WAYNE, N.J. – Friday, August 3, 2018 - Valley National Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp (NYSE:VLY), today announced it has donated $25,000 to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization. The donation will be used to fund the participation of students at the FoodBank’s Food Service Training Academy (FSTA).
Formed in 2000, the FSTA is a free, 15-week culinary, life skills and internship program that helps low-income individuals receive culinary and life-skills training in a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen located in Hillside, New Jersey. The students in the program prepare healthy meals for thousands of children at the FoodBank’s Kids Cafes and Summer Nutrition sites. The program provides students with the foundation needed for a better life. The program also offers employment services to help place students in jobs and internships. Since the academy’s start, over 2,500 students have graduated with a 90% average job-placement rate.
"The Food Service Training Academy's important work would not be possible without the support of our funders," said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. "Valley National Bank's generosity as our newest FSTA partner will help us to graduate more students and continue our focus on workforce development in the community.
“Supporting instrumental organizations within the community is part of who we are,” remarked Mark Fernandez, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Valley National Bank. “This partnership is a great opportunity for Valley to get more involved within the community we serve, while simultaneously helping the Community FoodBank, an incredible organization, achieve its’ mission.”
To demonstrate support, Valley employees attended the organization’s Food Service Training Academy Graduation (FSTA) on August 2nd.
About the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and the FSTA
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a member of Feeding America®, provides people across the state with food, help and hope. The FoodBank provided over 47 million meals last year through its more than 1,000 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs. For our neighbors, especially families, and for the volunteers and donors who support them, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful change agent that fills the emptiness caused by hunger with the basic human essentials people need to survive.
About Valley
Valley National Bancorp is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey with over $29 billion in assets. Its principal subsidiary, Valley National Bank, currently operates over 230 branch locations in northern and central New Jersey, the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, Florida and Alabama. Valley National Bank is one of the largest commercial banks headquartered in New Jersey and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest in product innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable staff with a high priority on friendly customer service. For more information about Valley National Bank and its products and services, please visit www.valleynationalbank.com or call our Customer Service Center at 800-522-4100.