Since 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ) Soul Foundation has worked to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and hunger in communities across America. Through grant funding of local and national partner projects and creating sustainable programs, the JBJ Soul Foundation has helped provide funding for almost 1,000 units of affordable housing and shelter in 11 states and Washington D.C. for thousands of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and financial instability including youth and veterans.
Jon Bon Jovi, Board Chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation spoke about the early stages of development for the Foundation, “If we can bring back a street, we bring back a neighborhood, a neighborhood perhaps brings back a town, and in that case, it was Philadelphia,” Jon Bon Jovi said. He continued, “That began the journey in homelessness, because I realized that it could affect anyone and everyone at any time.”
The Foundation expanded its mission in 2011 to address issues of food insecurity and currently operates two JBJ Soul Kitchen community restaurants in Red Bank and Toms River, NJ, both serving around 60% in-need patrons in 2022. We are proud that our JBJ Soul Kitchen locations have also been recognized as Tripadvisor as 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winners. The organization recently celebrated the grand reopening of JBJ Soul Kitchen, located on the Rutgers University-Newark campus, in partnership with Gourmet Dining, the first on a college campus. Due to the rising cost of food and increase of food insecurity amongst college students, Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi made it their mission that no student be left hungry.
“I wanted a restaurant where there were no barriers to eating a delicious restaurant-styled meal,” said Dorothea Bongiovi, Founder and Program Director of JBJ Soul Kitchen. “It’s not a pay what you want or pay what you can model, we ask those who are unable to afford a donation to spend time with us, volunteer, and help around the restaurant. The paying customers can then come with their family and eat the same three-course meal and pay-it-forward to offset the cost of those who cannot afford to pay for their own meal,” Bongiovi said.
Please consider joining us in our mission by giving the “Gift of Giving” this holiday season. By donating to the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, you are directly helping your community and neighbors who are in-need. Help brighten someone’s holiday and effect change … one SOUL at a time.
For more information, please visit jbjsf.org and jbjsoulkitchen.org.
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