Annual Fundraiser to Support Scholarship Program
The County College of Morris (CCM) Foundation’s 2011 Gala, to be held on Friday, May 6 at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ, will honor Delta Dental of New Jersey President and CEO Walter Van Brunt, three of the college’s alumni, and one area business leader. The annual event raises funds for CCM’s scholarship program.
Van Brunt, who has led Delta Dental of New Jersey since 1998, will receive the CCM Foundation’s Leadership Award. He has been active in a number of business associations, including the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, and under his leadership the company has been the recipient of numerous awards for philanthropy and community service. During his tenure, the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation has awarded more than $1 million a year to support the delivery of dental care to more than 20,000 people in New Jersey and Connecticut and to help educate thousands of children about oral health.
In addition to Van Brunt, the evening’s alumni awardees will include Daren Cortese ’87 (Alumnus of the Year); Janice (Roe) Smith ’75, ’77 (Achievement); and Laura Reilly ’95 (Humanitarian). Gil Zweig, president of Glenbrook Technologies of Randolph, NJ, will receive the Alumni Service Award for his years of support for the college.
One of the highlights of this year’s event will be a “virtual” ad journal with electronic flip pages that will reside on the CCM Foundation’s website before, during and after the May 6 event. Journal sponsors will have the opportunity to place a link to their company websites directly from their ads in the “virtual” journal.
Also, for the first time, companies who sponsor at the Platinum or Gold levels will receive a named scholarship for the 2011-12 academic years.
The program will include remarks by student scholarship recipient David Seal; performances by music faculty and cast of CCM’s Phantom of the Opera and Into The Woods; student modeling of silent auction items; souvenir key sale for a special top quality auction item; over 50 silent auction packages including trips, concert tickets and specialty one-of-a-kind items; and music by the Warren Daniels’ Band.
“Our annual Gala is a great opportunity to support the important work of County College of Morris but, more importantly, to raise funds for our scholarship program,” said Joseph Vitale, president of the County College of Morris Foundation. “Without these scholarships, many of our students would have to forgo their dream of a college education. Today, every dollar counts.”
The event begins with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m.; dinner and program begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to register for the 2011 County College of Morris Foundation Gala go to www.ccm.edu/foundation or (973) 328-5060.
