Provident Bank employees demonstrated that the “power of the purse” (and the pair of pants) can transform local neighborhoods. Through the bank’s “We Wear Jeans for a Cause” initiative, staff members personally raised $80,000 in 2025, with half of those funds staying right here in the Garden State to bolster affordable housing and community revitalization.
The employee-funded program, which allows team members to trade professional attire for denim in exchange for a charitable donation, awarded substantial grants to two pivotal New Jersey organizations: Isles, Inc. and PRAHD.
The New Jersey recipients were selected for their deep roots in community development and their direct impact on resident stability:
-
Isles, Inc. (Mercer County): Awarded $20,000 to expand its mission of creating self-reliant families. The funds will support affordable housing development and community programs, continuing Isles’ 40-year legacy of revitalizing Trenton-area neighborhoods through healthy homes and job training.
-
PRAHD (Perth Amboy): Also receiving $20,000, the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development (PRAHD) will use the grant to advance affordable housing initiatives. As a HUD-certified counseling agency, PRAHD is a cornerstone of Perth Amboy’s revitalization, helping low-to-moderate-income families secure stable living conditions.
While New Jersey received the largest share of the funding, the employee initiative also reached neighboring communities in New York and Pennsylvania to address food insecurity and small business growth:
| Organization | Region | Amount | Focus |
| Isles, Inc. | Mercer County, NJ | $20,000 | Affordable Housing |
| PRAHD | Perth Amboy, NJ | $20,000 | Housing Development |
| New Bethany | Bethlehem, PA | $15,000 | Hunger Relief |
| Rising Tide Loan Fund | Lehigh, PA | $15,000 | Small Business Lending |
| Queens Community House | Queens, NY | $10,000 | Housing Stability |
Unlike traditional corporate giving, the “We Wear Jeans for a Cause” program is entirely employee-funded. This model empowers individual bank tellers, loan officers, and corporate staff to take personal ownership of the bank’s community footprint.
“The funds will enable these organizations to continue their essential work and expand the impact of their programs,” Leonardo Ramos, first vice president and CRA officer at Provident Bank said. “Through initiatives like this, we are able to support organizations that make a difference in our communities.”
The bank’s leadership extended its gratitude to the workforce, noting that the $80,000 total reflects a shared commitment to the “vitality of the communities it serves.”
