Manasquan Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Catherine Franzoni recently presented Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) with a $5,000 grant during the quarterly Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation Grant Breakfast.
This grant is given to hand-selected not-for-profit organizations in New Jersey that align with the bank’s charitable foundation values of education, social and civic services, health and wellness, recreation, and culture and arts. CSPNJ Chief Operations Officer Anne Smullen Thieling joined 40 other not-for-profit executives from the Jersey Shore area at the event to receive the award.
“It’s inspiring to see how each organization is creating meaningful change in our communities. We’re deeply grateful for these passionate advocates and the opportunity to support their vital work.” Manasquan Bank wrote on the afternoon following the event.
The cash award of $5,000 will be used to upgrade and enhance Better Life, CSPNJ’s major community wellness center and hub for Essex County residents, with a long overdue enhancement to create a more welcoming, updated atmosphere for its members.
“Our members at Better Life are the reason that the center feels like a home away from home for all who attend. We are so grateful to be able to continue cultivating the feeling of safety and belongingness at the center with the funded environmental enhancements,” Thieling said. “We know that one’s environment plays a great part in their ability to manage wellness, and this project will help support sustainable wellness and recovery for all who use the property.”
At Better Life CWC, there has been a significant year-over-year increase in the number of new members aged 18-30 with a 39% increase in 2023, and a 76% increase in 2024. On average, the center serves 115 Essex County residents daily with wellness, recovery, housing, education and other services.
For more information about CSPNJ, please contact Chelsea Triano at [email protected] or 732-780-1175.
About Manasquan Bank
Manasquan Bank, a mutual community Bank headquartered in Wall Township with consolidated assets over $3.2 billion, has been serving New Jersey residents since 1874. The Bank offers a full line of personal and business services, and operates fifteen branch locations throughout Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. Manasquan Bank proudly supports community-focused, nonprofit initiatives through the Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation.
About Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey
A statewide behavioral health agency incorporated in 1984, CSPNJ has established itself as a respected innovator of housing, Community Wellness Centers, employment, and economic development services that promote the wellness and recovery of people with the lived experience of behavioral health conditions.