BUSINESS BRIEFS

Rook Coffee has announced that its second annual Rook Run held on Oct. 11 raised over $175,000 to support The Valerie Fund, a nonprofit organization that specializes in providing comprehensive health care for children with cancer and blood disorders.

The Valerie Fund provides a complete level of care to more than 4,000 children at their centers, including The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

Businesses supported the Rook Run through monetary sponsorships, donating goods and services as well as attending as vendors. Twenty businesses attended the Rook Run Marketplace to support The Valerie Fund.

After the run, an awards ceremony took place at the amphitheater stage. Victor Vientos of New York was the first male to cross the finish line, while Chelsea Bollerman of Little Silver was the first female to cross.

Provident Bank took part in the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth & Middlesex Counties Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser. Three Provident Bank teams that participated raised $4,115 for the organization.

As a 2015 “Mentor Maker” sponsor, Provident Bank also donated $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth & Middlesex Counties.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth & Middlesex Counties’ mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported relationships that change their lives for the better. For more information, visit www.bbbsmmc.org.

United Methodist Homes of New Jersey Foundation announced Samuel B. Preston was recently elected the chair of its Board of Trustees.

Preston is an adjunct professor of business ethics at the Stern School of Business at New York University and has over 35 years of experience in banking and consulting in the U.S. and abroad.

He most recently held positions at Rabobank, N.A. in Netherlands and Chase Manhattan Bank and Salomon Brothers in New York.

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