FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicole Williams, Communications & Public Relations Manager
nwilliams@cfbnj.org / 732-798-5213
BLUE JEAN BALL FEATURES BEATLES TRIBUTE AND RAISES NEARLY $1.6 MILLION TO FIGHT HUNGER
Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s annual gala honors supporters, raises critical funds for the state’s largest anti-
hunger, anti-poverty organization
Honoring ACME & Kings Nourishing Neighbors, Bank of America, and CFBNJ’s Bergen County partners
HILLSIDE, NJ—May 23, 2022
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) held its annual Blue Jean Ball gala event on Saturday, May 21 at the Central Railroad Terminal in Jersey City’s Liberty State Park. The organization’s largest, longest-running fundraiser – held virtually last year – returned in-person to provide guests with a fun, social night out while honoring some of CFBNJ’s most committed supporters. The event drew a crowd of more than 420 attendees and raised close to $1.6 million.
The Blue Jean Ball was chaired by Denise and Tony Ferolie, Patty and Chris Perry, and Roby and Josh Weinreich.
With a stylish denim chic dress code, the event began at 5:30 pm with a cocktail hour featuring food trucks on the Hudson River overlooking the New York City skyline. Three food truck partners generously donated their time and the food they prepared to kick the evening off deliciously: Harvest Restaurant Group, Talk Mac 2 Me, and Stone Soup, CFBNJ’s own on-site catering service run by Chef Paul Kapner.
Afterwards, the festivities moved into the concourse for a gourmet dinner, a performance by The Fab Four, and an awards presentation honoring CFBNJ supporters who have exemplified the organization’s core values of food, help, and hope. The formal presentation was emceed by comedian and friend of CFBNJ Adam Sank.
With uncanny, note-for-note renditions of Beatles’ classics, the Emmy-Award-winning Fab Four made guests think that they were watching the real thing! The Beatles tribute band provided the evening’s entertainment.
The FOOD award was presented to ACME & Kings Nourishing Neighbors, a leading CFBNJ partner in food donations, financial support, awareness, and volunteerism.
“Our mission is to continue to feed the people of New Jersey for many years to come,” said Jim Perkins, President of ACME Markets and Kings Food Markets. “Our partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is a key component of this mission.”
Bank of America received the HELP award to honor decades of philanthropic and volunteer support and an extraordinary commitment to pandemic response.
“On behalf of my New Jersey teammates, it is a great honor to receive CFBNJ’s HELP award,” said Bob Doherty, Senior Vice President at Bank of America and CFBNJ board member. “Bank of America is committed to fighting food insecurity in New Jersey, especially when it’s needed most. We’re proud to partner with CFBNJ in those efforts.”
The HOPE award was given to several Bergen County partners that have worked hand in hand with CFBNJ over the past two years to fight hunger and the economic effects of COVID-19: Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur, the Center for Food Action in New Jersey, the Russell Berrie Foundation, and Varick Memorial Food Pantry.
“For the Bergen County Food Security Task Force, hope means providing nutritious food, fighting against negative health outcomes, and making sure that we’re really getting at the root of combatting social determinants of health,” said Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur.
After the awards presentation, the evening concluded with dancing and a feast of desserts crafted by the food trucks.
“The Blue Jean Ball is a beloved annual tradition that our supporters have enjoyed for more than 25 years,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “We were thrilled to be able to bring it back inperson this year, and we’re grateful to the chairs, sponsors, honorees, and attendees who helped us exceed the event’s fundraising goal.”
CFBNJ would like to extend a special thank you to the event’s top sponsors: ACME & Kings Nourishing Neighbors, Bank of America, Wayne Paglieri and Jess Chang, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Luing Family Foundation, Terence and Paula O’Toole, and Roby and Josh Weinreich.
Click here to download select images from the event.
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The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, has been delivering food, help and hope across the state for more than 45 years. Last year, CFBNJ provided nutritious food for over 85 million meals through its network of more than 800 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs throughout the 15 New Jersey counties it serves. For our hungry neighbors, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful agent of change that fills the emptiness caused by hunger and provides resources that are essential to earning a sustainable living.
