PACF’S NextGen Giving Circle Awards Grants
The NextGen Giving Circle of the Princeton Area Community Foundation awarded $25,000 in grants to three local nonprofits that work to break the cycle of domestic violence, help teen girls succeed and assist families in need.
The Giving Circle is comprised of mostly young philanthropists — anyone is welcome to join, but most members are Gen Z and Millennials — who make donations to the NextGen Giving Circle Fund. Then once a year, they review proposals and make grant recommendations.
The Giving Circle allows the younger donors to learn about nonprofits doing great work in our communities, while making donations on either an annual or monthly basis.
It was created in 2017, and since then, it has awarded two dozen grants totaling $182,500 to local nonprofits.
“The NextGen Giving Circle provides an opportunity for young people to become philanthropists and make a meaningful difference in our communities,” said Jeremy Perlman, founder of the Giving Circle. “Through this fund, our members have been able to support terrific nonprofits that are doing wonderful work in our region.”
The NextGen Giving Circle is a fund at the Community Foundation, an organization created in 1991 to help donors effectively give to the causes they care about most. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $200 million in grants, including $15.5 million last year.
This year’s NextGen Giving Circle grants were awarded to:
Womanspace, Lawrence, $10,000 for its Stopping Intergenerational Violence Through Comprehensive Children’s Services program; it provides children with therapy, tools, and resources to help ensure they do not move into adulthood with trauma that often turns the abused into the abuser. The children in the program have a parent who is a Womanspace client. Those parents also receive services to help ensure their children are less likely to experience abuse or neglect.
Dress for Success Central NJ, based in Lawrence, $10,000, for its Dress for Success Business Academy at Trenton Central High School; The job readiness program teaches 11th and 12th grade girls life skills and provides them with clothing needed for their next steps — college, vocational training or employment.
Arm In Arm, with headquarters in Hamilton, $5,000, for its Arm In Arm: All Communities Thrive program. The Trenton-based program — which grew out of the Community Foundation’s All Kids Thrive program, serves families, including recent immigrants whose needs are deep and complex. Arm In Arm provides food and housing assistance, but the organization also connects families with other critical resources to help them thrive.
To learn more or to become a member, visit www.pacf.org or contact Michael Nuno, vice president of philanthropic services, at 609-219-1800.
Lincoln Equities Shows Strong Lease Activity
Lincoln Equities Group (LEG), a regional owner, manager, and developer of commercial real estate, has signed renewals and long-term leases totaling 205,264 square feet at its properties across the Tri-State area, signaling the market’s resurgence and strong activity in key industry sectors including life sciences and manufacturing.
“Lease activity across our office portfolio has remained incredibly strong and steadfast this year,” said Lance Bergstein, CEO of Lincoln Equities Group. “Our strategic locations across New York and New Jersey, coupled with our commitment to executing on capital improvements that ensure we’re providing state-of-the-art facilities have been instrumental in our ability to attract a diverse range of long-term tenants. We look forward to continuing to foster our relationships with tenants and supporting the growth of these companies within our properties.”
At the Princeton West Innovation Campus, a 433-acre, 1.2 million-square-foot campus in Hopewell, LEG has seen strong growth for leasing in the life sciences industry. Most notably, GenScript ProBio — a New Jersey-based biotech company — signed a 127,000 square-foot long-term lease for space that will be used for research, development and manufacturing.
At this same property, BeiGene is nearing completion on a new 450,000 square-foot biomanufacturing, R&D and office complex. JLL, the exclusive leasing broker for this property, is currently marketing three build-to-suit aseptic/specialty manufacturing opportunities (ranging from 80,000-150,000 square feet), a 56,000-square feet shell research and development building ready for tenant fit-out and 250,000 square feet of available office space.
The nearby Princeton Forrestal Village, a mixed-use 550,000-square-foot campus located in Plainsboro Township, also saw activity in the office sector. CHDI, a nonprofit biomedical research organization, renewed its lease of 19,308 square feet for the next 10 years. Regus, a leader in co-working and flexible workplace solutions, renewed its lease of 23,254 square feet for the next five years.
This property also saw additional activity with a lease renewal from Fusion Academy, which offers customized education for middle and high school students, and several new tenants including Pulte Homes, ProFit Sports, and Hope Restored.
“Our leasing activity this year is a clear indicator of the trust and confidence our tenants have in us,” said Ken Flynn, senior director of leasing at Lincoln Equities Group. “Our focus on quality assets in desirable locations has enabled us to attract high-caliber tenants, and we are excited about the economic growth these leases will bring to the communities we serve.”
For more information, visit: www.lincolnequities.com.
