28th Annual TCSF Awards Dinner

This Year's Honorees: Rt. Rev. Giles P. Hayes, O.S.B and Robert A. Mulcahy III

View a photo gallery from 2009 Awards Dinner

The Twenty-Eighth Annual Awards Dinner for Tri-County Scholarship Fund recognized the accomplishments of scholarship recipients and honored Robert Mulcahy, former CEO of the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority and recent Athletic Director at Rutgers University, and Rt. Rev. Giles P. Hayes, Abbot of St. Mary's Abbey and President of Delbarton School, for their commitments to education. Approximately 500 students, trustees, educators and guests attended the gala event that raised over $750,000 for scholarships for economically disadvantaged children in northern New Jersey.

Two scholarship recipients and one mother delivered inspirational speeches.

• Matthew Fung hushed the audience as he told the story of how being hit in the eye with a baseball during practice led to the discovery of an operable malignant brain tumor, how he recovered and how he still managed to excel at school. Matthew said, "I am living proof of how much a difference Tri-County makes in the lives of students today." What he did not say was the he was the valedictorian of his class at Paterson Catholic High School. He was awarded a scholarship to Rutgers University at the annual dinner.
• Ramon Rodriguez, an eighth grade student at Blessed Sacrament, is ready for challenges on high schools given the educational foundation he received in grammar school. Ramon said, "As I prepare for high school, I am grateful for the strong academic background that I have been given by teachers who work tirelessly to meet my individual needs."
• Berys Peralta, a single mother working two jobs, spoke of how the scholarships from TCSF allow her to keep her two children in private schools. Berys spoke of how her boys are learning to be "responsible for living good, honest lives where they are learning to care not only for themselves, but for others."

These were just three of many compelling stories where scholarship assistance from TCSF has helped to change lives.

After the Hall of Fame Award was presented by Jim Elliot, Chairman of TCSF, Bob Mulcahy and Abbot Giles Hayes spoke about the value of education, hard work and persistence in developing and applying the skills necessary for success at work and in life.

The evening was also highlighted by a balloon extravaganza orchestrated by Tim Duffy, the TCSF Dinner Chairman, which raised another $100,000 at the dinner.

Tri-County Scholarship Fund sincerely thanks everyone who contributed time, money and effort to make the event a success. There is no contribution that is too small or too large for there are many students that need the scholarship assistance that Tri-County Scholarship Fund provides.

Please contact Gregory Floyd, President of Tri-County Scholarship Fund, at 973-984-9600 to discuss how you can support the scholarship program. The children need your support.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars for Monday, October 12, to attend the 2010 Annual Awards Dinner.

It's for the future! It's for the kids! Be a part of it!
Tri-County Scholarship Fund