Union County Review

Wakefern Food Corp. has announced a $1 million donation for student scholarships at Kean University in honor of the company’s recently retired president, Kean alumnus Joe Sheridan.

The New Jersey-based supermarket cooperative, which includes retail banners ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, and the Fresh Grocer, endowed the Joe Sheridan Resiliency Scholarship to assist students in the University’s College of Business and Public Management (CBPM) in pursuing their professional goals.

Sheridan, an Elizabeth native who retired as president and chief operating officer in December after nearly five decades with Wakefern, is an active supporter of the Kean University Foundation as well as many other social and community causes.

“Wakefern’s generous gift honoring Kean alumnus Joe Sheridan creates a lasting legacy at Kean and offers students a financial safety net to continue their studies and follow in the footsteps of Joe and other prominent Kean alumni,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet. “We are grateful to Joe for his support throughout his years, and we thank Wakefern for their generosity in his name.”

The Kean University Board of Trustees on May 6 voted to name the 6th floor boardroom at Kean’s Hynes Hall after Sheridan and expressed gratitude to Wakefern for the support.

Sheridan expressed his gratitude for the education he received at Kean, which is New Jersey’s urban research university. “I have been blessed throughout my career to work in a field – the supermarket industry – that serves our communities every day and am pleased that Wakefern, where I spent so many happy and successful years, is helping students at Kean achieve their dreams,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to support my alma mater and its students.”

Steve Fastook, chair of the Kean Board of Trustees, said Kean is pleased to honor Sheridan as a graduate and supporter. “Joe Sheridan was born and raised in Elizabeth, graduated from Kean, and has never forgotten his roots,” Fastook said. “We are proud to count Joe among our many successful Kean alumni and deeply appreciate this incredible gift to our students.”

The Joe Sheridan Resiliency Scholarship will benefit CBPM students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above and demonstrate financial need.

“It is our great pleasure to thank Joe Sheridan and Wakefern, and express our deepest appreciation for this gift,” said William Miller, chief executive officer of the Kean University Foundation. “Through Joe’s vision and compassion, CBPM students will get a helping hand to keep them on track to graduation.”

Sheridan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management science from Kean in 1980 while his wife Joan received her master’s degree from there in 1986.

Joe Sheridan began working as a selector in Wakefern’s Elizabeth warehouse in 1976 before graduating. He rose through the ranks at Wakefern becoming president of the company in 2011.

During his tenure as vice president and president at Wakefern, he oversaw membership growth; launched one of the grocery industry’s earliest online shopping platforms; rolled out private label product lines such as Bowl & Basket; Wholesome Pantry; Paperbird; made significant strides towards social responsibility under his leadership.

“The creation of the scholarship is keeping with Joe Sheridan's desire to give back," said Karen Meleta Chief Communications Officer at Wakefern "Throughout his career he furthered commitment community through support ShopRite Partners In Caring program created 1999 date donated more than $62 million hunger-fighting organizations."

Sheridan has been an active volunteer with Special Olympics New Jersey other nonprofits Embrace Kids Foundation Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Creating scholarship fitting way honor legacy.