(RED BANK – May 2, 2023) The Count Basie Center for the Arts and Bank of America have announced the fifth of twelve area nonprofits to be recognized during THE GIVING YEAR, the yearlong initiative to recognize and reward organizations for their contributions to the regional community.

No Limits Cafe (http://www.nolimitscafe.org), a Red Bank-area lunch spot which employs, trains and empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), will receive $1 from every Count Basie Center ticket sold in May, along with tickets for the organization’s clientele and volunteers.

No Limits Café provides jobs and job training to adults with IDD to help them lead fulfilling lives and to increase public awareness of their potential. Located at 418 Rt. 35 South in Red Bank, No Limits Café serves lunch 6 days a week, with its workers involved in every aspect of the restaurant’s operations – from the kitchen to the front of house. Founded in 2019, the organization recently launched a second phase in its nonprofit endeavor – a paid, 10-week training program to help additional adults with IDD find meaningful employment in the restaurant industry.

“We’re so excited to have been selected by the Count Basie Center and Bank of America as a beneficiary during The Giving Year,” said No Limits Café founder Stephanie Cartier. “This partnership will help fund No Limits Cafe’s programs, and most importantly, raise awareness that the need and result of providing employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities is priceless.”

“The job and training opportunities offered by No Limits Café are vital to championing development for adults with intellectual disabilities in our community,” said Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. “Our partnership helps ensure that No Limits Café has the support to train and advocate for neurodiverse adults in Monmouth County.”

“By filling a significant need and doing so with compassion and care, No Limits Café has become one of the region’s most beloved and productive nonprofit organizations,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chairperson, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Structure, purpose and achievement are such important experiences for adults with intellectual disabilities, and No Limits provides these things in a way that not only empowers their workers but also demonstrates their ability to thrive in the community.”

Bank of America and Basie Center employees and board members started reviewing applications following announcement of THE GIVING YEAR initiative on Giving Tuesday last November. THE GIVING YEAR will focus on organizations serving causes related to arts and culture, health / wellness, food insecurity, diversity, equity and inclusion, or financial management or other services to underrepresented populations.

Organizations interested in consideration for THE GIVING YEAR may learn more and apply for consideration at www.thebasie.org/thegivingyear. Organizations need only apply once – qualifying applications will be considered on a rolling basis throughout 2023.

ABOUT THE GIVING YEAR INITIATIVE

THE GIVING YEAR will last throughout 2023, with the Count Basie Center for the Arts donating $1 from every ticket sold to one of twelve area nonprofits, with a different organization highlighted each month. Organizations will be eligible to receive up to $15,000 during their month, in addition to complimentary tickets for distribution to their volunteers and / or their beneficiaries.

Upon announcing THE GIVING YEAR last November, Basie Center and Bank of America officers presented the initiative as an opportunity to use the organizations’ platforms to highlight important work and causes throughout their service regions. In January, mental health nonprofit Shore House was announced as the inaugural Giving Year recipient, receiving $15,000 from the Basie Center and its patrons.  Asbury Park’s Inspire Life (February), The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide in Freehold (March) and The Sandy Hook Foundation (April) have since been recognized as monthly recipients.

“The Count Basie Center is a unique nonprofit organization,” Basie Center Board Chairperson Jeremy Grunin explained. “In addition to our work in arts education, from classrooms in under-resourced communities to professional development opportunities for teachers, we have world-renowned performing artists on our stages almost every evening. We recognize the platform that affords us, and we feel it’s right to use that platform to highlight other organizations attending to vital causes in our region.”

“Bank of America and the Count Basie Center share many causes and concerns, especially the betterment of our communities,” said Bank of America’s Garofalo. “During ‘The Giving Year,’ we’ll use our long-standing partnership and platforms to highlight and reward the efforts of twelve area nonprofit organizations, whose commitments to our region help those who need it the most.”

“Part of our responsibility as a nonprofit organization is to look inwards and say, ‘What more can we do?’” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “And because we have this status as a place where world-class musicians, actors and performers come to play, we also have this opportunity – and responsibility – to lend our visibility to others. Bank of America and the Basie Center want THE GIVING YEAR to become a pedestal for organizations that deserve to have their hard work and purposes known and recognized.”

June’s beneficiary organization will be announced later this month.