The New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) is proud to announce that the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey (ELFNJ), the nonprofit arm of NJSBA, has received a $2,500 grant from the FirstEnergy Foundation to support programs that advance student learning, leadership development, and innovative educational opportunities.
The FirstEnergy Foundation is dedicated to strengthening the communities it serves through strategic investments in education, workforce development, environmental stewardship, and community vitality. This grant reflects the foundation’s continued commitment to supporting initiatives that prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed for future success.
Funding will enable the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey to further its mission of expanding access to hands-on learning experiences and programs that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem solving among New Jersey students.
Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA Executive Director, is excited about the opportunity that the grant provides. “We are extremely grateful to the FirstEnergy Foundation for this generous investment in the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey. Partnerships like this are transformative for boards and the students we serve,” he said. “I also want to commend Jennifer Siehl for her leadership and dedication in cultivating relationships that make opportunities like this possible. Her work continues to elevate our foundation’s impact and advance our shared mission of supporting student achievement throughout New Jersey.”
ELFNJ plays a vital role in securing philanthropic resources that enhance educational programming aligned with NJSBA’s mission to advance the achievement of all public-school students and support effective governance by local boards of education. Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy’s President for New Jersey, believes that aligning with ELFNJ and NJSBA can produce great outcomes.
“Supporting the NJ School Boards Association and Educational Leadership Foundation of NJ today supports our communities tomorrow and into the future,” Mokoid said. “Electricity is the lifeblood of our communities and today’s students are the lifeblood of tomorrow’s economy. Ensuring that this next generation has all the tools they need in their education will keep New Jersey a great place to live, work and raise a family in the years to come.”
Through partnerships with organizations like the FirstEnergy Foundation, NJSBA and ELFNJ continue to expand opportunities that enrich student experiences and strengthen school communities throughout New Jersey.
