South Jersey Industries Announces Grant Recipients

South Jersey Industries (NYSE: SJI) has announced the recipients of the company’s bi-annual Social Investment Program grants awards. A total of eleven grants were awarded to a number of diverse New Jersey nonprofits, totaling nearly $70,000.

“South Jersey Industries is honored to provide financial assistance to this year’s deserving grant recipients,” said Michael J. Renna, President and CEO, South Jersey Industries. “Each nonprofit demonstrates a passion for the betterment of the communities they serve around the state, as well as the enrichment, education and support of its residents, regardless of age and circumstance. Their efforts are truly commendable – we are proud to partner with each organization and support them in their endeavors.”

The Fall 2017 recipients include (listed in alphabetical order below):

• CONTACT Cape Atlantic – providing telephone reassurance and community support for the elderly and disabled.
• Egg Harbor Township Police Activities/Athletic League – connecting children with positive role models through a variety of sports, arts and leadership programs.
• Habitat for Humanity Atlantic County – eliminating poverty or sub-standard housing in the community by working with families to obtain decent, affordable housing.
• Jersey Shore Children’s Museum – hands-on discovery center dedicated to stimulating curiosity and awareness in the areas of science, technology, history and culture.
• Junior Achievement of New Jersey – providing a series of business, economic and life-skills programs to inspire, prepare and enhance the education of young people in grades K-12.
• MudGirls Studios – empowering disadvantaged women towards self-sufficiency through training and employment opportunities and the creation of functional ceramic art.
• The Nature Conservancy – conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends across the nation, and for more than 60 years in New Jersey specifically.
• New Jersey Agricultural Society – preserving and enhancing agriculture, farming and related activities and businesses in New Jersey through educational, informational and promotional programs. Their Farmers Against Hunger program enables farmers throughout New Jersey to contribute their extra produce to those in need.
• Operation Homefront – building strong, stable and secure military families across the nation so that they may thrive in the communities they have worked hard to protect by providing programs and services that offer relief, resiliency and recurring family support to those in need.
• Volunteers of America Delaware Valley – providing community-based assistance to populations in need so that they can lead self-fulfilled, independent lives.
• Your Choice the People’s Choice / Community Harvester Church – providing litter abatement and cleaning services in Atlantic County; beautify the environment while creating permanent jobs, providing educational programming and offering volunteer and employment opportunities for local residents.

Each year through the Social Investment Program, SJI provides funding to qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that demonstrate the ability to positively impact communities, while addressing needs that align with the company’s four strategic pillars of social investment:

• Community Enrichment – improving quality of life through investments in the community to promote economic development, cultural appreciation and heritage resources.
• Environmental Stewardship – protecting our environment and natural resources through conservation, wildlife protection, environmental education and awareness programs.
• STEM and Vocational Career Development – encouraging and preparing students to pursue careers in STEM; eligible technical training with the potential to impact the utility/energy industry, job growth and development.
• Health and Social Services – providing access and financial support to improve the health and wellbeing of the elderly, developmentally and/or physically disabled, veterans and at-risk families, individuals and/or youth.

The applications received during this latest grant cycle were diverse and the selection process highly competitive. The selected pool of grant awardees represents nonprofit organizations that are either headquartered, based in and/or serving residents within the regions SJI and its subsidiaries serve.

The Social Investment Program will be offered again in the Spring of 2018 – applications will be accepted from February 1 to March 1, and the next round of award recipients will be announced in April. Program information, eligibility guidelines and applications are available on the South Jersey Industries website at www.sjindustries.com/community.

About South Jersey Industries:

South Jersey Industries (NYSE: SJI), an energy services holding company based in Folsom, NJ, delivers energy solutions to its customers through three primary subsidiaries. South Jersey Gas delivers safe, reliable, affordable natural gas and promotes energy efficiency to approximately 381,000 customers in southern New Jersey. SJI’s non-utility businesses within South Jersey Energy Solutions promote efficiency, clean technology and renewable energy by providing customized wholesale commodity marketing and fuel management services; acquiring and marketing natural gas and electricity for retail customers; and developing, owning and operating on-site energy production facilities. SJI Midstream is also an SJI subsidiary and houses the company’s interest in the PennEast Pipeline Project. Visit www.sjindustries.com for more information about SJI and its subsidiaries.