Hugo and Marilyn Pfaltz of Summit will receive the Founder’s Award at Greater Newark Conservancy’s “Making Our City Bloom Gala” on May 10, 2018. Marilyn Pfaltz is retiring in 2018 after a 30-year volunteer commitment as a member of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.
Pfaltz joined the Conservancy Board in 1998 and has served as Co-Chair of the Development Committee since 1997, when it was still the Capital Campaign Committee. A founding partner of P & R Associates, she received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, and D.H.L from Bloomfield College, New Jersey. She lives in Summit, New Jersey with her husband, Hugo, also a Conservancy supporter, whose great grandparents arrived in Newark before the Civil War.
The Conservancy’s educational programs enrich the lives of thousands of inner city children from pre-school to high school. Sustainably-raised produce grown on the Conservancy’s urban farms in Newark increase access to fresh, nutritious food for thousands of low income residents of the City, including many senior citizens.
Through the City Bloom Landscaping Program, the Conservancy provides job and life skills training for hundreds of recently incarcerated Newark residents as they move towards full-time employment and reclaimed lives. Support for the gala will help the Conservancy continue to expand programs and services to make an even bigger contribution to the communities it serves.
“For 31 years, Greater Newark Conservancy has provided programs and services that contribute to a cleaner and greener city, better health and nutrition for Newark residents and new opportunities for people returning to the community from the criminal justice system,” noted Robin Dougherty, the Conservancy’s Executive Director. “Marilyn and her husband, Hugo, were there from the start, and have helped us pursue our mission with passion and determination. Their love for the City of Newark, its people and the environment have been greatly appreciated and will be hard to replace.”
Linda Bowden, New Jersey Regional President of PNC Bank, will be the event emcee. Other honorees include Don “Skip” Browne, who will receive the “Joan D. Murray Volunteerism Award”; Jane Houston, “The Shipley Family Award for Philanthropic Endeavors”; and Bill and Sharon Brown, “The Nelson Mandela Freedom Award.”
You can support the continued good work of the Conservancy, which has earned a four-star rating for sound fiscal management from Charity Navigator, the nation’s premier charity evaluator, by purchasing tickets for the Gala on Thursday, May 10th, 6 to 9 p.m., at Nanina’s in The Park, Belleville, New Jersey. To reserve tickets online, visit bidpal.net/citybloomgala or call 973-642-4646.
For more information about the benefit visit citybloom.org. You can also visit the site to learn about other programs and services and volunteer opportunities and follow the Conservancy on social media at Facebook.com/GreaterNewarkConservancy, plus Twitter and Instagram @Citybloom87.
(above) Summit residents Marilyn and Hugo Pfaltz.
