Hackensack, NJ -- The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) will honor community leaders at its 25th Anniversary Celebration. The celebration will be held at Aura Restaurant & Bar.

The festivities feature a cocktail reception with appetizers, a wine/beer open bar, an interactive game-show style awards ceremony emceed by Ryan Huban from the professional improv group, Howdy Stranger, and a New Jersey trivia contest. The celebration's net proceeds will help support the Foundation’s work in the arts, creative placemaking, environmental protection, civic engagement, public health and local education in North Jersey communities.

Community Leaders to be Honored

The NNJCF will honor these local heroes in civic leadership, the arts and the environment for their contributions to the community:

• Michael Shannon, President and co-founder, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation. Shannon, an Englewood resident, holds a B.A. in Architecture from Princeton University, an M.A. in Adult Education from the department of Organization & Leadership at Columbia Teachers College, and a M.A. in Anthropology from Columbia University. His professional background includes corporate management as President, Northwood Corporation; Director, Design & Marketing, at Dunbar Furniture Company; and Director of Design, Formica Corporation.

• Jennylyn Brown, President of the Hackensack Garden Club, Chairperson of the Hackensack Environmental Commission, and Girl Scout Troop 95880 co-leader. Brown, a resident of Hackensack for 16 years, hails from Grenada and grew up in New York City. She has held several community leadership positions to create a greener future for Hackensack and its residents. Among her leadership positions, she is serves on the advisory board to the City Council concerning matters of open space, water resources, and pollution control, and environmental issues.

• Monica Chavarria-Malin, President of the Hackensack Art Club and Curator and Art Director of Club Colombia USA of Hackensack. With over 24 years’ experience as an art teacher, Chavarria-Malin includes in her curriculum an interest in the preservation of nature and human values. She received Bachelor’s degrees in Visual Arts and Artistic Education, and a Master's degree in Management and Cultural Promotion from Antioquia University-Colombia.

Chavarria-Malin, who grew up in Colombia surrounded by trees and flowers, is called by many “The Tree Lady” for her painting of surrealistic trees that take on a human form. For over 30 years, she participated in several art exhibitions and cultural events. Among her work, she painted murals for the cities of Hackensack and Paterson. A resident of Teaneck, she is a member of several organizations, including the Fort Lee Artist Guild, the Art Educators of New Jersey, and “Colombian Leaders Working for a Better Colombia”. In addition, she is on the team leading the NNJCF’s Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice initiative.

• Albert Dib, The City of Hackensack’s Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment. Dib, a lifelong resident of Hackensack, graduated from Fordham University and received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. Before joining the City of Hackensack in 2004, he worked as a commercial litigator for several years. In his work with the city, he has served in many roles, including Information Technology, legal and administrative support.

As the Executive Director for the Main Street Business Alliance, he oversaw the Special Improvement District. During that time, the Alliance and the City laid the groundwork resulting in the transformation of the downtown. Dib is also a member of the City’s Planning Board, Performing Arts Center Board, Environmental Commission and the city liaison to the Main Street Business Alliance.

Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities

The cost per ticket is $125 per person, $600 for five tickets, $1,250 for ten tickets, $1,875 for 15 tickets and $2,500 for 20 tickets. Tickets may be purchased online at https://bit.ly/NNJCF25thAnniversaryCelebration.

Sponsorship levels, ranging from $150 to $5,000, are available for individuals and businesses to participate. Funds raised from the sponsorships will be used to benefit the NNJCF's new and ongoing programs in the arts, creative placemaking, environmental protection, civic engagement, and more.

To date, sponsors for the event are: The Algrant Family, Print House, Winne Banta Basralian & Khan, M&T Bank, bergenPAC, Steven Cirillo CPA, LLC, Suburban Consulting Engineers, Arohnson Weiner Salerno & Kaufman P.C., and Newark Science and Sustainability Inc. For information about sponsorship opportunities and relevant marketing opportunities, visit https://bit.ly/NNJCF25thAnniversaryCelebration.    

People unable to attend are invited to support the organization by donating at https://www.nnjcf.org/donation/ or by sending a check made out to The Northern NJ Community Foundation (NNJCF), 1 University Plaza Drive, Suite 128, Hackensack, NJ 07601.

Celebrating 25 Years in the Community

With the motto 'What can we do together, that we can't do alone?", the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation helps 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. Founded in 1998, the NNJCF has awarded over $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to local residents. Through 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. The Foundation's Climate Action Mobilization Project (CAMP) helps Hackensack and neighboring communities become more resilient in northern New Jersey.

To get involved in the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation's work, call 201-568-5608 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Date: October 26, 2023.

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Venue: Aura Restaurant & Bar, 159 Main Street in Hackensack, NJ.

For more info https://www.nnjcf.org/25th-anniversary-celebration/.