Community Impact

We provide a variety of events and programs that have a positive impact on Coast Guard personnel, their families and Recruits within our community. Our list of Events includes:

• 2015 – The inaugural Coast Guard Community Festival was established to celebrate Cape May County’s designation as a Coast Guard Community.
• 2017 – The Southern New Jersey Coast Guard Ball in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard began.
• 2022 – The Always Ready 5K was brought to Cape May in partnership with U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. In 2023 we added the Always Ready K9 in partnership with Lead the Way Dog Training for our favorite 4-legged friends.
• We participate in other local events throughout Cape May County in celebration of the Coast Guard’s importance to our region and to honor their service to our Country. Some of these events include the Annual Salute to the Coast Guard at MudHen Brewing Co. and the Burke Motor Group Car, Truck & Cycle Show.

Our current list of Programs that provide support to Coast Guard Members, their families and Recruits include:

• The Backpack Brigade Program: Assists Active-Duty Coast Guard families with the costly task of purchasing back to school supplies by providing school age children with stocked backpacks giving them a jump start on the new school year.
• The Community Activity Program: Provides reimbursement to Active-Duty Coast Guard families for the registration fees for community activity programs.
• The Emergency Bridge Fund Gift Card Program: Providing immediate aid for basic needs — groceries, diapers, household essentials — to Active-Duty Coast Guard families in a time of crisis through gift cards to local grocery stores.
• The Graduation Send-Off Program: Created to congratulate graduating Recruits when their families were unable to attend Graduation Ceremonies. This program created a dedicated community response that continues today.
• The Homeschooling Families Support Program: Through our special relationship with Coast Guard families, we learned there was a significant amount of them who Homeschooled their children. Launched in 2023, the Homeschooling Families Support Program, aids Homeschooling Families with the cost of their chosen curriculum. This program was established and funded by The First National Bank of Elmer through a grant that continues to assist our families today.
• The Seamanship Award Program: Provides funding for the Marlinspike Rigging Knives which are granted at each Graduation Ceremony to the Recruit who demonstrates the highest degree of proficiency during the Seamanship Phase of Basic Training. This program is in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
• The Navigating Your Way Award Program: An Award Honoring Dr. Amit S. Malkani “Doc,” is presented to a Recruit who has faced severe adversity throughout their Recruit Training Program. This program was created in partnership with the Malkani Family in memory of their beloved son, brother and uncle. We presented the inaugural Navigating Your Way Award in June of 2025.
• Waves of Honor Field Trip Program: The collaboration between Cape May City Elementary and the Foundation flourished as warm weather approached, welcoming a lively group of students who joined community members in our weekly Sendoff to celebrate the most recent Recruit Company Graduation. Together, we display our pride in the achievements of the newest Coast Guard graduates by waving flags, ringing bells, and holding personalized signs. Children are encouraged to design their own signs to express gratitude for the new USCG members and their families. We offer a snack of the day and warmly invite families to participate in this patriotic celebration of community spirit.

We also support other organizations with their efforts to provide services or support to Coast Guard Service Members, their families and Recruits that fall within the guidelines of our mission.

• We provide ice cream for Coast Guard personnel and their families at the annual Coast Guard Day celebration in honor of the Coast Guard’s Birthday on August 4th, held at USCG Training Center Cape May.
• A portion of the funds from the Coast Guard Community Festival support the U. S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) branch to provide leisure programs and services to improve the quality of life of Service members and their families.
• Active-Duty military lunch vouchers for attendees at the annual Coast Guard Community Festival in appreciation for their service.
• Yearly participation and contribution of $10 gift cards for the Stockings for Recruits Program.
• We contribute to the Good Neighbor Fund at Nature Center Cape May which provides scholarships to Coast Guard families for their yearly Summer Camp Program.
• Donations toward the Lower Cape May Regional and the Cape Tech After Prom Events which ensures prom attendees celebrate their special night in a safe place and out of harm’s way.
• Donor of the Lower Cape May Little League Coast Guard Ceremonial Garden, a project conducted for an Eagle Scout Badge Project – West Cape May Troop 73.
• We have also contributed to the commissioning celebrations for new Fast Response Cutters which are homeported in Cape May including the USCGC Lawrence Lawson, Rollin Fritch, and Angela McShan.

We strive to identify the needs and create programs that will have a direct impact on the livelihood of Coast Guard personnel, their families and Recruits in our community.