The Maplewood Foundation Honors 2025 Grantees

The Maplewood Foundation recently hosted a vibrant event to honor its 12 grant recipients for 2025 and to kick off its fundraising campaign for 2026.

 

The third annual "Celebrate Our Community" gathering drew nearly 200 attendees for an evening filled with camaraderie and celebration.

 

Through ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, a live auction, and a paddle raise, the event successfully raised a total of $102,672.

 

Fred Profeta, president of The Maplewood Foundation, reaffirmed the organization's ambitious goal of awarding $100,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations serving community residents in 2026.

 

"This year's exciting and highly successful event raised more than last year and further demonstrated our community's strong support for and belief in investing together to support our neighbors," said Profeta.

 

"With the money raised, we have the momentum we need to make 2026 the year we become a six-figure grant-making machine."

 

The Foundation awarded grants totaling $92,900 to 12 nonprofit organizations, marking a more than 30% increase over the previous year's awards.

 

Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed a total of $212,900 to fund 29 programs over its first three years.

 

The 2025 grant recipients include:

 

Columbia High School Scholarship Fund received a Program Grant of $20,000 to establish The Maplewood Foundation Scholarship, a needs-based scholarship awarded annually in perpetuity to a graduate pursuing further education.

 

Family Connections was awarded a Program Grant of $15,000 to expand "The Next Step," a summer program that builds academic and social-emotional skills, assisting approximately 50 rising 9th graders in confidently transitioning to Columbia High School.

 

Meeting Essential Needs With Dignity (MEND) received a $10,000 Emergency Relief Grant to support local families facing heightened uncertainty due to the pause of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

 

South Orange Performing Arts Center was granted $10,000 to expand access to its Arts Education Program for district students, engaging them in music, dance, and visual arts experiences that meet state learning standards and foster creativity, confidence, and cultural appreciation.

 

Together We Bloom received a Program Grant of $10,000 to support "A Blueprint for Belonging," an initiative aimed at making local events and spaces more accessible through accessibility roundtables, a sensory education video, and "Sensory To-Go" kits.

Durand-Hedden House & Garden Association was awarded a Program Grant of $5,000 to sustain its annual Juneteenth Celebration, combining history, art, and culture to honor Black heritage and educate the community.

 

Rent Party Pantry, Inc. received a Program Grant of $5,000 to expand its critical BackPack Pals program by 15%, currently providing more than 150 children facing food insecurity with a weekend's worth of nutritious food each week.

 

SOMA Tool Share was granted a Seed Grant of $5,000 for start-up costs to build a community tool library, including tool purchases, rent, workspace build-out, and supplies needed to launch operations and host educational workshops.

 

The South Mountain YMCA received a Program Grant of $5,000 to expand its Performing Arts Program to better include participants with mental and behavioral challenges by increasing staffing for individualized support.

 

SOMA BuildHers was awarded a Seed Grant of $3,500 to purchase essential tools, supplies, and lumber to expand its partnership with Isaiah House, supporting families transitioning from shelter to permanent housing.

 

Clinton School PTA received a Program Grant of $2,900 to launch a composting pilot with Java's Compost, a local Black- and woman-owned business, where third graders will learn to divert cafeteria food waste and create compost to enrich school gardens.

 

Girls on the Run NJ East was granted a Program Grant of $1,500 to provide athletic scholarships for Maplewood and South Orange girls participating in its after-school program to build confidence, develop healthy relationships, and cultivate resilience.

 

"This latest class of grantees includes a solid mix of start-ups and established nonprofits," said Profeta.

 

"The idea that we can create a permanent scholarship while at the same time respond to an immediate crisis reinforces the importance of having a flexible, sustainable, and growing source of funding for our area nonprofit organizations."

 

Held at Maplewood Country Club, the night began with a lively cocktail hour and sleight-of-hand magic with Rory Feldman.

 

The main event was emceed by Michelle Charlesworth, a longtime Maplewood resident and reporter/co-anchor at WABC-TV Channel 7.

 

The crowd was delighted by a performance by Lydia Johnson Dance before hearing from the 2025 grantees.

 

The Foundation's Development Director, Josh Adler, led a live auction featuring an exciting lineup of prizes and a paddle raise that provided the Foundation with a jumpstart on its 2026 fundraising efforts.

 

Donations to The Maplewood Foundation are invested in a fund for a longer-term and wider impact within the community.

 

The Foundation gives approximately 5% of its holdings each year as Program and Seed grants through an annual grant cycle.

 

To learn more about the Foundation's impact or make a donation, visit the Foundation's website.

 

The Foundation also encourages its donors to continue giving directly to local nonprofits.