(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)March 28, 2018

MAHWAH, N.J. – Ramapo College of New Jersey was recognized for its volunteer efforts when the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) and COMMERCE Magazine recently hosted their Fifth Annual Chairman’s Reception – paying tribute to the kindness and generosity of the business community.

The College’s Roadrunners Give Back initiative – a year-round student-athlete volunteer program — was among the thirty-nine entities, including leading manufacturers, retailers, hospitals, banks and colleges and universities, who were honored as “Champions of Good Works” at the gala reception, attended by more than 200 business executives.

“At Ramapo, our student-athletes excel on and off the field. It gives many of us great pride to celebrate their academic achievement, to cheer them on at sporting events, and to boast about the impressive range of their civic and community service,” said Peter P. Mercer, President of Ramapo College.

Organized by the College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), athletes – nearly 350 in all — from each of the 20 men’s and women’s teams have participated in a wide range of community service activities for 20 years. Among those volunteer efforts: student-athletes held “Tacos for Texas and Florida” with other student organizations and collected $6,000 for hurricane relief victims; they held an on-campus event that raised $3,230 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; and each team donated and distributed Thanksgiving baskets to the Mahwah Center for Food Action for families in need.

In 2016-17, teams contributed in the collection of more than 10,800 canned food items that were distributed to food pantries by the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s “Cans Across the Conference” initiative; the annual Ramathon “For the Kids” raised $800 for Children’s Specialized Hospital; and athletes collected, wrapped and distributed hundreds of toys for the annual holiday Toys for Tots drive in conjunction with the Mahwah Police Department. For the past three years, Ramapo athletes hosted a Special Olympics event on campus and have already scheduled a date for 2018. They participated in the 2017 Relay for Life which raised more than $40,000 last spring for cancer research.

“For most of the companies that we are honoring tonight, their generosity and kindness is part of their culture,” said Anthony Russo, president of CIANJ. “The public is often unaware of the magnitude and scope of these good works. This reception is our way of shining a spotlight on ‘Companies that Care,’” Russo added.

CIANJ is a statewide business advocacy organization, representing more than 950 corporate members from every industry sector. The organization asked the business community to share stories of its philanthropy. Their stories became a special section of the March issue of COMMERCE Magazine that was distributed at the reception, which was held at the elegant Nanina’s In the Park in Belleville.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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