April 28, 2008
NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME TO CELEBRATE STATE’S BEST AT INDUCTION CEREMONY ON MAY 4TH AT NJPAC
Historic Ceremony to Induct Initial Class
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Two generals, two Nobel Prize winners, the Man of the Millennium, an international rock star … a group as diverse as the state of New Jersey itself will be inducted into the first class of inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. They will be feted at a gala red carpet induction ceremony on Sunday, May 4th at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Beginning with a walk on the red carpet at 4:30 PM and followed by a 5:30 official state ceremony hosted by the honorary chair Governor Jon S. Corzine, the festivities are open to the public.
Launched in the fall of 2005, the New Jersey Hall of Fame has been created to honor those who have made significant contributions to the state, the country and the world. When the museum is built, it will also provide important role models for young people. The board plans to raise funds and construct an interactive museum which will be an educational resource where visitors can learn about those who have excelled and made a difference in our lives.
This inaugural class encompasses three inductees from each of five categories: Arts & Entertainment, Enterprise, General, Historical and Sports.
The inductees include Buzz Aldrin, Clara Barton, Yogi Berra, Bill Bradley, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Malcolm Forbes, General Robert Wood Johnson, Coach Vince Lombardi, Toni Morrison, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep and Harriet Tubman.
“We expect most if not all of our inductees to be present to receive their awards,” says Bart Oates, chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the NJHOF and former member of two New York Giants Super Bowl championship teams. “It’s an historic night and everyone has expressed his or her delight at the honor. And just as exciting, we have direct descendents representing those inductees who are deceased.”
“We hope that the Hall of Fame becomes an institution that lasts through the ages, has an immeasurably on the pride of New Jersey, honors our legends and inspires our children. That’s a mission that all of us can rally around.”
Of course, half of the inductees are very much alive and are expected to attend, including two Montclair neighbors Buzz Aldrin and Yogi Berra. When asked about his induction into the Hall of Fame, baseball legend Yogi Berra replied, “The Hall of Fame is a wonderful idea to teach kids and I am honored to be included with such an impressive group of individuals. Although I was born in Missouri, Carmen and I have lived in New Jersey for more than fifty years so we consider this our home. I am looking forward to being inducted along with a Montclair native son Buzz Aldrin.”
Representing Thomas Edison will be three great grandchildren of the “Man of the Millennium.” Vince Lombardi’s grandson John will be flying in from Green Bay because he knew his “grandfather would have been thrilled with the honor.”
Two major business leaders are attending to receive awards for their famous philanthropic father and grandfather respectively. Publisher and former Presidential candidate Steve Forbes will accept for his father Malcolm Forbes, a popular and generous business giant, and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson will represent his grandfather General Robert Wood Johnson, a remarkably visionary business executive and foundation founder.
The gala red carpet event on May 4th promises to be an exciting evening with several New Jersey guest performers backed by the popular La Bamba and the Hubcaps, led by New Jersey’s own Rich Rosenberg, best known for his work on the Conan O’Brien Show as well as with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. The ceremony will feature video salutes, a formal awards presentation to each inductee by special guests such as novelist Mary Higgins Clark and several surprise guests.
“This event is a great way for people to take pride in the accomplishments of the rich heritage of our state. Not everyone we are inducting was born here, but they lived here for a lot of years and called New Jersey home. These are amazing role models for all of us,” said Steve Edwards, Executive Producer for the event. “Not only is the Hall of Fame an important way to promote pride in the accomplishments of New Jerseyans, it also will be a resource for young people to learn about these role models. That’s why education is such an important part of our efforts.”
The co-chairs for this first induction ceremony are Thomas J. Marino, Partner and CEO of the accounting and consulting firm, J.H. Cohn LLP and Joyce Powell, President of the NJEA. Both firms are major sponsors of the New Jersey Hall of Fame and very committed to its success.
“The Hall of Fame has come a very long way in a relatively short period of time and J.H. Cohn is proud to be one of the lead sponsors. Not only does it build pride in New Jersey, it also will let the rest of the world know that we are more than just exits off of the Turnpike. New Jersey is a great place in which to live, work, raise a family and enjoy the best that life has to offer. Obviously a lot of amazing people have felt the same way,” said Thomas J. Marino, Partner & CEO of J. H. Cohn.
NJEA President Joyce Powell praises the educational thrust of the Hall of Fame, “As a teacher, I’m excited about the educational possibilities of the New Jersey Hall of Fame because its founders have pushed to make sure that education is central to its mission. I believe it will be a place of learning and inspiration for the children across the state and I think adults will enjoy it as well.”
Other major sponsors for the Hall of Fame include the NJSEA, Johnson & Johnson, Cablevision, Comcast, the New Jersey Cable Telecommunications Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Continental Airlines, PNC Bank and sanofi-aventis. Media partners include the Star-Ledger, NJ.com, NJN, My9 and New Jersey Monthly. Additional support for the gala ceremony comes from Advanced Parking Concepts, Gem Limousine, NJPAC, the Hilton Short Hills and Pernod Ricard.
Tickets to attend the New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday, May 4th are still available at $30.00 and $20.00 through the NJPAC Box Office and by calling 1 888-GO-NJOAC (466-5722). More information and updates on the gala can be found on-line at www.njhalloffame.com
04.11.2008
SARLO TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION EXPANDING NJ HALL OF FAME
WOOD-RIDGE -- Senator Paul Sarlo announced today that he will introduce legislation next month amending the current statute governing the New Jersey Hall of Fame to allow for the Hall to exist in multiple locations.
"The New Jersey Hall of Fame should be more than just a single building housing a museum -- it should be an institution that reaches out to the citizens of New Jersey to expose them to our state's rich heritage," said Senator Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge and an original sponsor of the legislation creating the Hall of Fame. "By allowing the Hall of Fame to expand to more locations, we can help people connect prominent figures of New Jersey's past and present with their contributions to our state."
Senator Sarlo's bill would amend the "New Jersey Hall of Fame Act," to authorize the New Jersey Hall of Fame Board of Commissioners to establish and operate the New Jersey Hall of Fame project at a site anywhere within the State of New Jersey including but not limited to the Meadowlands complex, that is determined by the Commissioners to be appropriate to meet the requirements of the project and to best serve the interests of the public.
Senator Sarlo said he began drafting the legislation after talking with Bart Oates, former New York Giant center and current Chairman of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Board of Commissioners about having satellite exhibits hosted in facilities apart from the main Hall of Fame building.
Mr. Oates explained, "We're pleased that Senator Sarlo is taking the lead on this important amendment. When approved, it will not only give us the ability to open a permanent museum in the best possible site, but also open satellites in South, Central, as well as North Jersey. Schoolchildren from Cape May and schoolchildren from East Rutherford will all have access to the inspirational and educational stories the great New Jerseyans in the Hall of Fame can impart."
The New Jersey Hall of Fame was created to celebrate the state's rich history by honoring those New Jerseyans who have made invaluable contributions to society in a number of fields, including the arts and entertainment, journalism, science and technology, education, sports, business, religion, philanthropy and the military. The original legislation was approved and signed into law in 2005.
On Sunday, May 4th at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, a red carpet celebration for the inaugural class of the Hall of Fame will take place. The first class of Hall of Fame inductees will include Buzz Aldrin, Clara Barton, Yogi Berra, Bill Bradley, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Malcolm Forbes, Robert Wood Johnson II, Vince Lombardi, Toni Morrison, Norman Schwarzkopf, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep and Harriet Tubman. For more information about the Hall of Fame, visit www.njhalloffame.com
01.23.2008
Second Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Essay Contest Announced
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The New Jersey Hall of Fame has announced its second annual essay contest open to New Jersey students in grades 4 through 12. The contest is conducted in partnership with the New Jersey Education Association, a major sponsor of the NJ Hall of Fame.
“This contest,” said Hall of Fame Board Chair Bart Oates, “is an important part of our mission to be an educational resource for young people. Teachers and students across the state have enthusiastically embraced the Hall of Fame over the past 18 months, not only through our essay contest, but also as a lesson in voting.”
For the essay contest, students are asked to nominate potential inductees – living or dead – to the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Nominations can include famous people as well as ordinary citizens who do extraordinary things. Students should research or interview, if possible, the person they wish to nominate and write an essay no longer than 500 words.
Essays must be typed and double-spaced. The student must include his/her name, age, grade level as of March 31, 2008, address, phone number, parent/guardian’s name, school name, and school district. If the essay is a school project, the student should also include the name of the teacher who assigned the activity. Nominations must be postmarked by March 31, 2008 to be eligible and mailed to NJ Hall of Fame Contest, NJEA, 180 West State Street, PO Box 1211, Trenton, NJ 08607-1211, Attn: Dawn Hiltner.
The entries will be divided into two age categories: Intermediate (grades 4 through 8) and High School (grades 9-12). All entries will be judged by a panel comprised of NJEA and New Jersey Hall of Fame representatives. The winners will be notified in mid-April. Each winning student and three guests will be invited as VIP guests to the New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 4, 2008, held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The winners will also receive gift certificates from the NJHOF.
The inaugural class of Hall of Fame inductees includes Buzz Aldrin, Clara Barton, Yogi Berra, Bill Bradley, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Malcolm Forbes, Robert Wood Johnson II, Vince Lombardi, Toni Morrison, Norman Schwarzkopf, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep and Harriet Tubman. “We anticipate that most of our inductees and/or their families will join us for this exciting event,” said Oates.
Ticket information about the Hall of Fame Gala Induction Ceremony will be announced in early March. The ceremony will be co-chaired by Joyce Powell of the NJEA and Jeffrey Vanderbeek of the New Jersey Devils. Governor Jon Corzine is the Honorary Chair.
The 2007 essay contest winners were announced by Governor Corzine at a press conference in October. The two winners were Jessica Cutler from Millstone, New Jersey, and Brandon Cedeno, a student at Memorial High School in West New York. Both Jessica and Brandon and their families will be special guests of the New Jersey Hall of Fame at the May 4th Induction Ceremony.
The winning students’ nominations will be forwarded to the New Jersey Hall of Fame Academy for consideration in the 2008 voting. The Academy, comprised of more than 100 of New Jersey’s most prominent organizations, will review and ultimately select five Hall of Fame nominees in each of five categories: Arts & Entertainment, Enterprise, General, Historical and Sports. The next round of public voting will be launched in September.
Legislation to create The New Jersey Hall of Fame passed unanimously in the in the Legislature and was signed into law by the Governor in 2005. The New Jersey Hall of Fame has been created to honor New Jerseyans who have made invaluable contributions to society and the world beyond. The Hall of Fame seeks to encourage young people to strive for excellence in any endeavor of their choosing. By presenting significant and powerful role models, the Hall of Fame when built will be a source of learning, inspiration and. Plans for a permanent state of the art museum are in the works. For more information about the Hall of Fame, visit www.njhalloffame.com |
10.15.2007
NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME INAUGURAL CLASS OF INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNOR JON CORZINE
State’s legends to be honored at red carpet ceremony Scheduled for NJPAC May, 2008
TRENTON, NJ – Sinatra, Springsteen and Streep were three prominent names announced today as Governor Jon S. Corzine introduced the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. The fifteen leaders and legends in the categories of Arts & Entertainment, Sports, Historical, Enterprise (comprising business and technology) and General all share one common denominator: a close relationship to New Jersey.
Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra and Meryl Streep were elected into the Arts & Entertainment Category. In the Historical Category, Thomas Alva Edison, the man of the millennium, is joined by the great scientist Albert Einstein and teacher, nurse and humanitarian Clara Barton.
The three sports figures entering the Hall of Fame are Yankee great Yogi Berra, Senator Bill Bradley and legendary football coach Vince Lombardi, whose career began in Englewood.
The Enterprise Category, open to business leaders, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and philanthropists, includes astronaut Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin and business leaders Malcolm Forbes and Robert Wood Johnson II, both of whom were also noted philanthropists.
In the General Category are General Norman Schwarzkopf, award winning novelist Toni Morrison and Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist who is studied by elementary school children across the state.
The Hall of Fame nomination process began in mid-2006 when a panel of experts, comprised of university professors, scientists, editors, authors and other authorities, compiled a list of more than 125 potential Hall of Famers. That list was organized into five categories and presented to the Voting Academy, a select group made up of approximately 150 of the state’s most prominent organizations as well as former Governors and chaired by Governor Corzine.
The Voting Academy selected the top five nominees in each category. Then the public was invited to vote for a period of approximately three months. During that time, schools across the state used the voting as an opportunity for learning, with classes running mock election campaigns and, in some instances, having a voting day for the entire school.
“The response from teachers and students,” said Bart Oates, Chairman of the Commission and center for the 1986 and 1990 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, “reinforces our belief that the Hall of Fame will become an important educational experience for young people and families.”
The New Jersey Hall of Fame will hold a gala red carpet induction ceremony with many New Jersey celebrities in attendance on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
Although supported by private donations, the Hall of Fame is operating under the auspices of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) and is overseen by an Advisory Commission.
Major sponsors of the museum include the NJSEA, the NEA, J.H. Cohn, the Star-Ledger and sanofi-aventis.
In addition, valuable in-kind support has been provided by Clear Channel, Comcast, Enterprise Rental Car, nj.com, the New Jersey Highway Authority, the New Jersey Restaurant Association, the South Jersey Restaurant Association, the NJ Food Council, New Jersey Monthly and South Jersey Magazine.
The public can learn more about the New Jersey Hall of Fame on-line at www.njhalloffame.com
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