JERSEY CITY, NJ —
July 02, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
The awards, announced at an afternoon tea fundraiser, support students who completed K-12 in the district.
Last Sunday, a room full of proud parents, educators, and community members gathered for an afternoon tea. The tablecloths were white. The teacups clinked. And ten teenagers, fresh from walking the stage at their Jersey City public high schools, each received a check for $1,000.
The Jersey City Public Schools Foundation, a nonprofit that has been quietly supporting local education for years, handed out its annual scholarships. For the students, the money is more than a gift. It’s a signal that their community sees them, believes in them, and wants them to succeed.
What exactly happened
The foundation hosted a fundraising tea on Sunday, June 9. During the event, they awarded $1,000 scholarships to 10 students who graduated from the Jersey City Public School District last month. The money can be used for tuition, books, supplies, or any costs tied to their next step — whether that’s a four-year university, a community college, or a trade program.
Sarah Komar, a reporter for the Jersey City Times, broke the story. The foundation itself is not a large, flashy organization. It operates quietly, raising money from local donors and businesses, and then reinvesting it directly into the district’s students.
How we got here
The Jersey City Public Schools Foundation has been around for years, but it doesn’t make headlines often. This year, they chose to hold the scholarship announcement at a tea fundraiser — a low-key, personal event where donors could meet the students and hear their plans. The idea is to build relationships, not just cut checks.
The scholarships are part of a broader effort to support students who stay in Jersey City’s public schools from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. The foundation sees these graduates as proof that the district can produce college-ready, career-ready young people.
That matters because Jersey City, like many urban districts, faces challenges. Budgets are tight. Class sizes can be large. But programs like this one offer a counter-narrative: the district also produces talented, determined students who go on to do great things.
What it means for Hudson County
For families in Jersey City, news of these scholarships is a quiet relief. A thousand dollars won’t cover a full semester at most colleges. But for a family that’s been saving for years, it can buy textbooks for a year. Or cover the gap between financial aid and tuition. Or pay for a laptop that a student needs for classes.
Think about a parent packing their kid’s lunch on a school morning, wondering how they’ll afford the first semester. Or a student checking their phone after school, hoping for good news about a scholarship. These awards are a small but real answer to that worry.
For the larger community, the scholarships are a reminder that investing in local students pays off. Every dollar raised by the foundation stays in Jersey City. It supports kids who grew up on the same streets, rode the same buses, and sat in the same classrooms as their neighbors.
What people are saying
The foundation didn’t issue a long press release. Instead, they let the event speak for itself. In a statement, representatives said the scholarships are intended to “recognize and reward our district’s hardworking students.”
One parent, speaking to a reporter after the tea, described the moment her daughter’s name was called. “I couldn’t stop smiling,” she said. “It’s not just the money. It’s that someone out there sees how hard she worked.”
The students themselves are typical of Jersey City’s diversity — some are first-generation college-goers, others are children of immigrants, many have held part-time jobs while keeping up their grades.
What comes next
The foundation plans to continue fundraising throughout the summer and fall. They’ll host additional events and accept donations online. Families who want to support the scholarship program can follow the foundation’s updates on social media or contact them through the district’s website.
For the 10 scholarship winners, the next few months are about packing for college, registering for classes, and saying goodbyes. But thanks to that Sunday tea, they’re also carrying a little bit less financial burden — and a lot more community pride.
Source: Jersey City Times
