UNION COUNTY — On Thursday evening, Oct. 24, Homefirst will host An Evening of Thanks, the first Union County Family Service Awards at The Galloping Hill Golf Club in Kenilworth. The event will recognize and honor individuals from different communities in Union County who serve families in need in extraordinary ways in their civic and private lives. State Assemblyman Jon Bramnick will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella is the Honorary Event Chair, joined by an Event Committee of 20 community volunteers.
Eleven outstanding citizens from throughout Union County have been selected to receive The 2013 Union County Family Service Award. The honorees were nominated by the mayor of their municipality and chosen through a competitive process by an independent Selection Committee based on five criteria: 1) commitment to families; 2) support for families in need; 3) service to Union County families; 4) impact; and 5) longevity of service.
Their collective action has benefited thousands of families in crisis in all corners of Union County over the past 40 years. “Our honorees are an inspiration to me and to my colleagues at Homefirst and to everyone who cares about families in need. They work quietly and faithfully to support and strengthen families facing adversity and we are very excited to salute them at An Evening of Thanks on October 24,” noted Ellen McGovern, Homefirst’s Executive Director.
The honorees are: Ralph Bernardo, Clark; Edith Coogan, Cranford; James Grover, Fanwood; Dolores Hynes, Linden; Sigrid Patsch, Mountainside; Ruth Robina, New Providence; Sarah Cadogan, Plainfield; Jacqueline Mitchell, Roselle; Lisa and Peter McNamara, Westfield; and Frank Anderson, Winfield Park.
The 2013 honorees have helped families with sick and terminally ill children, adolescents in crisis, young men who are involved with violence, pregnant women who are homeless, cancer patients and their families and elderly citizens who are confined to their homes.
For more information contact McGovern at Homefirst, at [email protected] or at 908-753-4001, ext. 13.