Gala Chairman, Edward S. Walsh announced that The Interfaith Food Pantry will honor Mary Jo Buchanan, Morris County Director of Human Services, and the law firm Graham Curtin, P.A. at it’s 12th annual Spring Gala, “Fighting Hunger One Step at a Time”. The event will take place on Friday, March 25, 2011 at The Crystal Plaza, 305 West Northfield Ave., in Livingston, NJ. In addition to dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions the special feature this year will be live performances by Dancing with the Stars’ Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo.
Mary Jo Buchanan will be given the 2011 Pantry Partner Award. She has had a long relationship with the Interfaith Food Pantry (IFP) through her position as Executive Director of Family Services for Morris County, working with local families in need. Her work continued when she took the position of Director of Human Services for the County. “Because she had recent experience with the Family Services capital campaign, we looked to her for advice and she generously offered to share her expertise and assist us in our efforts” said Rosemary Gilmartin, Executive Director of IFP. “She has served as our liaison with the Freeholders and helped form the public/private partnership to build a new warehouse and distribution center. The new center will help us serve all County residents in need of assistance”, she said.
Graham Curtin will be receiving the 2011 Outstanding Service Award. They began their involvement with IFP three years ago through the volunteer efforts of one of its associates. The volunteer work expanded to numerous members of the firm, and they have built on their relationship by serving on IFP committees and the Board of Trustees, volunteering during the annual Thanksgiving Program and hosting food drives. When the Capital Campaign was announced they generously offered to provide all the legal services involved pro-bono and have assisted us throughout the entire process. “Since we have launched the campaign, Graham Curtin has been with us every step of the way through negotiations, leases and contracts. We could not have done this without them.” Gilmartin said.
The Pantry is currently located in the basement of the original Morris View Nursing Home. In the past 10 years, the number of households served annually has grown by 673%, and their current space is being used beyond capacity. Three years ago, the pantry’s Board of Directors launched a $2.7 million dollar capital campaign to build a new warehouse and distribution center on land donated by the County of Morris in the former Greystone complex in Parsippany. To date, more than $1.9 million has been raised, and all proceeds from the Spring Gala will be used toward to project.
Tickets to the Gala are $250. VIP tickets are available for $500 and include a private cocktail hour and a meet and greet with Dancing with the Stars’ Sliwinska and Mazo. Corporate sponsorships are available, as well as advertising opportunities in the Gala program. Contributions to the auctions are also welcome. For information on how to purchase tickets, sponsorships, or ad space, please contact Carolyn Lake at 973-538-8049, ext. 11.
