On April 27, 2012, the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation awarded a $12,000 grant to Northeast NJ Legal Services’ (NNJLS) Domestic Violence Representation Project in Bergen County.

Headquartered in Jersey City, the 501c3 organization serves Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties with a mission to provide legal services to the underserved in those counties. The Domestic Violence Representation Project is just one of the organization’s many legal assistance services, helping victims of domestic violence, preserving custody of minor children, and offering financial support.

“With state funding for Northeast NJ Legal Services being cut this year, we felt our support was more critical than ever,” said Kevin J. Lynch, President of the OriitaniBank Charitable Foundation and Chairman, President and CEO of Oritani Bank. “Our grant last year to support their Domestic Violence Representation Project provided invaluable assistance to 10 Bergen County women as well as providing educational workshops or 50 more. We’re proud of the fact that this year’s grant will assist at least 15 women in need.”

NNJLS, a 40-year old organization, provides a broad array of free, high-quality legal services, specializing primarily in Housing, Family, Public Benefits, and Consumer law matters for low income, disabled and vulnerable citizens. Its stated mission is to assure that access to the civil justice system is not denied to people in need simply because they cannot afford a private attorney. For more information about NNJLS, visit www.lsnj.org/nnjls.

Oritani Bank established the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation in 2007 to assist not-for-profit organizations that help to improve the quality of life for area residents, especially those members of its’ communities most in need. Since its inception the Foundation has donated more than $3 million to local charitable organizations, primarily in support of education, health & human services, youth programs, and affordable housing. Oritani Bank is a 101-year-old community bank with over $2.8 billion in assets, based in the Township of Washington, New Jersey. Oritani Bank is a publicly held company trading on the NASDAQ with the trading symbol “ORIT.” Oritani Bank offers a full line of deposit and loan services to both retail and commercial customers. For more information, call 888-ORITANI, or visit their website, www.oritani.com.