The 10th Annual NJN Gala Celebrates Literacy

STATEWIDE --The 10th annual NJN Gala, under the leadership of John McGoldrick, Executive Vice President, Bristol-Myers Squibb, is being held on Tuesday, June 10 at The Hilton at East Brunswick with a reception at 6 pm, and dinner and program at 7 pm. The annual gala is the major fundraising event of the NJN Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the state's television and radio network.

NJN connects New Jersey's diverse communities with programs about and for New Jersey creating a voice and identity for our state. Funds from the Gala will support award-winning original programs including NJN News, Images/Imagenes, Another View, On the Record and Reporters Roundtable. In addition, proceeds from the Gala support NJN's family literacy programs that are helping our children succeed in school and adults to prepare for today's high-technology workplace.

The gala event honors individuals and organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to education and community building in New Jersey. This year, NJN will present its Partnership Award to Mitchell E. Hersh, chief executive officer, Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and Kent Manahan, NJN News Anchor. Special tribute will be given to Scott Kobler, Chair Public Broadcasting Authority 1992-1994, and current member of the PBA and Foundation Boards, and Aristides Georgantas, founding Chair of the NJN Foundation. NJN will also recognize Al Koeppe, CEO, PSEG for the company's 100th anniversary.

NJN will extend special recognition to Wally Amos, President of the National Center for Family Literacy. NJN in partnership with KCPT, Kansas City Missouri's Public Television station, is producing a cutting edge interactive multimedia children's pilot that will be hosted by Wally Amos.

In addition, this year NJN has invited celebrities, community leaders and personalities from the world of arts, literature, entertainment, sports and business to autograph their favorite children's book as part on an NJN fundraiser. The autographed books are available for members and other NJN supporters at an online auction on NJN's web site from now until June 10 as part of the NJN Gala Celebrity Bookshelf. Co-chairs Ronnie Goldberg and Cheryl Hersh developed the ten-day online auction to help raise money to support NJN's literacy outreach to help children learn to read throughout the state. Celebrities include Wally Amos (founder of Famous Amos Cookies and author and national spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America); Bill Bradley, Yogi Berra, Brendan Byrne (former NJ governor); Joyce Carol Oates (author), James Cramer and Lawrence Kudlow (co-hosts of CNBC's Kudlow and Cramer show); Roberta Flack (singer/songwriter); Wynton Marsalis (jazz musician and composer, and artistic director, Jazz at Lincoln Center) and Jennifer Morgan (author/educator).

To bid, click on "bid on this item" to reach a form to fill out on-line with your name, address and phone number. Online bidding closes noon on June 10. To continue bidding on these items during the afternoon and the evening of June 10, interested individuals can call the auction hotline listed on the website. Bids will be accepted by phone and in person at the NJN Gala until 8:45 pm. The highest bidders will be announced at the NJN Gala the evening of June 10.