The Father Center of New Jersey Scores a Big Grant Win!

The Father Center of New Jersey received one of 41 grants from The Provident Bank Foundation to support its Bridge2Success® program.

During a gathering of nonprofit grant awardees on the tenth floor at The Provident Bank headquarters in Iselin, New Jersey, and with a dazzling view of a crisp blue autumn sky and colorful trees in the distance, The Father Center of New Jersey was awarded a two-year Empowerment Grant from The Provident Bank Foundation, providing $10,000 per year (a total of $20,000) to support its signature Bridges2Success® program. This generous investment comes amid a broader set of 41 multi-year grants totaling $515,000 that PBF is distributing across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for 2025 to support nonprofits aligned with workforce development, education, and human services.

Bridges2Success® is a cornerstone initiative of The Father Center of NJ, designed to provide men with high-level, nationally recognized certifications and essential job readiness skills. The program offers credentialing pathways such as ServSafe Food Handler, OSHA 10, welding, forklift operation, and basic life support / first aid. In addition to technical training, Bridges2Success® integrates job sampling, mentoring, and support structures to help participants map out a sustainable path toward more stable employment and increased income.

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Bryan Evans, the CEO of The Father Center of New Jersey sees this grant as an affirmation of their mission to empower fathers and men to raise their families with dignity and self-reliance. In remarks to stakeholders, Bryan noted that this funding will help scale key elements of the program—expanding access, reducing financial obstacles to certification, and deepening wraparound supports. With these enhanced resources, Bridges2Success® can reach more men who have faced barriers such as incarceration, unemployment, or underemployment.

From the perspective of The Provident Bank Foundation, the selection of The Father Center of NJ reflects its strategic priority to foster economic self-sufficiency and support reentry and workforce development initiatives. Vice President and Executive Director Samantha Plotino of The Provident Bank Foundation described, “The Empowerment Grant embodies our commitment to investing in organizations that are creating long-term, transformative change. We are proud to support The Father Center of New Jersey in their efforts to assist men who have been previously incarcerated or unemployed with mapping out a career path to support themselves and their families on their path to self-sufficiency.”

Karen McMullen, a Board Member at The Provident Bank Foundation stated, “I am thrilled so many people came to this event and we are so happy to give grants to so many organizations! This is very rewarding for us!”

Looking ahead, this funding will enable Bridges2Success® not only to sustain its current offerings but to innovate new supports—such as enhanced mentorship, job placement tracking, and connections with local employers. The Father Center of NJ anticipates that with this backing, more participants will complete credentialing, secure gainful employment, and in turn strengthen their financial footing and their families’ well-being.

To further support the efforts of The Father Center of New Jersey in empowering fathers and men to raise their families with dignity and self-reliance, please visit their website.