JAMES P. FOX MEMORIAL FUND
CULTIVATING A NEW GENERATION OF PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERS
THROUGH THE FOX SCHOLARS PROGRAM
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HONORING A LEGACY
The James P. Fox Memorial Fund was founded in 2017 to create a living legacy to honor Jamie Fox (October 30, 1954 – February 20, 2017), recognize his lifelong commitment to public service, and to fund educational opportunities in areas about which he cared deeply.
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For Jamie, public service was a life’s calling that fueled a thriving 40-year career and spawned many important policy achievements.
In February 2018, the James P. Fox Memorial Fund announced the establishment of The Fox Scholars Program in partnership with The College of New Jersey. This initiative brings to life one of Jamie’s passions: mentoring young people and helping them understand what it takes to succeed in government service. The program's (#FoxMentors) main purpose is to provide students with real-life public-sector experience and advice through mentorship and networking opportunities, with the goal of facilitating knowledge of and access to public service employment opportunities.
JAMIE WASN’T A MENTOR IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, BUT HIS ABILITY TO NURTURE YOUNG TALENT AND OFFER GUIDANCE ALONG THE WAY MAY HAVE BEEN HIS GREATEST SKILL -- AND ONE OF HIS MOST LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS.
ABOUT JAMIE
James Patrick Fox, a loyal son of New Jersey, passed away in 2017 at age 62. Jamie, as he was known since childhood, was born in Elizabeth, NJ, on October 30, 1954.
Jamie’s entire life was spent in the public sector, and he was surely one of the giants of NJ politics. In 40 years of service, he twice served as the Commissioner of Transportation, once under Democratic Governor Jim McGreevey and then under Republican Governor Chris Christie. Earlier, Jamie was the Chief of Staff or advisor to four NJ Governors: McGreevey, Florio, Cody, and Corzine. In addition, he was Chief of Staff to Senator Robert Torricelli, as well as a former Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
In 2008, Jamie spearheaded the successful Florida presidential campaign for Barack Obama. Jamie was involved in many important NJ public policy achievements of the past 30 years, including NJ’s assault weapons ban, restrictions on ocean dumping, the preservation of the Highlands, overhaul of the EZ pass system and the NJ Division of Motor Vehicles, and the consolidation of the Turnpike and Parkway. Because of his life’s work, NJ is a better place.
Jamie will also be remembered as a man of integrity who lived by his word, subscribed to an old school code of respect and loyalty, and who made an everlasting imprint on others. Few citizens of NJ have been as widely admired across both sides of the political spectrum. Giving generously of his time, Jamie informed a new generation of political strategists and leaders, sharing with them his insights, counsel, and stories – and building through them a lasting legacy. In the last decade, Jamie and his long-time friend, Eric Shuffler, shared a business, River Crossing Strategy Group.
He was a graduate of Saint Patrick High School and a proud graduate of Villanova University.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
Cultivating a New Generation of Public Sector Leaders
The James P. Fox Memorial Fund funds the Fox Scholars Program at The College of New Jersey and at The Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership at Saint Peter’s University . The program provides substantive and meaningful mentorship opportunities in New Jersey and Washington, DC, for promising young students and capture what might be Jamie’s greatest impact – his ability to guide young people into and through the nuances of successful public service careers.
THE JAMIE FOX SCHOLARS PROGRAM
About the Program
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One-On-One Mentoring: Scholars are assigned and meet regularly with a mentor and complete a project relating to their interaction with the mentor.
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Mentorships are available in federal, state, local government, and communications, lobbying, and political campaign agencies.
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Field-Based Training: Scholars attend field trips to experience a “behind-the-scenes” view of the public sector.
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Scholars are selected through a competitive application process and present their experiences at a panel discussion at the conclusion of their mentorship.
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Where We Are
The Jamie Fox Scholars Program operates two chapters: one at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and a second at The Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership at Saint Peter’s University.
The College of New Jersey
The Fox Scholars Program at TCNJ was started in 2018. Ten Fox Scholars have completed the program (five each year). In 2019, the TCNJ program expanded to include a Fox DC Scholar, who is offered an internship in Washington, DC.
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Meet the 2019 TCNJ Fox Scholars
Meet the 2018 TCNJ Fox Scholars
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Saint Peter's University
In fall of 2019, the Fox Fund announce a second program partner: The Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership at Saint Peter’s University. The program will start January 2020 and will initially include two students. Read the Release
The James P. Fox Memorial Fund depends entirely on private donations
to fund academic educational initiatives.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION BY MAKING A DONATION TODAY
Donations can be mailed or for your convenience made using Pay Pal. The fund is a 501C3 nonprofit and donations are deductible to the extent permitted by law. A receipt will be provided to you for tax filings. No funds will be used to compensate mentors, who are volunteers. Mail donations made to:
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The James P. Fox Memorial Fund, Inc., to c/o River Crossing Strategy Group, 128 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.
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From all of us who are part of The James P. Fox Memorial Fund, thank you!
NEWS
We work hard to spread the word about developments at the James P. Fox Memorial Fund.
Take a look at some of the latest coverage.
2/1/2018
THE JAMES P. FOX MEMORIAL FUND LAUNCHES INITIATIVE AT TCNJ TO CULTIVATE PUBLIC SECTOR CAREERS
5/2/2018
FIVE TCNJ FOX SCHOLARS NAMED
On May 2, 2018, the James P. Fox Memorial Fund marked its first milestone in continuing the legacy of its namesake, our friend Jamie Fox, with the induction of the first Fox Scholars of the Jamie Fox Scholars Program at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). The program matched each student with a seasoned public affairs mentor, who provided them with a behind-the-scene look at the inner workings of politics and policy making, introductions to and shadowing with elected and government officials, and advice on a path forward into a career in the public sector. Pictured (l to r) are Fox Scholars with mentors: Doug Hritz (mentor), Dillon McNamara, Corinne Winters, Heather Atamian, Danielle Alpert (mentor), Kay Elizabeth Li Causi (mentor), Nancy Rae Pietrobon, Daniel Nason, Diane Scaccetti (mentor), and Kevin Hagan (mentor).
5/8/2019
JAMIE FOX SCHOLARS PROGRAM INDUCTS FOX SCHOLARS
Five TCNJ students were inducted as 2019 Fox Scholars at a ceremony held at TCNJ on May 8, 2019. The Fox Scholars completed the Jamie Fox Scholar Program at TCNJ that matched students with seasoned public affairs mentors, who provided them with a behind-the-scene look at the inner workings that drive the political process and shape public policy. Pictured (l to r) are mentors with their Fox Scholars: Danielle Alpert (mentor), Deisha Inniss, Kay Elizabeth LiCausi (mentor), Rachel Smith, Kevin Hagan (mentor), Sarah Estok, Doug Hritz (mentor), Rosemary Nivar, Diane Scaccetti (mentor), and Juan Carlos Belmonte.
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2/7/2018
POLITIFAX
Worthy Cause of the Week: The James P. Fox (that’s Jamie to you) Memorial Fund has teamed with Montclair State and The College of New Jersey to give 25 Fox Fellows access to mentors from the arena of public service for a year and to participate in an annual Fox Forum at Montclair State. Contributions may be sent to River Crossing Strategy Group, 128 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.