Cranford, NJ – The Union County College 基金会 hosted the 9th Annual Close the Gap Cocktail Reception on Wednesday, July 17 at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth raising $60,000. This signature event supports the College’s strategic initiative to increase the graduation rates of African-American students, to effectively “close the achievement gap.” Since the launch of this campaign, the graduation rate of African American students has more than quintupled.
每年, the 基金会 recognizes leaders of distinction, with Angela Adderley receiving the 2024 社区 Leader of the Year award and 乔治·L. Cooke III receiving the 2024 Frank Bolden Honorary Award. Ms. Adderley has been an entrepreneur in the fast-food industry for nearly 30 years and currently owns and operates ten McDonald’s franchises in New Jersey. Over the course of her career, she has received numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Ronald Award, 社区 Distinction Award, and most recently the Fred L. Turner Golden Arch Award.
乔治·L. Cooke III has lived in Hillside for over 40 years and has maintained a connection to his community as a public servant, most recently as Councilman-At-Large. Mr. Cooke has been a member of the Hillside Scholarship Fund since 1986, the Lions Club since 2017, and as a trustee on the Union County College 基金会 Board since 2017. He has been a tireless advocate for UCNJ students and has led several fundraising efforts to support the Close the Gap campaign.
“在UCNJ, student s科克大学ess and social justice are our priorities, and we believe that receiving a high-quality education is a transformative opportunity for our students. With nearly a decade of Close the Gap initiatives, the UCNJ community and our donors are committing to providing financial resources, 指导, and opportunities for our African American students,” stated UCNJ Union College of 新泽西州联合县 President Dr. 玛格丽特•米. McMenamin.
The 基金会 launched the Close the Gap Campaign in 2015 and has raised approximately $500,000 to support student scholarships, 紧急融资, and other support services. For more information on Close the Gap or to make a donation, go to http://xfj1.xgcr.net/union-county-college-foundation/ways-to-give/donate-today/.
UCNJ是一所公立大学, comprehensive community college that provides quality, 负担得起的, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to a Bloomberg 业务 Center, 创新中心, and Student Research hub. 另外, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 10 community colleges in the country for 2025 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more, visit www.科克大学.edu.
