Our History

 

November 18, 2005: John E. Kostic, the namesake and inspiration behind the foundation, is tragically killed after being rear-ended in a tractor trailer accident at the age of 20.

December 25, 2005: John's sister, Emily, presents the framework of what will one day be the John E. Kostic Memorial Foundation to her parents on Christmas morning.

Spring 2006: The John E. Kostic Memorial Foundation becomes registered as a 501(c)3.

June 2006: The first scholarships in John's name are given out at Delran Middle School, Delran High School and Rider University.

  • Annually a Junior student at Rider University, majoring in Actuarial Science, is awarded the John E. Kostic Actuarial Scholarship. In June of each year, two graduating 8th graders (one boy and one girl) from Delran Middle School receive the John E. Kostic Award for their achievement in Math, Science and Leadership.  At Delran High School graduation every June, two graduates are awarded with the John E. Kostic Memorial Scholarship.

Fall 2007: In 2007, the Foundation funded several classes which educate adults recently diagnosed with Diabetes on how to monitor their disease.

Summer 2009: The Foundation paid to renovate the Basketball Courts at Summer Hill in Delran, NJ.

Summer 2010: The John E. Kostic Playground at Princeton Park opens in Delran, NJ.

Fall 2010: The JEKMF provided play centers for children hospitalized at Cooper Medical Center and Virtua Hospital via grants to the Starlight Foundation.

February 2011: The John E. Kostic Scholarship Benefiting Incoming College Freshmen with Juvenile Diabetes from the State of New Jersey is launched to grand reviews. The scholarship is written about in U.S. News and World Report's Blog and countless newspapers throughout the state.

Spring 2012: The Foundation pledges $100,000 to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University for scholarships.  The Foundation is proud to support CMSRU and realizes the importance of educating students to become physicians in the South Jersey community.

The Foundation helps fund Camp Firefly, a camp presented by Moorestown Visiting Nurse Association that helps children who have lost a loved one cope with their grief and heal from it.

Spring 2013: The Foundation funds 28 children from Camden to a day at The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.  Donations are made to Camp Firefly, Deborah Hospital, HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, and the Red Cross.

Spring 2014: The Foundation sponsors two children to attend two week Summer Camp session at Camp Nejeda Foundation. This is a camp for youngsters with Juvenile Diabetes.

The Foundation makes donations to HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Camp Firefly, South Jersey Food Bank, American Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and Starlight Children's Foundation.

Summer 2015: The John E. Kostic Memorial Foundation partners with the Starlight Foundation to fund Halloween parties at several local hospitals in South Jersey.

The Foundation pledges $400,000 and partners with the Cooper Foundation to build a Pediatric Infusion Center at Cooper University Hospital. Construction of the center will be completed in 2017.

Spring 2016: The Foundation sponsors additional scholarships at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.  Donations are made to American Red Cross and Deborah Hospital.

February 23, 2018: The John E. Kostic Memorial Foundation Board of Directors opens the John E. Kostic Pediatric Infusion Center at Cooper University Hospital.

Contributions have also been made to Deborah Hospital, St. Jude's Hospital, Catholic Charities, Rider University Emmaus Association, Rider University Annual Fund, Moorestown Visiting Nurse, Boys and Girls Club of America and Juvenile Diabetes Association.