Home Runs for Heroes is swinging back into action for its 17th Season! We’re teaming up again with the awesome Jersey Shore BlueClaws and 92.7 WOBM – Ocean County’s Best Variety to honor and provide support to the brave men and women who serve and protect our nation. In the past 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 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

We will select a maximum of 18 charity partners (2 per inning) for the Home Runs for Heroes program. We will prioritize the inclusion of the partners from the most recent season. If a spot(s) opens, we will select the nonprofit(s) that best demonstrate impact in meeting the emergency and basic needs of our heroes. 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 to apply for inclusion in the 2025 Home Runs for Heroes grant program. Please plan ahead – the deadline to apply is March 1, 2025 and we do not consider requests submitted after the deadline.

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 2025 season.

2025 Application Process – Stay tuned for the 2025 application – COMING SOON!