From FAMILYConnections:
Bunny and Lloyd Ucko – Short Hills residents – 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award
The FAMILYConnections 12th International Tasting Gala will take place on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at the Westminster Hotel, Livingston. This popular evening of music, fine food and wine will benefit over 4,000 area children, adults and families.
Honorees at this year’s event are: Christian McBride (Grammy-Winning Jazz Bassist) and Melissa Walker (Acclaimed Jazz Vocalist and Founder of Jazz House Kids), and Bunny and Lloyd Ucko, longtime supporters of FAMILYConnections.
Featuring many of the area’s finest and most popular restaurants and caterers, the Tasting Gala is an Essex County fundraising favorite. This year’s participants include but are not limited to Above Restaurant & Bar, Ariyoshi, Papillion 25 and Chef Jesse, Chef to the Stars of South Orange, Basilico and DaNico of Millburn, Fiorino Ristorante and La Focaccia Ristorante of Summit, Nero’s, Lithos Estiatorio and THAVMA Grill of Livingston and Restaurant Serenade of Chatham.
Students from Jazz House Kids will perform during the festivities.
“This will be a fun evening celebrating the work that FAMILYConnections does building strong families and communities in the Greater Essex region.” said Jacques Hryshko FAMILYConnections Executive Director and Maplewood resident. “If you want to enjoy great food from local favorites, and hear some great jazz while helping your neighbors in need, come celebrate with us!”
Melissa Walker and Christian McBride – Montclair residents – 2016 Champion of the People Award
Jami Thall of South Orange and Jody Lipsky of Maplewood are Co-Chairs of FAMILYConnections’ Development Committee which is spearheading the Gala. Other members of this Committee include Sally Monaghan and Alan Levine from South Orange, and Laura Whitmire and Lisa-Renee Dumas from Maplewood.
FAMILYConnections serves Essex and surrounding counties with 35 behavioral health programs for all ages, offering counseling, skills-building, training and prevention. Funds raised from the International Tasting Gala will support all of these services.
Read Village Green’s stories about FAMILYConnections’ programs Reunity House and The Loft:
Finding Community in ‘The Loft’ at Columbia High School
How Reunity House in South Orange Changed Foster Care Reunification in NJ
To purchase tickets or to learn more about FAMILYConnections, please visit www.familyconnectionsnj.org or contact Nancy Wellbrock at nwellbrock@familyconnectionsnj.org.
