more housing, additional community amenities like parks and playgrounds open to the entire city, and our annual planned giving. Our forty-year stewardship of Newport, paired with this philanthropy initiative, allows us to continue to fulfill the promise of a complete community.”
Eli Simon, CEO, President and Chief Operating Officer of Simon Property Group, said the initiative is a grand way of giving back.
“As Newport celebrates forty years, this philanthropy initiative is our way of saying thank you — by investing in those who make Jersey City vibrant and resilient,” he said. “The response from 135 organizations is a testament to the strength of this community and makes us even more excited for the chapter ahead.
“The future is bright for Jersey City, and we are honored to contribute to its continued success.”
Originally derelict industrial land, Newport has been transformed over the last 40 years into a 600-acre, mixed-use community that is home to 20,000 residents and 50,000 workers.
From the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway to its 25 residential buildings and 20 acres of public parks, Newport’s growth has been inextricably linked to the success of Jersey City.
This philanthropy initiative is a cornerstone of the anniversary celebration, aimed at ensuring that the city’s nonprofit infrastructure continues to thrive alongside its physical development.
For more information on the initiative and Newport’s 40th Anniversary, click here.
