OceanFirst Bank has awarded a grants totaling $4,000 Phoenix Productions, the Red-Bank based community theatre organization. The awards are to assist with the 2013 show season, which will be presented at the Count Basie theatre starting in April.

            Phoenix Productions was granted $3,000 by OceanFirst to assist in underwriting the cost of live orchestras for musical theatre performances in 2013 at the Count Basie Theatre.

            OceanFirst also posted a challenge to see which community organization could get the most Facebook followers to post about their organization. Phoenix Productions was awarded the winning title after dozens of Facebook followers posted about the non-profit.

            “The support of our friends and fans was overwhelming.” Phoenix President Lindsay Wood stated, “There were dozens of organizations vying for the $1,000 Good Neighbor Grant, and our organization having had the most participants post on the OceanFirst Facebook page serves as a reflection upon how many people feel that they are a part of the Phoenix family and how important we are to them.”

OceanFirst Foundation has a strong commitment to assisting the community and building its autonomy. Knowing that sometimes needs can be met with assistance from other community businesses, OceanFirst began their Good Neighbor Grant Program, which provides community organizations with grants of up to $5,000.

            Phoenix Productions is a non-profit, award-winning community theatre organization that has brought more than 100 revivals of hit Broadway musicals to central New Jersey’s eager audiences since 1987.