Ridgewood Foundation Receives $1K Grant from Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo brought together non-profits and community groups from across its North Jersey region Oct. 30 to distribute $140,000 in Community Connection grants.

Ridgewood’s Wiffle for Cancer Foundation received a Community Connection grant, which was established to give local store managers an opportunity to make a $1,000 charitable contribution on behalf of Wells Fargo to a non-profit of their choice.

Wiffle for Cancer was started after 19-year-old Ridgewood resident Nick Currey lost his battle to Ewing sarcoma, a cancer of the bone, in 2005.

The grants were distributed at a special breakfast held at the East Hanover Marriott in Whippany. This was the first and largest Wells Fargo community giving event held in the Northeast region.

“We use this occasion to celebrate and acknowledge our local non-profits who provide critical services to New Jersey residents,” said Fred Bertoldo, Wells Fargo’s Northern New Jersey regional president. “Each non-profit makes a huge impact in a small way and we appreciate all they do. We hope these grants will help them to fulfill their missions of addressing needs in their communities.”

The $1,000 grants went to non-profits who provide services in the areas of community development, education, human services, arts and culture, environmental and civic projects. Wells Fargo says it has always believed that giving back to the people and organizations in the communities it serves is important, according to a statement.

In 2013, the Wells Fargo Foundation awarded $6 million to nonprofits and schools through corporate and foundation giving. New Jersey team members also volunteered 28,727 hours.

Nationally, Wells Fargo is one of the top 10 corporate givers in the U.S. In 2013, Wells Fargo invested $275.5 million in 18,500 nonprofits, marking the fifth consecutive year of more than $200 million in total annual corporate giving.