NORTHFIELD, NJ – June 27, 2016 – For the third year in a row, the law firm Petro Cohen, P.C. has partnered with Kids’ Chance of New Jersey (KCNJ) to award a student with financial hardship a “Doctorate Degree” scholarship. The scholarship benefits young adults enduring financial burdens due to the loss or serious injury of a parent during a workplace accident. The 2016-17 scholarship recipient is Scott Kwiatek of South Amboy, NJ, currently pursuing a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
Kwiatek was just two months old when his father was tragically killed in a building explosion while working at a medical transportation company. Scott says, “There were many days that I had wished I had a Dad around to talk to, play ball with and be proud of me. My Mom and I struggled financially.”
For three consecutive years, the Kids’ Chance organization has matched the funds donated by Petro Cohen to help a child attend a four-year college. Petro Cohen, P.C. has been a strong, active supporter of Kids’ Chance of America’s NJ state chapter since its inception in 2012. “Our hope is that this scholarship opportunity will help deserving young people pursue their educational dreams,” Frank Petro, Esq. said.
“Without receiving the scholarship from the Kids’ Chance of New Jersey organization, I could only afford to go to a community college,” Kwiatek admits. “Instead, I was able to attend my dream school, NJIT.” He remembers the financial hardships that he and his mother endured throughout his childhood, and says that this experience has taught him to work hard to achieve his goals. Scott intends to pursue a job in accounting or marketing after graduation.
“I would like to personally thank the law firm of Petro Cohen, P.C. for their generosity in sponsoring my scholarship which is allowing me to continue to pursue my educational dreams. Words cannot express how grateful I am.”
Kwiatek can continue the sponsorship program for all four years of undergraduate school, providing he stays in good standing and continues with school as a full-time student.
Since he was 16 years old, Kwiatek has been an active member of the South Amboy community as a member of the volunteer First Aid Squad. “It is important to me to give back to my community,” said Kwiatek. “I now plan on paying it forward by volunteering for KCNJ,” he adds.
Petro Cohen Law Firm and Kids’ Chance of NJ will present the scholarship award to Kwiatek at this year’s annual fundraiser gala on July 28 at the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick.
To be eligible for the scholarship program, applicants must have a parent who has been fatally or catastrophically injured in a work-related accident, meet the criteria of the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, and have a resulting financial need. Interested applicants can download the Scholarship Application by visiting Petro Cohen’s website: /blog/category/community/ All applications will be reviewed by an independent Kids’ Chance of NJ committee and announced by the organization’s Scholarship Committee.
In addition to the firm’s scholarship donation to Kids’ Chance of NJ, Petro Cohen will be running a Facebook promotion beginning June 28, 2016 to raise additional funds. For every new “like” received on Facebook through July 28, 2016, the firm will donate five dollars to Kids’ Chance of NJ. The firm will present a check to Kids’ Chance during this year’s gala. To help support the charity by “liking” Petro Cohen on Facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/PetroCohen/
Kids’ Chance of New Jersey is a 501 (C) 3 organization formed in 2013. For more information on Kids’ Chance of NJ, e-mail sdepinto@kidschancenj.org
The Northfield law firm, Petro Cohen, P.C. Attorneys at Law exclusively handles workers’ compensation, personal injury litigation, and Social Security disability claims. The firm routinely handles cases involving work-related injuries ranging from workplace accidents and joint WEAR and TEAR injuries, to other severe and fatal injuries at work. For more information, contact Susan Petro at 888.675.7607.
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