Spencer Spirit Holdings Inc., the parent company of Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween, made another $250,000 donation to the Stockton University Foundation.

The funding will help support the Spencer’s & Spirit Halloween Endowed Scholarship. It will also benefit several initiatives at Stockton, including a summer entrepreneurship and business academy as well as a new digital studies program, according to the university.

The donation brings the total amount contributed to the college over the past three years to $750,000, according to Stockton.

When CEO Steven Silverstein presented the gift at company’s Egg Harbor headquarters earlier this month, he spoke about the close ties between his organization and the university. He noted that the company employs more than 100 Stockton alumni – about 15% of the total workforce –and has hosted more than 50 interns from the university.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Stockton University and are humbled by their dedication to students and emphasis on ongoing education and career growth,” Silverstein said.

A leg up

Stockton President Joe Bertolino emphasized the impact the company has had on students, especially those who require financial aid and scholarships to fund their education.

“I can’t begin to tell you how important this relationship is and the impact that it has on our students,” he said. “I thank you so much for what you have done and for the partnership that we have.”

Student John Bee has benefited from the relationship. The Longport resident works as an analyst in Spencer Spirit’s planning department.

Bee is one semester away from earning his master’s in business administration and credits Stockton with helping him get his job during a spring career and internship fair, according to the university.

“I got an internship over the summer. That internship got me three credits for school and got my foot in the door here,” said Bee, who hopes to continue working his way up the ladder at the company after he finishes his MBA.

“It’s just such a great environment,” he said. “I’ve made friends, and it’s just somewhere you’re excited to come to work because you get to see people that you’re happy to see. You get to work for a great company that is doing great things.”

Higher ed gifts:

• Nutella maker gives Rutgers $170K to research hazelnut farming (updated)
• $10M gift to expand Stevens Institute’s iSTEM program
• NJIT receives ‘historic’ gift – its largest alumni donation to date