(Hackensack, New Jersey; August 29, 2022) — The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation’s The DeAnna Stark Pasciuto Memorial Fund awarded a grant of $4,000 to Stockton University Foundation in Galloway, New Jersey. The NNJCF’s grant supports the DeAnna Stark Pasciuto ’01 Memorial Scholarship to award to a student attending Stockton University and also provides funds to the woman’s soccer team.
The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization based in Hackensack, New Jersey. The foundation focuses primarily on the arts, civic engagement, education, the environment, philanthropy, and public health.
The NNJCF’s The DeAnna Stark Pasciuto Memorial Fund presented its third scholarship to Stockton University Foundation. Brooke Wasco, a native of Marlton currently residing in Absecon, New Jersey, received the $2,000 award. Wasco, who graduated summa cum laude in 2020 with a bachelor of science degree in health science from Stockton University, is a third year student pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), with an expected graduation date of May 2023.
Wasco has held several leadership positions. Currently, she is class representative for the DPT Class of 2023 and student representative for Stockton DPT CAPTE. She is also a graduate assistant in anatomy and kinesiology and event coordinator for the Physical Therapy Club E-board.
In addition, this busy graduate student undertook several volunteer and community service activities, serving as Musculoskeletal Course Lab Assistant, participating in the Stockton University Goals Gear Up Program, and joining as a Simulation Lab Volunteer. With DPT, she assumed the positions of Accepted Students Event Representative, assistant with the Program Orientation, Notetaker, and Food Drive Coordinator. She also volunteered with Special Olympics in Unified Sports.
Wasco explained the NNJCF’s DeAnna Stark Pasciuto ’01 Memorial Scholarship allows her to complete the DPT program and enter the profession. “As I near the end of my academic journey, I will have to make many financial decisions. Having the honor of being granted this scholarship will lessen this year’s economic burden and allow for a smoother transition into professional practice. Furthermore, the generosity of the donors is deeply inspiring and motivates me to push through the difficult times,” she said.
The remainder of the grant assists the Stockton University women’s soccer team. The team will attend a team tournament trip to North Carolina Wesleyan College from September 9 through September 11, 2022. They won the ECAC Championship and finished fourth in the NJAC and eighth in the region last year. This year, they hold their season opener on the road playing St. Joe’s College on Long Island, New York.
Honoring DeAnna Stark Pasciuto
The NNJCF fund honors the spirit of DeAnna Stark Pasciuto by awarding scholarships and grants to provide comfort and joy to others, while serving as a reminder of the power of life. Stark Pasciuto, who passed away from cancer on January 15, 2018, grew up New Jersey in Ledgewood in Roxbury Township and Morris Plains and lived with her husband and children in Wayne.
The donor advised fund remembers her and contributes to qualified charitable organizations for cancer research, families touched by cancer, and scholarships for student-athletes looking to pursue medical careers to dedicate their lives by helping others. Scholarship recipients are full-time graduate students in good academic standing holding a minimum, cumulative 3.5 grade point average.
DeAnna Stark Pasciuto attended Stockton University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. Sports were an integral part of her activities. While a student at the university, she was a stellar defender on its women’s soccer team.
Foundation Serves Northern New Jersey
For nearly 25 years, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation offers a comprehensive menu of philanthropic opportunities. The NNJCF provides donors with flexible, efficient, and tax-effective ways to ensure their charitable giving has maximum impact through various types of funds, tax-saving annuities, and trust options.
“Establishing a donor advised fund is like opening a personal account for charitable giving. Donors have flexibility and input into the causes, issues and/or nonprofit organizations they wish to support. They can receive tax benefits, such as receiving an immediate income tax deduction in the year the contribution is made to the donor advised fund,” said Danielle De Laurentis, Associate Director, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.
Continue DeAnna Stark Pasciuto’s Legacy
The public can continue DeAnna Stark Pasciuto’s legacy with a donation in her memory. Donations are tax-deductible, as permitted by law, and may be made online at https://www.nnjcf.org/cause-
For further information about the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, visit the organization’s website at www.nnjcf.org. To establish a donor advised fund, make a contribution to the NNJCF, get involved in its work, or for other inquiries, contact nnjcf@nnjcf.org or call 201-568-5608.
About Northern New Jersey Community Foundation
Founded in 1998, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF), a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Hackensack, New Jersey, focuses primarily on the arts, civic engagement, education, the environment, philanthropy, and public health. The NNJCF works with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups in Northern New Jersey to improve community life. The Foundation’s partners identify and resolve regional problems and opportunities by talking and learning from each other and sharing ideas, best practices, services, and resources.
For more information, visit www.nnjcf.org, send an email to nnjcf@nnjcf.org, or call (201) 568-5608. Follow the NNJCF on Facebook at Northern NJ Community Foundation/ArtsBergen, Instagram at nnjcf_artsbergen, LinkedIn, Twitter @NNJCF and YouTube.
