Rutherford Public Library Gala 2025 Honoree Jim Rizzo

By Jennifer Ersalesi

Photo credits: Say Cheez Photobooth, Maggie McGill Lombardy

On Saturday, May 3rd, the Rutherford Public Library held its Annual Gala at Il Villaggio in Carlstadt. This year's Honoree was Jim Rizzo for his dedication to the Rutherford Public Library and his philanthropy to the community.

President of the Rutherford Public Library Foundation, Kim Bogosian, spoke about Jim Rizzo, Director of BCB Bank, who has generously given back to the Rutherford community for many years. "As long as I've known him (Jim), he has been ready to support people who want to be active participants in the community. He is always looking for fellow public servants because he knows empowering others is the most responsible way to plan for the future," Kim explained. Jim Rizzo and BCB Bank financially support the Rutherford Public Library and many other organizations, events, and programming. Rarely is there an event in town that is not sponsored in some part, if not completely, by BCB Bank, including Halfway to St. Patty's Day, the Summer Concert Series in Lincoln Park, and more.

Jim and BCB Bank also sponsor many sports teams in Rutherford, including baseball, softball, lacrosse, football, St. Mary's CYO basketball, Top Dawgs, and cheerleading. "The public servant in him (Jim) empowers all of us to be better public servants, and Jim dependably and reliably empowers us all to be a stronger community every day," Kim described in her speech.

The Rutherford Public Library Gala was another successful fundraiser for the Rutherford Public Library and all of the important work that they do alongside the Rutherford Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Rutherford Public Library, and the Rutherford Public Library Board of Trustees.