Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 7 66 Jill Ocone for Law and Social Entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship, which is loosely defined as sustainable busi- ness solutions to many of society's seemingly intractable problems, wasn't a thing back then, or, to be JERSEY SHORE PROFILE THE JAY AND LINDA GRUNIN FOUNDATION, continued from page 65 Detail of the Mural Project at Simply Skin on Water Street in Toms River. honest, even a decade ago. Now, more and more students are thinking about making a positive social impact when choosing their career path. This is an emerging field, and we are only just beginning this journey of trans- forming the way law affects these social entrepreneurs." The Center is a trailblazer in social justice and edu- cation innovation and the very first center of its kind at a law school. Why The Jersey Shore? Jersey Shore roots run deep in the Grunin family, with Linda graduating from Long Branch High School after growing up in Monmouth County. Jay Grunin said, "Our entire married and professional life has been spent in Toms River. We've watched the Jersey Shore area become a place not just for tourists, but for year-round residents. For us, it means a place where you can establish your career, build your life and family, and enjoy the fun and culture that surrounds you." With the beaches, shopping, restaurants, downtown cultures, and proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, Jay Grunin points out that the Jersey Shore has everything one needs right here at home. Jeremy Grunin also holds his work here at the Jersey Shore close to his heart. "As successful as I was in my career, it was my volunteer time that was always most fulfilling. To now be able to do that with a larger percent- age of my time is an amazing and rare opportunity. To be able to that and still be able to work on a myriad of business ventures with my parents is a dream come true." Jeremy con- siders his position his dream job and is living his dream alongside his par- ents, his wife, Laura, and his children in his hometown of Toms River. What's Next? Earlier this year, the Jay and Linda Grunin Center announced that they have given $8 million to build a new facility for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School's Performing Arts Academy (PAA) on the grounds of Ocean County College's main campus in Toms River. Jay Grunin said, "The PAA is a project that helps bring together two of our most valuable partners. Both Ocean County College (OCC) and the Ocean County Vocational and Technical Schools (OCVTS) do such a great job not only getting our kids ready for the conventional college route, but also the alternate routes that avail themselves to those kids through the trades and special- ized certifications. Moreover, they already have a partnership built at OCC's Southern Campus, which also houses OCVTS's Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES)." Currently housed at Joint Base Lakehurst, PAA is a spe- cialized, four-year high school open to all students in Ocean County with a focus on the performing arts, including dance, music, and theatre. "The current Performing Arts Academy is housed on the Joint Base at Lakehurst. While this was a great fit at one time, it has become clear that the PAA has outgrown this space and needed to be given the opportunity to further grow. As one of two Blue Ribbon High Schools in the County, the other being MATES, we were keenly interested in seeing if we could do our part to help make this move a reality," said Jay Grunin. Once the new campus is finished, PAA students will have the opportu- nity to earn college credits alongside their high school courses and will graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree from Ocean County College. With its impact at the Jersey Shore growing by the day, one can only speculate what the next big announcement will be from the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation. No matter what it is, the Jersey Shore will undoubtedly become even better because of the vision and work of the Grunin family. u For more information: The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation 1027 Hooper Avenue, Building 1, Toms River, (732) 244-4010 www.jayandlindagruninfoundation.org Facebook: @gruninfoundation; Twitter: @ JLGrunin Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts Ocean County College, College Drive, Toms River, (732) 255-0500 www.grunincenter.org The Inspiration Boutique at the J. Phillip Citta Regional Care Center RWJBarnabas Community Medical Center, 99 Highway 37 West, Toms River, (732) 557-2317 www.barnabashealth.org/Community- Medical-Center/Our-Services/Cancer- Services/Social-Services/Inspiration- Boutique.aspx Fulfill NJ 3300 Route 66, Neptune, (732) 918-2600 Fulfill NJ - The B.E.A.T. Center, 1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River www.fulfillnj.org Protectors of Freedom Monument Bey Lea Park, at the corner of Bay and North Bay Avenues, Toms River Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship New York University School of Law, 40 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012; (212) 998-6100 www.law.nyu.edu/centers/grunin-social- entrepreneurship New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival www.njteenarts.com

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