CIANJ honors 45 companies for philanthropic initiatives
Oak Ridge, N.J., March 27, 2019 – Lakeland Bank was honored by The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) and COMMERCE Magazine for its support of the Pass It Along (PIA) non-profit organization.
“We are honored to be recognized as a “Champion of Good Works” recipient for the support Lakeland provides to the Pass It Along organization,” said Thomas Shara, Lakeland Bank President and CEO. “The Bank has supported PIA for a decade, a nonprofit organization that helps teenagers with self-worth, through self-discovery, volunteerism and leadership programs.”
Lakeland Bank was recognized by CIANJ in the Helping Children category for its sponsorship and participation in PIA’s initiative to bring Challenge Day, a program that builds empathy and inspires a school-wide movement of compassion and positive change, to schools in Sussex County. More than 50 Lakeland colleagues volunteered at eight middle schools, and the program reached nearly 500 eighth grade students.
“These caring companies embody the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey’s mission to make the Garden State a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Anthony Russo, President of CIANJ.
CIANJ and COMMERCE Magazine recently hosted their seventh annual tribute to the kindness and generosity of the business community. Forty-five companies, including leading manufacturers, retailers, hospitals, banks and colleges and universities, were honored as “Champions of Good Works” at the gala reception, attended by more than 200 business executives.
CIANJ is a statewide business advocacy organization, representing more than 900 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 Nanina’s In the Park in Belleville.
About Lakeland Bank
Lakeland Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:LBAI), which has $6.3 billion in total assets. The Bank operates more than 50 branch offices throughout Bergen, Essex, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union counties in New Jersey including one branch in Highland Mills, New York; six New Jersey regional commercial lending centers in Bernardsville, Jackson, Montville, Newton, Teaneck and Waldwick; and one New York commercial lending center to serve the Hudson Valley region. Lakeland also has a commercial loan production office serving Middlesex and Monmouth counties in New Jersey. Lakeland Bank offers an extensive suite of financial products and services for businesses and consumers. Visit LakelandBank.com for more information.