The Community Chest to Honor Valley Bank, Trustee Amie AbuRustum, and Community Service Awardee Jing Li at Gala


(Eastern Bergen County, New Jersey; May 25, 2022) -- The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County returns to toast and recognize in person our neighbors and volunteers' contributions at its annual gala, Help Us Fill The Community Chest. 

The Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization serving eastern Bergen County, New Jersey, presents the gala on Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Montammy Golf Club, located at 7 Montammy Drive in Alpine, New Jersey.  The gala's net proceeds will provide grants to nonprofit agencies responding to an increased demand for services for our neighbors in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honorees

                  This year, The Chest recognizes the contributions of these three leaders for their extensive involvement, connection, and contributions to the community:

• Corporate Philanthropy Award - Valley Bank.  This corporate philanthropist has been involved in the community and participated in several of The Chest's activities.  They served as a gala sponsor, volunteered on committees, and assisted with securing grants to cover operational expenses incurred to help local agencies.  The company's staff plans to teach a financial literacy course to college bound young women.

• Outstanding Trustee Award - Amie AbuRustum.  This Tenafly volunteer works tirelessly to carry out The Chest's mission of neighbors helping neighbors.  A passionate advocate for young people, AbuRustum provided leadership as Co-Chair of The Chest's Young Women's Leadership Program.  She also has served in other capacities with the organization as Vice President and Chair of the Allocations Committee.

• Student Community Service Award - Jing Li.  Li started at The Chest as a summer intern and quickly became one of the Library Display planning team's key members to provide social/racial justice literature for the public, creating marketing materials and other activities to launch the program.  A senior at Northern Valley High School-Demarest, Li is an honors student, a member of the National Honor Society, and an AP Scholar of Distinction.  This Closter resident also received several honors for debating and is an active member of several clubs, such as DECA and the NVD Task Force, working with the school to create anti-racist programming and literature.

Program

                  Producer/Director Harry Martin, an Emmy Award-winning TV journalist, who anchored TV newscasts at three leading television stations in New York City, brings his extensive expertise to emcee the event.  The program also features a magical musical performance by the Young People's Chorus at Thurnauer.  Live and online silent auctions will offer a range of products to bid upon with auctioneer Katherine Cooperman officiating.

Tickets and Sponsors

                  The cost per ticket is $185 per person, $250 per patron, and $1,500 for a table of ten.  Register online at www.tinyurl.com/ccgala2022 or send a check made out to The Community Chest, located at 122 South Van Brunt Street, Englewood, New Jersey 07631.   Other opportunities to support The Chest's work include bidding in the live and silent auctions, congratulating the honorees in the journal, and making a contribution directly to the organization.

                  Sponsorship levels are also available for individuals and businesses to help fill the chest.  Each offers various marketing opportunities and the recognition of this philanthropic involvement by The Community Chest's large number of supporters.  To date, the 2022 sponsors are: Barbara Strauss and Thomas Manolio, BMW of Tenafly, ConnectOne Bank, Decotech, Englewood Health, Jaguar Land Rover Englewood, William and Patricia Johnston, The Kamson Corporation, Richard and Shawn Kennedy, Lakeland Bank, Max Mara, Ed and Ellen Skowronski, The Alfiero & Lucia Palestroni Foundation, TD Bank, and PSE&G.

                  Other sponsors are: BCB Bank, Emily and Roger Chang, Otterstedt Insurance Agency, Sisterhood of Temple Sinai, Ira and Shelley Taub, April and Alex Uram, Valley Bank, Visions Federal Credit Union, Shelly and Justin Wimpfheimer, Gail Smith, Loren and Jennifer Wimpfheimer, Franci and Adam Steinberg, Treeco/Shop Rite, Vergona Crane, A Michael Taylor Realty Corp., Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, Raymond James, Joe and Judy Klyde, Kathleen Scott, Wolfgang's Inc., Barry and Melanie Zingler.

                  Visit the event's website, www.tinyurl.com/ccgala2022, and register for the gala, purchase sponsorships, buy an ad in The Chest's gala journal, and view items available in the auction.  For additional information, call the office at 201-568-7474.

About The Community Chest

                  Founded in 1933, The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Englewood, New Jersey, has supported local not-for-profit agencies for nearly 90 years.  The Chest leads initiatives and supports nonprofits that make our communities stronger and benefit people in need in eastern Bergen County.  Each year, The Chest raises funds and allocates them to agencies demonstrating the capacity to provide services to local citizens.  The organization also provides coordinating and planning services in its communities, serving as a bridge between agencies and organizations and investing in the stability and quality of the service network.

                  The Community Chest's Board of Managers is comprised of community leaders dedicated to improving the lives of neighbors in need.  People interested in being considered for board membership may contact Executive Director Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer at (201) 568-7474.

                  For further information about The Chest, visit www.thecommunitychestebc.org/ or contact (201) 568-7474.  Stay updated about the organization’s activities on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Photo Caption: Amie AbuRustum will be honored with The Community Chest's Outstanding Trustee Award.

Photo Credit:  Courtesy of Amie AbuRustum

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