“Lucky to Have You”
Volunteer Appreciation Party

“Lucky to Have You” the theme of our
2022 Volunteer Appreciation Party, was especially fitting after JBJ Soul Kitchen navigated through the challenges that were brought with the COVID-19 pandemic.

We were able to celebrate our volunteers in person for all of their dedicated work over the years.

Without our volunteers, our JBJ Soul Kitchen mission would not be possible.

JBJ Soul Kitchen Founder,
Dorothea Bongiovi
receives NJ State Proclamiation

Our staff was incredibly proud to present Founder and Program Director of
JBJ Soul Kitchen, Dorothea Bongiovi,
with a NJ State Proclamation, honoring
all of her contributions as a visionary
for JBJ Soul Kitchen.

A special thank you to the First Lady of New Jersey, Tammy Murphy, for presenting Dorothea with this much-deserved award.

JBJ Soul Kitchen Celebrates
“Day of Hope Community Walk”

JBJ Soul Kitchen was thrilled to bring back our “Day of Hope Community Walk” this year. “The walk is a celebration of the many non-profits and service providers that work in and around the area, serving those in need in many ways,” said Dorothea Bongiovi, who spoke about the need for all local non-profits in the Red Bank area to work together. “It is not about duplicating existing programs, but integrating.”

Over 20 community partners were represented as well, including Pilgrim Baptist Church with whom JBJ Soul Foundation partners to run the Hope & Comfort Center during Code Blue nights.

Help Philadelphia VI

JBJ Soul Foundation joined HELP USA in celebration of the Grand Opening of the Brigadier General Hazel Johnson Brown Veterans Center at HELP Philadelphia VI.

HELP USA transformed unused Reynolds School into 55 apartments and support space for seniors, people with disabilities, and homeless veterans.

Construction was provided by local, state, and federal partners and through generous contributions from the philantrhopic world including lead funder, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.

5th Annual Mulligans for Meals Outing

Our 5th Annual Mulligans for Meals Golf Outing was held on Monday, June 13 at new venue, Hominy Hill Golf Course. We are so grateful to our sponsors and golfers who made this day so memorable and fun.

A very special thank you to everyone who participated in our Golf Outing, presented by Island Records and Ray Catena, The Legend in Luxury. Together, with your support, we were able to raise a significant amount of money, which will be used to continue JBJ Soul Kitchen’s mission to help alleviate hunger.

Together, with your support, we were able
to raise a significant amount of money.
This will be used to continue JBJ Soul Kitchen’s mission and feed community patrons.

Jon Bon Jovi’s Masterpiece:
Inside the JBJ Soul Kitchen

The 10th Annual Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy took place in New York City on September 23, 2022. This annual event brought together over 100 of the world’s leading philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and business leaders for critical discussions on how to apply wealth and resources to solve today’s most intractable problems.

Forbes invited Jon Bon Jovi, Board Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ) Soul Foundation and Dorothea Bongiovi, Founder & Program Director of JBJ Soul Kitchen, to speak in a fireside chat discussion. This year’s summit focused on one particular challenge – global food insecurity, an issue that our mission is built upon, as we continue the fight to break the cycle of poverty, hunger and homelessness…one SOUL at a time.

JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River
Celebrates 7th Annual Chili Cook-Off

The JBJ Soul Kitchen 7th Annual Chili Cook-Off, presented by Vydia, was celebrated in Toms River on Sunday, October 16. This annual event honors and thanks local first responders for their dedicated service to our community. After two years of postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to host 11 participating first responders and over 300 attendees. For a $20 Pay It Forward donation, guests were given the opportunity to taste all of the featured chili entries and vote for their favorite.

Union Beach Police Department’s “Momma’s Blue Line Chili” took home first place, Six Flags EMS took second place, and NJ State Police-Holmdel took third place. Healthy, seasonal appetizers created by Executive Chef Rob Wood were available for all guests. Entertainment was provided by Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation, free children’s activities were provided by Home Run Party Entertainment, and we also hosted a Food Drive for Fulfill’s People’s Pantry, which brought in over 500 pounds of food.

Celebrating Grand Reopening of
JBJ Soul Kitchen Rutgers-University

Celebrated the grand reopening of JBJ Soul Kitchen RU-N, which fights food insecurity on the Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) campus through donations and volunteer service.

In partnership with RU-N and campus food service provider, Gourmet Dining, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation opened a restaurant at RU-N in January of 2020, its third since establishing JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank and Toms River, and the first on a college campus. But until this semester, the RU-N site hadn’t been fully operational since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Soldier On’s Gordon H. Mansfield
Veterans Community in Tewksbury, MA

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation partnered with The New England Patriots Foundation, in a matching grant to support Soldier On’s Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community.

Soldier On is dedicated to providing and coordinating an extensive continuum of housing and support services for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

JBJ Soul Kitchen is Recognized as
Community Partner Kindness Honorees

Community Coordinator Joanne Gwin and Executive Chef Rob Wood of JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River were honored to be recognized as Community Partner Kindness Honorees during the “Step Into The Spotlight” Soiree and Talent Competition, presented by the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation.

General Manager Lou Morreale, also had the pleasure of being a guest judge during the competition. We are so proud of this team, and grateful to have AOK as one of our community partners.

Soul Family Thanksgiving

We were so grateful to host our Soul Family Thanksgiving at JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank and Toms River.

It was wonderful to bring our community back together, to sit down for a delicious meal. Our guest were provided a dinner to take home to enjoy.

Emergency Home Repair
on the Shinnecock Nation

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation helped fund Hamptons Community Outreach with a grant in support of Emergency Home Repair on the Shinnecock Indian Nation, one of the oldest self-governing tribes in the State of New York.

This project addresses urgent housing conditions, including black toxic mold infestation, houses without heating systems, rotted roofs, housing without hot water heaters, and houses with broken windows, doors and without proper flooring. This grant is expected to repair at least four homes on the reservation.