{"id":659730,"date":"2023-11-20T00:01:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T04:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/?p=659730"},"modified":"2023-11-21T03:11:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T07:11:10","slug":"bergen-county-community-leaders-honored-at-northern-new-jersey-community-foundations-25th-anniversary-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/659730\/","title":{"rendered":"Bergen County Community Leaders Honored at Northern New Jersey Community Foundation\u2019s 25th Anniversary Celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_659732\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-659732\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-659732 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Group-shot-See-names-in-cutline-of-press-release.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"478\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-659732\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left to right: Emcees Chris Fitzgerald and Ryan Huban from Howdy Stranger; Monica Chavarria-Malin, recipient of\u00a0the Arts Leadership Award; Albert Dib, recipient of the\u00a0Civic Leadership Award;\u00a0Jennylyn Brown, recipient of the Environmental Leadership Award; Michael Shannon, president and co-founder of the NNJCF and recipient of the Community Vision Award; Danielle DeLaurentis, associate director of the NNJCF; Mary Call Blanusa, NNJCF board member; Chris Percopo, NNJCF board member; Leonardo Vazquez, executive director of NNJCF; and Ken Bland, NNJCF board member.\u00a0\u00a0Not shown NNJCF board member Dr. Leslie Lipka, MD., Ph.D.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Hackensack, NJ; November 20, 2023) \u2500 The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) honored community leaders in Bergen County, New Jersey at its 25th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at AURA Restaurant &amp; Bar in Hackensack, New Jersey.\u00a0\u00a0The sold-out festivity honored community leaders and featured signature cocktails, delicious food, and tons of laughs with improv comedy troupe, Howdy Stranger, hosting a \u201cWho Said It?\u201d game show-style awards ceremony and trivia contest.\u00a0\u00a0The celebration&#8217;s net proceeds\u00a0support the Foundation\u2019s work in the arts and culture, creative placemaking, environmental protection, civic engagement, public health and local education in North Jersey communities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe festivity brought together many people from North Jersey to celebrate our 25<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary.\u00a0\u00a0We were overwhelmed by the show of support for the Foundation&#8217;s work in the region,\u201d said Leonardo Vazquez, Executive Director, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>Community Leaders Honored<\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The NNJCF honored these local heroes\u00a0in the areas of civic leadership, the arts and the environment for their contributions to the community:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michael Shannon, Community Visionary Award.Shannon, a resident of Englewood, has served as president and co-founder of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.\u00a0\u00a0He was honored for his\u00a0vision to bring people together across communities and sectors to collaborate on challenging issues with the development of a nonprofit organization that became the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.\u00a0\u00a0His leadership of the NNJCF helped the organization move from a small volunteer-run group focused on Englewood to a regional philanthropic institution that has benefited several communities, nonprofit organizations and individuals in North Jersey.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jennylyn Brown, Environmental Leadership Award.Brown,\u00a0a resident of Hackensack for 16 years, emigrated from Grenada and grew up in New York City.\u00a0\u00a0She\u00a0was recognized for her\u00a0leadership to create a greener future for Hackensack and its residents.\u00a0\u00a0Brown has held several community positions, including\u00a0president of the Hackensack Garden Club, chairperson of the Hackensack Environmental Commission,\u00a0and co-leader of\u00a0Girl Scout Troop 95880.\u00a0\u00a0Among her leadership roles, she serves on the advisory board to the City Council concerning matters of open space, water resources, and pollution control, and environmental issues.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monica Chavarria-Malin, Arts Leadership Award.As president of the Hackensack Art Club and\u00a0Curator and Art Director of Club Colombia USA of Hackensack, Chavarria-Malin has promoted the arts in Bergen County.\u00a0\u00a0With over\u00a024 years\u2019 experience as an art teacher,\u00a0her curriculum includes an interest in the preservation of nature and human values.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_659734\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-659734\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-659734 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Honorees-Michael-Shannon-Jennylyn-Brown-Monica-Chavarria-Malin-Albert-Dib.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"523\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-659734\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Honorees Michael Shannon, Jennylyn Brown, Monica Chavarria-Malin, Albert Dib<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chavarria-Malin, who grew up in Colombia surrounded by trees and flowers, is called by many \u201cThe Tree Lady\u201d for her painting of surrealistic trees that take on a human form.\u00a0\u00a0For over 30 years, she participated in several art exhibitions and cultural events.\u00a0\u00a0Among her work, she painted murals for the cities of Hackensack and Paterson.\u00a0\u00a0A resident of Teaneck, she is a member of several organizations, including the Fort Lee Artist Guild, the Art Educators of New Jersey, and \u201cColombian Leaders Working for a Better Colombia\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0In addition, she is on the team leading the NNJCF\u2019s Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice initiative.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Albert Dib, Civic Leadership Award. As the City of Hackensack\u2019s Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment, Dib has been a catalyst and leader in the municipality\u2019s redevelopment and use of creative placemaking.\u00a0\u00a0Before joining the City of Hackensack in 2004, he worked as a commercial litigator for several years.\u00a0\u00a0In his work with the city, he has served in many roles, including Information Technology, legal and administrative support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_659736\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-659736\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-659736 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Leonardo-Vazquez-and-Honoree-Albert-Dib.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-659736\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leonardo Vazquez and Honoree Albert Dib<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dib, a lifelong resident of Hackensack, has held several leadership positions, such as the executive director for the Main Street Business Alliance, where he oversaw the Special Improvement District.\u00a0\u00a0During that time, the Alliance and the City laid the groundwork resulting in the transformation of the downtown.\u00a0\u00a0He is also a member of the City\u2019s Planning Board, Performing Arts Center Board, Environmental Commission and the city liaison to the Main Street Business Alliance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>Sponsors<\/u><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_659737\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-659737\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-659737 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Leonardo-Vazquez-and-Honoree-Jennylyn-Brown.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"576\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-659737\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leonardo Vazquez and Honoree Jennylyn Brown<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A range of\u00a0sponsorship levels were available for individuals and businesses to participate.\u00a0\u00a0Funds raised from the sponsorships\u00a0benefited the NNJCF&#8217;s new and ongoing programs in the arts and culture, creative placemaking, environmental protection, civic engagement, and more.\u00a0\u00a0Sponsors for the event were Hornrock Properties\/ Ivy &amp; Green, The Algrant Family,\u00a0Print House,\u00a0Garden Communities\/The Jefferson, Room &amp; Board, Winne Banta Basralian &amp; Khan,\u00a0M&amp;T Bank,\u00a0The Vanacore Family, AURA Restaurant &amp; Bar, bergenPAC,\u00a0Steven T. Cirillo CPA, LLC, Mary Call Blanusa, Chris Percopo, Spiro Harrison &amp; Nelson Attorneys, Suburban Consulting Engineers, Arohnson Weiner Salerno &amp; Kaufman P.C., Hackensack Regional Chamber of Commerce, Leslie J. Lipka, and Newark Science and Sustainability Inc.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People, who were unable to attend the 25<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary Celebration, may support the organization with a donation at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nnjcf.org\/donation\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.nnjcf.org\/donation\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700628214459000&amp;usg=AOvVaw34VTDBesPwFLwSbKNETZ69\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.nnjcf.org\/donation\/<\/a>\u00a0or send a check made out to The Northern NJ Community Foundation (NNJCF), 1 University Plaza Drive, Suite 128, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_659738\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-659738\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-659738 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Leonardo-Vazquez-Michael-Ex-Dir-Leonardo-Vazquez-Honoree-Michael-Shannon-With-Award-and-Assoc-Dir-Danielle-DeLaurentis.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"500\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-659738\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leonardo Vazquez, Michael Ex Dir Leonardo Vazquez, Honoree Michael Shannon With Award and Assoc Dir Danielle DeLaurentis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>Celebrating 25 Years in the Community<\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With the motto &#8216;What can we do together, that we can&#8217;t do alone?&#8221;, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation\u00a0helps communities in North Jersey become better places to live, work, and enjoy by bringing people together to address pressing issues, such as public health, environmental protection, civil society and education.\u00a0\u00a0Founded in 1998, the NNJCF has awarded over $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to local residents.\u00a0\u00a0Through its ArtsBergen initiative, opportunities have been created for artists, designers and makers, while also leveraging the power of the arts and creative placemaking to enhance communities in Bergen County.\u00a0\u00a0The Foundation&#8217;s Climate Action Mobilization Project (CAMP) helps Hackensack and neighboring communities become more resilient\u00a0in northern New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To get involved in the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation&#8217;s work,\u00a0call\u00a0201-568-5608 or send an e-mail to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:nnjcf@nnjcf.org\">nnjcf@nnjcf.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>About Northern New Jersey Community Foundation<\/u><br \/>\nFounded in 1998, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization based in Hackensack, New Jersey, works with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups to improve community life.\u00a0\u00a0Through collaborative partnerships, regional problems are identified and resolved.\u00a0\u00a0Opportunities are discovered and explored by talking and learning from each other and sharing ideas, best practices, services and resources.\u00a0\u00a0The Foundation&#8217;s primary areas of work are\u00a0the environment, arts and culture, public health, education, civic engagement and philanthropy.\u00a0 For more information, visit\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nnjcf.org\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.nnjcf.org&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700628214459000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2sv1i8aGOHhIz95WDnCpG7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.nnjcf.org<\/a>, send an email to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:nnjcf@nnjcf.org\">nnjcf@nnjcf.org<\/a>, or call 201-568-5608.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_659739\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-659739\" style=\"width: 519px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-659739 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Leonardo-Vazquez-presents-Monica-Chavarria-Malin-with-award.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"519\" height=\"780\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-659739\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leonardo Vazquez presents Monica Chavarria-Malin with award<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Photo Credit for all Photos: Josh Passaretti | Jmp Media<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Hackensack, NJ; November 20, 2023) \u2500 The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) honored community leaders in Bergen County, New Jersey at its 25th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at AURA Restaurant &amp; Bar in Hackensack, New Jersey.\u00a0\u00a0The sold-out festivity honored community leaders and featured signature cocktails, delicious food, and tons of laughs with improv comedy troupe, Howdy Stranger, hosting a \u201cWho Said It?\u201d game show-style awards ceremony and trivia contest.\u00a0\u00a0The celebration&#8217;s net proceeds\u00a0support the Foundation\u2019s work in the arts and culture, creative placemaking, environmental protection, civic engagement,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":659732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47748],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-659730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=659730"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":659740,"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659730\/revisions\/659740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/659732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=659730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=659730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malayalamdailynews.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=659730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}