YWCA Bergen County will mark its 95th anniversary with “95 Years of Walking the Talk: A Celebration of YWCA Bergen County”. “We are planning an elegant, full-scale celebration,” says CEO Helen Archontou. “We want to draw in the entire community—members past and present, young families, with a special focus on welcoming men—as we take this moment to celebrate all that we’ve been, all that we are, and all that we will be.”
At the heart and center of the celebration are four incredible women:
• Joan Groome, Executive Director of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce and former YW Development Director will be honorary legacy host. “Joan’s dedication to YWCA Bergen County helped build our organization and she continues to inspire us,” says YW CEO Helen Archontou.
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• Ridgewood’s own Charlotte Samuels will receive YWCA Bergen County Young Leader Award. “Charlotte is an incredible young woman. Her achievements as an athlete and swimmer only begin to showcase her power and integrity.”
• Gina Plotino, a member of Women United in Philanthropy, and VP of Operations at Bergen County United Way will receive our YWCA Bergen County Beacon of Light Award for her dedication to lifting up and mentoring women and girls.
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• Assemblywoman Valerie Vaineri Huttle will receive our YWCA Bergen County Woman of Action Award for her courageous work around key individual rights issues including ending campus sexual violence. Archontou says, “Valerie has been a friend to the YW and to all women as she courageously takes on the most meaningful battles.”
The program will also feature five “stand out” men from our community who will be there to “stand up” for Bergen County women: Tom Toronto, President of Bergen County United Way; Anthony Cureton, President Bergen County, NJ NAACP; AJ Luna, Director of Bergen County, NJ Veterans
Services; Jeremy Lentz, Executive Director of the Teaneck International Film Festival; and Anthony Johnson, WABC-TV News journalist.
We will also take time out to “cut loose” on the dance floor. Arthur Murray Ridgewood has generously agreed to lead a special “Dancing through the Decades” feature. Evening will also include cocktails, 4-course dining, special guests and a silent auction including prizes from Broadway and Walt Disney World, among many others.
We invite the public to join us on our mission to celebrate!
For more information visit www.ywcabergencounty.org/95-Gala or to purchase tickets go to https://ywcabc95thgala.eventbrite.com
YWCA Bergen County is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen our community. YWCA Bergen County is part of an international movement serving over 2 million in the United States and 25 million worldwide. For comprehensive information about this important work, go to: http://www.ywcabergencounty.org and www.ywca.org.
