Athletes at the Township of Ocean Intermediate School will benefit from the 2018 California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program. The cross country and track and field teams received $1,000 to help purchase uniforms for the growing program.
Applicant Lori Fornicola said having new, matching uniforms will increase school spirit and promote pride for participants. She is hoping to maintain a quality program for everyone who wishes to take part, despite budget cuts.
The school is one of five New Jersey Schools receiving a Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant this year. The others are Bellville High School, Cliffside Park School #3, Manchester Regional High School and Port Norris Middle School. The New Jersey schools shared $4,500 and are among 79 public middle schools and high schools in 32 states awarded a total of $83,000 to aid sports programs affected by tight budgets.
The grant is named for California Casualty Chairman Emeritus Tom Brown, an avid sportsman who believes that teamwork, confidence and sportsmanship help develop high achievers in academics and in life.
Since its inception in 2011, more than $660,000 has been awarded to some 600 schools across the nation.
“All students should have the opportunity to compete,” said Lisa Almeida, Assistant Vice President. “California Casualty’s 67 year commitment to educators and schools also reaches to athletic fields.”
Public middle and high schools in the Garden State with an unmet need for a sports program can try for next year; applications for the 2018/2019 California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grants are now being taken at www.calcasathleticsgrant.com. The deadline for consideration is January 15, 2019.
California Casualty has other initiatives that give back to educators for all their hard work including the “Wherever Your Journey Takes you…We’ll be there” sweepstakes for a chance to win a Dodge Journey, www.winajourney.com; $7,500 School Lounge Makeover®, www.schoolloungemakeover.com; and $200 Help Your Classroom grants,www.calcas.com/help-
