UIH Family Partners “Bridges the Past with the Future”
New Jersey’s Oldest Nonprofit Dedicated to Child Welfare Celebrates 150 Years of Continuous Service with Memorable Gala
Saturday, November 21 might have started out soggy, dreary and dull, but as day gave way to night, the forecast turned to festive, bright and unseasonably warm-- at least inside the ballroom at the Trenton County Club. That is where more than 150 enthusiastic friends and supporters of UIH Family Partners gathered in sartorial elegance – and high spirits – to commemorate the agency’s sesquicentennial and to honor its faithful legacy of service to in-need, vulnerable young people and fragile families. The mission of the UIH Family Partners is to “build effective families through innovative and culturally sensitive programs for parents and children.”
The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception and the opening of the upscale silent auction. Guests enjoyed scrumptious hors d’oeuvres while perusing the auction’s offerings which ranged from glorious works of art and gift certificates for special getaways to hot air balloon rides and even a personalized copy of Giving by President Bill Clinton.
Following the reception, the gentle sound of chimes called guests to dinner. Father Edward Tetteh, SVD, Pastor of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd offered the invocation and asked for blessings on the agency and its work. UIH Family Partners Board President, Jeff Bartolino, provided a warm welcome to all, shared something of the agency’s history and expressed his and the Board’s appreciation to all who had labored to make the Gala not only possible, but also successful. Attendees then enjoyed a well-prepared and visually appealing gourmet dinner – one that not only delighted the palate, but also provided plenty of energy for dancing to the eclectic and well-received music of “The Edge.”
Bringing his own energy and dashing style to the event was Master of Ceremonies, Pierre Downing, a rising young actor and star of BET’s popular Harlem Heights series, whose mother had been a volunteer at UIH Family Partners some years ago. Pierre shared his commitment to improving outcomes and providing opportunities for at-risk young people and encouraged guests to be generous in their auction bids and in making donations to the agency.
The centerpiece of the evening was the presentation of Leadership Awards to three very deserving honorees. UIH Family Partners Executive Director, Karen Andrade Mims, presented the State Leader Award to Cecilia Zalkind, Esq., Executive Director of The Association for Children of New Jersey and one of the nation’s most ardent and highly respected child advocates. Agency Board member, Diana McNeil, paid tribute to her mentor and colleague at Educational Testing Service (ETS), Eleanor V. Horne, and presented her with the Community Leader Award. Vice President of ETS’ Social Investment Fund, Ms. Horne has been actively involved with improving educational opportunities and access for all, promoting social justice and enhancing the community for more than 40 years. Jeffrey Reeb, General Manager of Dick Greenfield Dodge, then accepted the Corporate Leader Award on behalf of Dick Greenfield, Founder and President of Dick Greenfield Dodge and a longtime UIH Family Partners supporter. Under Mr. Greenfield’s leadership, the company has “given back” to the community in a number of ways and has been particularly supportive of organizations dedicated to strengthening young people and empowering them to grow into healthy, responsible adults and contributing members of society. John Hendery, Vice President of the UIH Family Partners Board, made the presentation. In addition to a beautiful trophy, each honoree was given a proclamation from the New Jersey Legislature.
The Gala not only honored the vision of the agency’s founders and celebrated 150 years of continuous and quality service to underserved children and families, but also raised much-needed funds to help UIH Family Partners provide meaningful and life-changing programs to more than 1000 men, women and young people annually.
The event, literally 150 years in the making, garnered rave reviews from all who participated and created long-lasting memories. Perhaps one of the touching moments of the evening was when three of the adolescent mothers who participate in the agency’s New Empowerment Alternatives (NEA) residential program for pregnant and parenting teens and their babies from backgrounds of abuse and neglect came forward to blow out the candles on the sheet cake emblazoned with the agency’s colorful logo. The joy on the young women’s faces as they shared in the celebration illustrated the healing power of caring, and spoke clearly of the importance of the program in their lives.
Many thanks to all who helped to make the “Bridging the Past with the Future” Gala a success worthy of the agency’s legacy. Special thanks to Platinum Sponsor, Educational Testing Service (ETS); to sponsors: Fulton Financial Advisors/The Bank; TD Bank, NA; and the Samsara Foundation; and to in-kind contributors Pierre Downing; Innovative Awards, Inc.; Judith Arnold; John Paone; and Harwill Express Press.
For more information or to make a tax deductible gift in honor of UIH Family Partners’ 150th anniversary, please contact Claire Walton, Director of Communications, at 609-695-1492 x 131 or cwalton@uih.org. Checks or donations charged to MasterCard or Visa may be sent to:
UIH Family Partners
864 Bellevue Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08618
