Business March 30, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 11 The OritaniBank Charitable Foundation has awarded a $17,000 grant to the YMCA of Greater Bergen County. The grant will support the YMCA Strong Kids Seventh Grade Membership Program, which offers free membership to seventh grade students in Hackensack and Teaneck. “Seventh grade is a pivotal time in a teen’s life. Important decisions regarding lifestyle and character are made at this age,” said Nelson Louis, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Bergen County. “The Y, with help of partners like OritaniBank Charitable Foundation, can make a difference in theses teens’ lives.” The Strong Kids Membership Program is designed to promote a lifetime of healthy habits through good nutrition and exercise and allows the teens to participate in a variety of physical activities. The program also serves as a safe haven by providing the students with Friday night and weekend activities. “We welcome the opportunity to help young teens in our community benefit from the YMCA’s excellent programs,” said Kevin J. Lynch, president of the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation and chairman, president, and CEO of Oritani Bank. “As we enter our 100th year, Oritani remains as committed as ever to the communities we serve and will continue to lend our support to local organizations who share our goal of improving the quality of life for our neighbors.” The YMCA of Greater Bergen County in Hackensack has been a vital part of the central Bergen County community for over 100 years, providing high-quality, affordable programs for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. The Y offers childcare, summer camps, swimming, an adult wellness center, senior programs, sports and arts. The non-profit organization welcomes people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. For more information, call (201) 487-6600 or visit www.ymcabc.org. The OritaniBank Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 to assist not-for-profit organizations that help resi- OritaniBank Charitable Foundation donates to YMCA dents in Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties. Since its inception, the foundation has donated more than $2 million to local charitable organizations, primarily in support of education, health & human services, youth programs, and affordable housing. Oritani Bank is a 100 year old community bank with over $2.5 billion in assets based in the Township of Wash- ington, New Jersey. Oritani Bank’s parent Oritani Financial Corp. is a publicly held company trading on the NASDAQ with the trading symbol “ORIT.” Oritani Bank as 23 branches throughout Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties, and offers a full line of deposit and loan services to both retail and commercial customers. For more information, call 888-ORITANI, or visit www.oritani.com. Ken Kuriki, owner of Sakura-Bana in Ridgewood, comes from Fukushima, Japan. His father and mother survived the earthquake and tsunami, but the Ridgewood restaurateur wants to host a two-day benefit at his Japanese restaurant to help those of his former neighbors who were less fortunate. “My parents are all right, except that they have no oil and the trains aren’t running,” he said. “I know Ridgewood is a fine town, everybody is a gentleman, and I believe that many people will want to help Japan.” On April 3, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and on April 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the restaurant will hold a bazaar with 100 percent of the proceeds going to earthquake and tsunami relief. The restaurant will also donate 50 percent of Sakura-Bana sets Japan benefit the tab from food for relief on Sunday and Monday. (Note: Sakura-Bana is usually closed on Mondays.) Kuriki has operated Sakura-Bana since 1996, and he is still working out exactly what will be sold at the bazaar. Preliminary plans call for Japanese calligraphy done to order, and bowls and dishes from the restaurant’s kitchen. He hopes his suppliers will donate snack food and other items to be sold at very reasonable prices. He also hopes to round up some items such as scarves to sell at the fundraiser. The restaurant is located at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Chestnut Street in Ridgewood, on the approach to the Ridgewood YMCA. Call (201) 447-6525 for additional information. The Ramsey Policemen’s Benevolent Association has been contacted by concerned residents who have been solicited via telephone for a police organization. The Ramsey PBA reminds residents that it never solicits money by telephone. Instead, the organization holds an annual fund drive where donations are mailed to the Ramsey PBA at P.O. Box 92, Ramsey, NJ. Police telephone solicitations never benefit Ramsey’s PBA does not solicit by phone local organization, police reported. Any suggestion by the caller that the money benefits the Ramsey PBA is false. Residents are urged you learn more about any organization before donating money. Be sure to ascertain whether the charitable organization is receiving the money or if the telemarketing company will receive most of it. The Ramsey PBA may be contacted at RamseyPBA@gmail.com. Spring specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000