The 16th season of Home Runs for Heroes was a grand slam! Working with our partners at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and 92.7 WOBM – Ocean County’s Best Variety – we raised a whopping $68,000 to honor and provide support to our Veterans and the brave men and women who serve and protect our nation. In the sixteen years of the program, $696,000 has been awarded to help our heroes. A big WIN!

Who May Apply

We consider requests for inclusion in the Home Runs for Heroes Program from nonprofits (501c3) that meet the emergency and basic needs of veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces. Applicants must demonstrate a significant level of service and impact within OceanFirst Foundation’s central and southern New Jersey footprint – Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, and Union counties. Applicants from outside this footprint must contact the Foundation to be screened for eligibility prior to submitting a request.  Additional grant eligibility requirements may be found here.

New Applicants

Inquiries to the Foundation are welcome and nonprofits that have not previously been included in Home Runs for Heroes should call 732-341-4676 to be screened before applying.

Grant Deadline

There is only one opportunity window each year to apply for inclusion in the Home Runs for Heroes grant program. The deadline was March 1, 2024. Please check back in February 2025 for details on how to apply for the 17th season.

Grant Awards

Each participating charity is assigned an inning at the beginning of the season. Each home run hit at ShoreTown Ballpark during the season by the Jersey Shore BlueClaws during the charity’s assigned inning scores a $1,000 donation. The total amount awarded to each charity partner will be determined at the conclusion of the season and is based on the total of home runs hit during their assigned inning. For example, if Charity A is assigned the 1st inning and 5 home runs are scored in the 1st inning…$5,000 is donated at the end of the season to Charity A – $1,000 per home run. If no home runs are scored during the charity partner’s assigned inning, a donation of $1,000 will be provided.

Grants awarded must be used to meet the emergency and basic needs of veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces and a Use of Funds report will be required at the conclusion of the grant period.

Application Status

Organizations that submit an application by the deadline will be notified of the decision on their request prior to the start of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws season.

2025 Application Process