FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Thurgood Marshall College Fund:
[email protected]

New Jersey Awards of Excellence:
Ms. Gayle Thigpen-Allen
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, DC (March 29, 2019) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) held the 19th Annual New Jersey Awards of Excellence on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

Every year the New Jersey Awards of Excellence increases awareness about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and raises funds to support the mission, programmatic work, and scholarships for students attending TMCF’s 47 member-schools. For the past 19 years, New Jersey leaders have been recognized for their stellar record of achievement and dedication to civil rights, justice and education like TMCF’s namesake, the late Justice Thurgood Marshall.

“I was honored to be in the company of so many distinguished New Jersey legal professionals committed to financially supporting the important work we do at TMCF,” said Harry L. Williams, TMCF president & CEO. “The truly outstanding contributions of the four honorees are positive examples of excellence our HBCU students can look up to and learn from as they begin their own careers.”

The 2019 New Jersey Awards of Excellence honorees were:

• The Honorable Brendan Byrne (posthumously)
  Former Governor, State of New Jersey
• Ronald K. Chen, Esq.
  University Professor, Distinguished Professor of Law and Judge Leonard I. Garth Scholar, Rutgers Law School
• Michellene Davis, Esq.
  Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, RWJBarnabas Health
• Richard T. Thigpen, Esq.
  Senior Vice President-Corporate Citizenship PSEG, and Chairman, PSEG Foundation

Mr. Thigpen stated “The mission of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund speaks to me personally and professionally. As the father of a daughter, age 21, I know just how important education is for young people to have an opportunity in this country to show their excellence and make the kind of contribution that they all dream of making.”

The host for the evening was Raymond M. Brown, partner, Scarinci Hollenbeck. Other notables in attendance included TMCF Founder Dr. N. Joyce Payne, TMCF Board Chairman Charlie Merinoff, New Jersey Awards of Excellence dinner committee Co-Chairs, Susan A. Feeney, Esq, McCarter & English LLP, and Kevin H. Marino, Esq. Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, P.C. The event raised over $120,000 to support the programmatic work of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund on behalf of its 47 member-schools.

For more information on TMCF, visit tmcf.org

###

ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: tmcf.org.