Rocker Jon Bon Jovi Donates $1 Million To Charity

Newark, NJ (CNS) - Rocker Jon Bon Jovi's charity has donated $1 million to help create more affordable housing in Newark, New Jersey. Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation and developer HELP USA have formed a partnership with the HELP Newark Initiative.

The Newark Genesis Apartments will offer affordable housing with support services for low-income and special needs individuals and will consist of 51 new units. The units will include ground-breaking environmentally-friendly "green" features such as a geothermal heating system and other components of New Jersey's Green Future program. Along with the apartments, a 2,500 square-foot community center will also be built.

Bon Jovi spoke about the project, saying, "Newark's time is now...As the Mayor enhances the city's offerings to attract visitors, businesses and new residents continue, we are also working together to meet the needs of current residents who may not be able to afford market rate rents. Many of the residents who will live in these homes will have some type of special need, be it rehabilitation, medical care, child care, or vocational training, and we want to see to it that those needs are affordably and realistically met." Bon Jovi is well known for his charity work and donations. On the "Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2005, his band donated $1 million to the Angel Network Foundation. In 2006, he donated $1 million to build 26 Habitat homes in Louisiana for low-income families affected by the hurricanes.