Event Recap: The 2019 Library Gala

Updated: May 23, 2019

by Jennifer Ersalesi

Members of the Library Foundation and Board of Trustees. From Left: Jim Rizzo, Kim Bogosian, Krista Vellis, Monica Rodriguez, Palmer Yale, Pat Wester, Julie Kajouras, Kristie Damell, Library Director Judah Hamer, Wendy Armacost, Liz Fichtel and Anthony Nicodemo

The Rutherford Public Library Foundation hosted its 2019 Gala on Saturday, May 11th at Il Villaggio in Carlstadt. The event featured for the first time a live band, The Wedding Crashers, who played to a packed house of over 160 in attendance. This year the Foundation chose to honor the Top Dawgs Exceptional Individuals program which provides programs that teach soccer and basketball skills in a safe environment to children with special needs by partnering them with high school students.

With the help of lead sponsor BCB Bank, the event raised approximately $20,000 which is intended for capital improvements to the Library building. The Library Foundation’s mission is to help fund physical and infrastructure improvements to the library. Its current goal is to fund the construction of additional classroom space on the mezzanine which would improve the flexibility and amount of classes and programming. Guests were also able to bid on silent auction items including a private Storytime with Miss Jane and a behind-the-scenes studio tour of Fox News.