Hudson County Community College Foundation 19th Annual Holiday Gala Will Take Place This Thursday, December 1

November 28, 2016

November 28, 2016, Jersey City, NJ – One of the first gala events of the holiday season will take place this Thursday, December 1, when the Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Foundation hosts its 19th annual festive fundraiser, which will feature a unique facet. The event will start at 6 p.m. in the College’s Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City – two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Transportation Center. Proceeds will provide scholarships for deserving students.

HCCC Vice President for Development Joseph D. Sansone said the theme for this year’s event is “A Gala Dining Experience.” Attendees will tour the College’s Culinary Arts Institute (CAI) program kitchens, where they will be able to savor a choice of more than 40 small plates that are representative of cuisine from around the world. The hors d’oeuvres, main dishes, side dishes and desserts – which include Asian style fish tacos, chana masala, pizza, teriyaki, bite-size pretzels with an assortment of dipping sauces, Argentine grilled lamb chops, no less than a half-dozen different meatballs, lobster rolls, falafel, ceviche, smoked duck breast, Roman beef, cold rolls and wontons, savory tartes and much more – are all being prepared by the HCCC CAI chefs/instructors.

“The food is always one of the highlights at the Foundation Galas, and it’s really no wonder – the HCCC CAI has been ranked the number-six best culinary program in the country,” Mr. Sansone stated.

Another highlight of the event will be the presentation of the College’s 2016 Distinguished Service Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations for their work on behalf of the College and the people of Hudson County. This year’s honorees are:

  • James A. Fife, Mayor of Harrison, NJ and HCCC Trustee Emeritus.  Mr. Fife has a distinguished 28-year career in education, having served as a teacher, guidance counselor, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and Principal of Harrison High School. He has served on the boards of Hudson County Schools of Technology, Harrison Board of Education, Harrison Housing Authority, Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees (where he is now Trustee Emeritus), Pioneer Boys Scholarship Committee, and Harrison Redevelopment Agency. In 2014, Mr. Fife became the seventh Mayor of Harrison and was elected to a four-year term.
  • Joseph M. Napolitano, Sr.  Mr. Napolitano is a lifelong resident of Jersey City, U.S. Army veteran, musician, and songwriter who taught at Snyder High School, Louie DelMonte and Master School of Music, and who was the owner/proprietor of Jacob’s Deli. He has served on the boards of the Jersey City Recreation Foundation, Pershing Field Babe Ruth League, Jerramiah T. Healy Charitable Foundation, Rotary Club Jersey City-Daybreak, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, Jersey City Heights Civic Association, and Secretary of the Hudson County Community College Foundation Board of Directors. He was also a recipient of the 2015 Hudson County Community College Heritage Award.

Individual tickets for the gala are available at $500.00 each.

In addition, the HCCC Foundation will hold its annual “Lucky Odds” raffle the evening of the Gala. The “Lucky Odds” Grand Prize winner will receive 40% of the raffle ticket sales, the Second Prize winner 6%, and the Third Prize Winner 4%. Raffle tickets cost $50 each; ticket holders need not be present to win.

The Hudson County Community College Foundation is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 corporation giving tax-exempt status to contributors. Since the Foundation was established in 1997, it has provided nearly $3 million in scholarships. The HCCC Foundation also established the Foundation Art Collection nine years ago to coincide with the initiation of the College’s Fine Arts studies program. Presently, the Collection includes over 900 paintings, lithographs, photographs, sculptures, and other works by nationally acclaimed artists which are displayed throughout all of the buildings on the College’s Journal Square Campus and at the North Hudson Campus. The Foundation also hosts a series of lectures called “Arts Talks,” which feature prominent artists and art authorities and scholars, and are open to the general public.

Additional information for the event and all tickets may be obtained by emailing jsansoneFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE%C2%A0or phoning 201.360.4004.