Advancing Opportunities, Inc., Receives $10,000 Grant from Oritani Bank

Township of Washington, N.J. (February 18, 2015) – The OritaniBank Charitable Foundation recently granted $10,000 to Advancing Opportunities, Inc., a non-profit corporation located in Ewing, NJ, whose mission is to enhance the lives of people with all disabilities and enable full participation in society through advocacy, direct services and education. The funds will be allocated to the corporation’s Northeastern office, located in Little Falls, NJ.

The Northeastern office currently provides a variety of services helping the advancement of people with disabilities, including Assistive Technology through the use of a mobile unit and technician. Using a customized Ford F-350 truck, a technician travels in their assigned area to homes and schools of those with physical or financial disabilities that may limit their access to transposition. This program will repair or build solutions to overcome obstacles for the individual in need. Last year the Northeastern mobile unit made 103 calls serving Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties.

“Advancing Opportunities is grateful to OritaniBank Charitable Foundation for this very generous award,” said Chief Executive Officer Jack M. Mudge. “With increasing funds toward our new mobile service unit, we will be able to better help our agency deliver assistive technology services to people with disabilities where they live, work and learn.” “It is part of our agency’s mission to ensure individuals with disabilities have the tools and support they need to live as independently as they can. We welcome Oritani Bank as an ally in our efforts and commend its commitment to making the communities it serves accessible for all,” he continued.

“Thanks to Advancing Opportunities, many children and adults with disabilities will now enjoy a wide variety of family support services,” said Kevin J. Lynch, President of the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation and Chairman, President and CEO of Oritani Bank. “We are proud to do our part and provide the necessary funding to support independence for people with disabilities.”

Advancing Opportunities, Inc. will extend the use of the grant to help offset the $35,000 cost of a new mobile unit for its Northeastern office’s Assistive Technology Services Department in Little Falls. These special vehicles are workshops on wheels, outfitted with a variety of tools and hardware that rehabilitation technologists use to create custom accommodations for people with disabilities. The technicians can make an assessment and take measurements, fabricate the accommodation, and install and tweak it all in one visit.

About OritaniBank Charitable Foundation:

Oritani Bank established the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation in 2007 to assist not-for-profit organizations that help to improve the quality of life for area residents, especially those members of its communities most in need. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than $5 million to local charitable organizations, primarily in support of education, health and human services, youth programs and affordable housing.

About Oritani Bank:

Oritani Bank is a 103-year-old community bank with 25 branches and more than $3 billion in assets, based in the Township of Washington, New Jersey. Oritani Bank is a publicly held company trading on the NASDAQ with the trading symbol “ORIT.” Oritani Bank offers a full line of deposit and loan services to both retail and commercial customers. For more information, call 888-ORITANI, or visit its website, www.oritani.com.

About Advancing Opportunities:

Advancing Opportunities is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Ewing, New Jersey. Growing for 65 years, now with four regional locations across New Jersey and over 300 employees, Advancing Opportunities is one of the leaders in disability services. For more information, call toll free 888-322-1918, or visit its website, http://www.cpofnj.org/