State bankers association to be honored at April 21 event

The Coast Star
Friday, March 18, 2016

Two of the honorees at the 2016 Coastal Habitat for Humanity Hearts and Hammers event are Michael Affuso [left], executive vice president and director of government relations, New Jersey Bankers’ Association, and John McWeeney, president and chief executive officer, New Jersey Bankers’ Association.

NJBA chosen to receive Golden HammerAward by Coastal Habitat for Humanity
BY BRIAN HARRIS
THE COAST STAR

SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS — On Thursday, April 21, Coastal Habitat for Humanity will be hosting their second-annual  Hearts and Hammers event  at the Manasquan Golf Club.
The event is a way for the organization to honor people  and organizations that have  supported Coastal Habitat  for Humanity over the years  as well as to raise funds for  its programs.
The 2016 honorees are:  Neptune Township Committeeman Randy Bishop, who is  receiving the Golden Heart  Founders Award for out- standing individual leadership;  Star News Group, which  will be receiving the Golden  Hardhat Award for supporting major Coastal Habitat for  Humanity initiatives over the  years;  and the New Jersey  Bankers Association [NJBA],  which will receive the Golden Hammer Award for out- standing corporate citizenship and partnership,  who is the organization’s ex according to Maureen Mulligan, executive director of  Coastal Habitat for Humanity.
The driving force behind the NJBA’s continued support for Coastal Habitat For Humanity is Michael Affuso, who is the organization’s executive vice president and director of government relations.
In the years since Superstorm Sandy, Mr. Affuso, a resident of Bradley Beach, has been the spearhead in getting NJBA members to participate in different Coastal Habitat for Humanity events and donate not only funds, but their time as well.
"Soon after Superstorm Sandy, [Mr. Affuso] came to talk to us about how the NJBA could help and when we had a plan, he reached out to banks and got them to come out based on his recommendation and also donate based on his recommendation," Ms. Mulligan said, adding that Mr. Affuso is "one of the most dynamic people that we’ve met at Coastal Habitat for Humanity."
Through his hard work and determination, around  $80,000 will be raised by Mr. Affuso and the NJBA by the  end of this year for Coastal  Habitat for Humanity.
When asked about his organization being honored, Mr. Affuso said that it would  not be possible without the  support of the bankers and  the state’s banking industry.
"We wouldn’t be able to get this [award] without the industry backing us up," Mr.  Affuso said.  "It’s nice to be able to receive recognition for our efforts but it’s really the banks that deserve it," he added.
The Hearts and Hammers event will begin at 6:30 pm at  the Manasquan River Golf  Club, located at 843 Riverview Drive, Brielle. Tickets for the event are $150 and there are sponsorship opportunities available.
For additional information about the Hearts and Hammers event as well as Coastal  Habitat for Humanity, please  contact our resource development manager, at 732-974-2422 ext. 3.