LeFrak and Simon Families Double Philanthropic Commitment, Award $2 Million to 40 Jersey City Nonprofits as Newport Celebrates 40-Year Anniversary

With Additional $1 Million Annual Pledge, Total Giving to Reach $7 Million Over Six Years

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Newport Associates Development Company, a partnership of the LeFrak and Simon families, today awarded $2 million in grants to 40 Jersey City nonprofit organizations, doubling their initial $1 million commitment in celebration of Newport's 40^th anniversary. The partnership also announced that it will contribute $1 million annually to local nonprofits for the next five years, extending the anniversary initiative into a longer-term commitment to the Jersey City community. This initiative will provide $7 million to Jersey City nonprofits over the next six years.

The expanded commitment was announced today during a 40^th anniversary celebration at The Westin Jersey City Newport, marking four decades since the LeFrak and Simon families began the transformation of the Jersey City waterfront. The five-year commitment builds on the families' longstanding investment in the Jersey City community and is designed to provide meaningful, sustained support to nonprofits serving residents across the city.

The 40 grant recipients were selected from 135 applicants and represent a broad cross-section of Jersey City's nonprofit community, including organizations focused on social services, health care, education, the arts, community development, environmental protection and athletics.

Four organizations received cornerstone awards of at least $100,000 each. The initiative's largest award recipients are Garden State Community Development Corporation, the Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County, Team Wilderness, and Arts 14C.

The celebration brought together leaders from across Jersey City and New Jersey, including Governor Mikie Sherrill, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and the Hudson County Commissioners, Jersey City Mayor James S. Solomon and Jersey City Council members, alongside representatives of the 40 recipient organizations and members of the LeFrak and Simon families.

"Forty years ago, the LeFrak and Simon families came together and transformed an abandoned railroad yard into a vibrant community. We believed Newport's success would be measured not only by what we built, but by whether it created lasting value for Jersey City," said Richard LeFrak, Chairman of LeFrak. "That belief has guided our work from the beginning. Expanding our existing giving to $7 million over the next few years reflects our responsibility to invest in the city's future and ensure Newport's next chapter continues to create opportunity for the people of Jersey City."

"Newport's transformation has had an impact far beyond the waterfront, by creating homes, opportunity, infrastructure and public spaces that serve Jersey City and the wider region," said New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill. "LeFrak and Simon's expanded philanthropic commitment extends that legacy by directing resources to organizations that improve lives every day."

Supporting Jersey City's Nonprofit Community

In addition to the four cornerstone recipients, Newport awarded grants to 36 organizations serving Jersey City across a wide range of needs and disciplines. The additional recipients include organizations focused on education and youth development, social services, performing arts, community development, and environmental conservation. The full list of nonprofit grant recipients and amounts can be found at the end of this release.

"Newport has grown alongside Jersey City for 40 years, and its future is inseparable from the people and institutions that make the city thrive," said Eli Simon, Chief Executive Officer, Simon Property Group and Manager, SFG Holdco, LLC. "Supporting local organizations means investing in residents, expanding opportunity and strengthening the foundation for the next generation. That work will help shape the future of both Jersey City and Newport."

"Strong cities depend on nonprofits that understand their neighborhoods and can respond directly to residents' needs," said Jersey City Mayor James Solomon. "This initiative puts resources into the hands of organizations that know our city and support families, young people and vulnerable residents every day. The LeFrak and Simon families' long-term support demonstrates how private investment can be paired with a genuine commitment to the city and its people." 

Forty Years of Newport

Originally abandoned and underutilized industrial land along the Jersey City waterfront, Newport has been transformed under the stewardship of the LeFrak and Simon families into a 400-acre mixed-use community over the past 40 years. Today, Newport is home to 20,000 residents, supports 50,000 workers and welcomes millions of visitors each year. Over the past four decades, the community has welcomed 25 residential buildings, eight office towers, two hotels and the Newport Centre Mall.

Complementing this development, Newport has delivered 25 acres of public parks and recreation and a mile of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, anchored by world-renowned artist Jaume Plensa's 80-foot-tall Water's Soul sculpture. Newport also made foundational investments in utilities and infrastructure that helped pave the way for continued residential, commercial and public development across Jersey City's waterfront neighborhoods.

"We applaud Newport's 40 years of investment in the people and local organizations of Jersey City, and their new pledge of another $6 million to local nonprofits," said Congressman Rob Menendez. "Community investment must go hand-in-hand with development, and this commitment to Jersey City will support critical community organizations that serve as the backbone of our city."

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said, "Newport was the catalyst for Jersey City's modern economic transformation, turning past industrial land into a powerhouse of regional growth and sustainable 21st-century infrastructure. But what truly cements their legacy is that their sense of investment extends far beyond buildings and tax revenue. This groundbreaking multi-year philanthropic commitment guarantees that as our county continues to grow, the vital non-profits supporting our residents will have a reliable, long-term partner in building a stronger future."

"From creating beautiful public parks and waterfront spaces to showing up for our city's nonprofits, Newport understands what it means to be a community partner," said Council President Denise Ridley. "Doubling their philanthropic commitment today and pledging a million dollars a year for the next five years is an extraordinary investment in our city's future. This funding will directly empower the local groups and changemakers who work tirelessly every day to make all of Jersey City a better place to call home."

For more information on Newport's 40th Anniversary and the philanthropy initiative, please visit www.newportnj.com/newport40.

About LeFrak
LeFrak is a preeminent, family-owned property company committed to community development and long-term ownership. LeFrak affiliates own and manage an extensive portfolio of real property concentrated in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, as well as South Florida, Los Angeles and throughout the West Coast. Through its affiliated companies, LeFrak has developed and built the majority of its real estate portfolio and is one of the world's leading property firms. The firm is acclaimed around the globe for the quality of its projects and properties, its financial strength and conservatism, its entrepreneurial business model and its commitment to long-term ownership. Although primarily focused on the residential and office sectors, LeFrak affiliates also invest in hospitality, retail assets, securities, private businesses and energy. www.lefrak.com.

Newport 40^th Community Philanthropy Award Recipients:

SOURCE Newport Associates Development Company