Stockton University on Tuesday announced a major $100,000 gift from New Brunswick-based healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson to the Stockton University Foundation. The funds are earmarked to launch a new nursing scholarship and bolster critical programs that combat food and housing insecurity on campus.
The donation is split to address both professional development and basic student needs: $50,000 will establish the Johnson & Johnson Nursing Scholarship, while the remaining $50,000 will be divided equally between the university’s food assistance program and housing essentials for students in need.
Stockton University President Joe Bertolino emphasized that the gift addresses fundamental barriers to graduation. Approximately half of Stockton’s student body consists of first-generation college students or Pell Grant recipients, groups that often face significant financial hurdles.
“When you invest in nursing scholarships, food security, and housing stability, you are not supporting something on the margins,” Bertolino said. “You are strengthening the very foundation of student success. We believe students cannot thrive academically without stability, dignity, and a sense of belonging.”
For Johnson & Johnson, the donation represents a strategic investment in the state’s health care pipeline. Adam Taliaferro, director of State and Community Engagement at Johnson & Johnson, noted that supporting the next generation of nurses is essential for New Jersey’s future.
“While ensuring that students have the stability they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom, we are also providing innovative and critical resources for the next generation of nurses, leaders, and professionals,” Taliaferro said during a recent visit to the campus.
Taliaferro, joined by Assemblywoman Maureen Rowan and other executives, recently toured Stockton’s Galloway campus. The visit included stops at the Osprey Food Pantry and the nursing program’s high-tech simulation suites, where students engage in experiential learning.
The new funding will directly support the Osprey Essentials Program, which provides care packages and basic necessities to students. For many, these resources are the difference between staying in school or being forced to withdraw.
- Christian Bernabe-Estorque, a first-year nursing student from Vineland, highlighted the financial relief: “Paying for college can definitely be a difficulty for me. I’m really glad resources like this exist so that students who may not have as much money can get a helping hand.”
- Aury Franco, a senior social work major, recalled how receiving an “Essentials” care package in 2022 changed her perspective. “It made me feel welcomed and supported. It made me feel like someone actually cared about me, even before I started my college journey.”
Assemblywoman Rowan praised the partnership, stating that these investments reinforce the community’s commitment to its students. “As the Assemblywoman representing the district where Stockton is located, I am grateful to Johnson & Johnson, not only for their generosity, but also for their continued presence and leadership.”
By addressing both the cost of specialized education and the rising costs of living, the new fund aims to ensure that Stockton’s “Ospreys” can focus on their clinical rounds rather than their grocery bills.
