30th Annual Mayor’s Charity Gala Awardees
The Scotch Plains Mayor’s Charity Gala Committee is pleased to announce the honorees for the 30th Annual Mayor’s Charity Gala (Covid-19 Version) to be held as a part of Scotch Plains Day on Sunday, October 4, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the steps of Town Hall.
This year’s Gala will honor the following individuals for their selfless service to our community. Listed next to each awardee is the organization in which monies raised will be donated:
Female Volunteer of the Year: Carmela Resnick – Rotary International Foundation
Male Volunteer of the Year: Daniel Sullivan – Scotch Plains Rescue Squad
Volunteer Organization of the Year: Immaculate Heart of Mary Food Bank – IHM Food Bank
Fanwood Scotch Plains Rotary Club – Rotary International Foundation
“I am proud to know all of all our honorees and am grateful for the selfless service, commitment and dedication to our community, especially during COVID-19 pandemic.” said Mayor Al Smith. “I have witnessed their contributions firsthand and can say they are more than worthy of this honor!”
In addition to her lifelong community service, when the pandemic struck, 2020 Female Volunteer of the Year Carmela Resnick, a sewing instructor took, it upon herself to start sewing masks with her “team” for anyone who needs one especially our first responders, hospital workers and seniors. The Fanwood Scotch Plains Rotary Club is selling her team’s masks at the Farmers Market and to date has raised over $8,000 for local food banks.
Dan Sullivan, our 2020 Male Volunteer of the Year, has dedicated over 50 years of his life to the community through his service to the Scotch Plains First Rescue Squad. Serving as president and on the board of directors, Dan has personally assisted many residents and recruited many young people to join the squad.
When the pandemic struck, 2020 Co-Volunteer Organization of the Year the Immaculate Heart of Mary food bank, stepped up its efforts and partnered with the SPF Resource Central to serve over 150 needy families per month. The IHM food bank team is comprised of, Geraldine Keogh, Rich Wagner, Jim Keliher, Denise Rogers, Mary Kate Schiller, John Reilly, Mike Goetz, Billy Duthie and Corrie Rinaldi and has been serving the community for many years.
Our other 2020 Co-Volunteer Organization of the Year, The Fanwood Scotch Plains Rotary Club, mobilized early in April, gathering local town resource information that would be useful for anyone impacted by COVID-19. They are a centralized resource to help match those in need with local resources and support local business. The support of the IHM food bank is just one example of their efforts during the pandemic.
In depth profiles of each of the awardees will be featured in future press releases and on the official Township website and on social media in the next few weeks.
There are several levels of sponsorship available to support our honorees. Please contact Gala Committee Chairwomen Lisa Schiller at 908-322-4999 or Parks and Recreation Director DJ Salvante at 903-32-6700 ext. 223 if you would like to make a contribution to the event.
Proceeds from the event are donated to charities chosen by each of the honorees. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Scotch Plains Municipal Alliance. MAC is an organization that is dedicated to providing substance abuse prevention programs, activities, and education in the communities of Scotch Plains and Fanwood.
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