Carteret, NJ – Mayor Daniel J. Reiman was joined by local, county, and state officials, and over 300 supporters of the Children’s Charity on Friday June 3rd for the annual Charity Ball. The event is hosted annually to raise additional funds for children’s scholarships, services, and programs, and to provide a venue in which volunteers and supporters are honored.
On Friday the Mayor announced 10 local scholarships made possible through the charity, and provided recognition and awards in 4 categories to community and business leaders. Formal presentations were made by Congressman Albio Sires (N.J. – 13), Senator Joseph Vitale (19th District), and Assemblyman Craig Coughlin (19th District).
The 2011 Children’s Charity Trust Fund Award recipients are:
Rich Hrycuna
Volunteer Appreciation Award
Richard Hrycuna has been a life long Carteret resident and a member of the St. Demetrius Ukranian Orthodox Cathedral. He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Michael & Louise Hrycuna. He attended Carteret High School and graduated from Perth Amboy Vocational Tech in 1969. Rich has been married for 33 years to Liz and they have two children. Rich worked for Twin County Grocers until they closed in 1999, at which time he worked with JJR Construction and then operated Jacques Avenue Deli.
Rich is a member of the Carteret Elks 2235. He is a Master Mason with Theodore Roosevelt Lodge 219, and St. Stephens, South Amboy Lodge No. 63. In association with the Masons of New Jersey he contributes his time on Sundays to help at the Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park, NJ . He is currently employed by the Carteret Business Partnership. Richie has been an active volunteer with Borough events and programs, serves on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and volunteers for charity events that include the Annual Ball, New Years Eve Dance, and the Charity Carnival.
Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA)
Local #67
Corporate Leadership Award
The Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Local #67 represents the Captains, Firefighters, and EMTs that make up the Career Division of the Carteret Fire Department. The residents and visitors of Carteret are protected by 5 Captains, 15 Firefighters, and 4 EMS EMTs from the Career Division, 365 days a year. The Career Division members supply civilians with Fire, Rescue, and EMS protection. All members are CPR, EMT, or First Responder certified. The Department responds to approximately 2,500 calls per year.
Members of the F.M.B.A. Local #67 coordinate and participate in a range of community events and donate thousands of man hours annually. Some of the community outreach programs that the F.M.B.A. Local #67 members contribute to include the Morning Checkup Program, Child Passenger Safety Program, Juvenile Fire-Setter Program, Motor Vehicle Lock Out Program, Child Fire Safety Education, Operation Fire Safe, File of Life, a variety of senior fire safety programs, student scholarships, Child Helmet Safety Program, Ethnic Day, Boy Scouts, Little League, St. Barnabas Burn Foundation, CPR Education, Handicap Awareness Day, and the Fire Prevention Open House.
The Honorable Dennis Cherepski
President, Carteret Board of Education
Civic Leadership Award
Dennis Cherepski has been a lifelong resident of Carteret, as were both his parents. He has been married for 31 years, and is the proud father of twin boys, Brian & Kevin.
Dennis has served as the Governor’s appointee as Commissioner to the Carteret Housing Authority. He has also served as President of the Carteret Sportsmen Association Pop Warner Football, Past President of the HPBA, Redevelopment Commissioner, Carteret Recreation Commissioner, and most recently as President of the Carteret Board of Education. He has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club, continuing to serve Carteret’s youngsters as he has as a youth baseball and basketball coach in both Carteret and Merrill Park. He has been an organizer of a youth travel baseball team which has played various teams throughout the United States and finished as one of the top 10 teams at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, and has been Director of the state of New Jersey AAU Baseball Tournament.
and
Hank D’Orsi
President, H. D’Orsi Contractors, Inc.
Corporate Philanthropy Award
Hank D’Orsi, the founder and owner of H. D’Orsi Contractor, Inc. was born and raised in Port Reading New Jersey. A graduate of Woodbridge High School, Mr. D’Orsi began working on the docks of Port Newark before joining the U.S. Army in 1965. After serving 2 years in the military Mr. D’Orsi was honorably discharged in 1967. In 1972 he opened H. D’Orsi Contractor Inc., a general contracting company specializing in all types of masonry work and tank and pump installations.
Along with Peter Sica, H. D’Orsi Contractors, Inc. donated labor and equipment to help rebuild the Carteret Football Stadium, sodding the Carteret High School football field, and providing for the installation of the first set of lights on Sullivan Field. Equipment and labor were also donated routinely when needed to help out with snow plowing in the town and for churches. H. D’Orsi is responsible for a number area improvements including St. Joseph’s church, re-roofing the old school & the convent, and also providing labor to install new sidewalks throughout the Borough.
Hank married Kathy Burns in 1975, and has been married for 36 years. He has been actively involved in area humanitarian activities, and has been an annual sponsor of Charity events that include Childrens’ Charity Golf Outing. He serves as Chairman of the Carteret Port Authority, and as Treasurer of the Carteret Business Partnership, Inc..
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The Mayor’s Children’s Charity Trust Fund is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization, established in 2003 to provide Carteret’s children with a monetary resource for education, athletics, and health. The Trust Fund was created in recognition that many youngsters are high achievers with great potential, who with needed financial support can better establish their own paths to success.
The charitable organization has raised funding for scholarships, arts and culture, athletic programs, other charities, and a variety of programs and services that benefit local children. Such events have included the Children’s Charity Carnival, Christmas Festival, Charity Ball and Silent Auction, along with many other varying charity events.
“Our charity has done a lot over the past 8 years to raise funds for children’s programs and scholarships,” Mayor Reiman added. “None of our achievements would be possible without the selfless commitment of community and business leaders, who go the extra mile to help ensure that our children recognize and reach their full potential”.
