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Four area professionals will be honored at Tri-County Scholarship Fund's (TCSF) 11th Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon on April 11, 2024, at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club. "We are thrilled to be honoring such an accomplished and inspiring group of women,” expressed Prudence Pigott, President of Tri-County. “Each year, the event recognizes four outstanding women whose career accomplishments and community service make them leaders in the community, and role models for our scholarship students.” The Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon serves as a critical fundraising event for Tri-County’s Freedom Scholar Program, which supports academically promising 9th-12th grade students facing substantial financial need. The program, a partnership between schools, families, and TCSF, has a track record of success, with 100% of Freedom Scholars graduating high school and attending 4-year colleges. In addition to the honorees, the Awards Luncheon will also feature inspiring stories from a current Tri-County Freedom Scholar, Fiorella, and a past recipient, Angeline Lopez, showcasing the impact of TCSF on young lives. The 2024 Women of Achievement honorees: As a Member of the Firm, Cole Schotz, Mary W. Browning, Esq., specializes in estate planning, wealth preservation, and elder law, among other areas. She employs a holistic approach to safeguard the futures of families and individuals. As deputy chair of the Tax, Trusts & Estates group, Browning oversees many of the department’s operations, emphasizing team processes, mentorship, and the well-being of attorneys and staff. Her dedication to advancing women in the legal profession is evident through her significant involvement in the firm’s STARS program, aimed at empowering female attorneys. Before her tenure at Cole Schotz, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Joel A. Pisano of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. An avid golfer and part-time globetrotter, Browning enjoys sharing her travel experiences with her husband and daughter. Jill Gateman boasts an illustrious career in banking and finance, having recently joined TD Bank to lead Middle Market and Asset Based Lending business segments. Her previous roles include Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Corporate Banking for PNC Bank, NA, where she was instrumental in leading the Middle Market and Large Corporate Banking Segment within the East Region. Gateman's commitment to corporate diversity and inclusion is evident in her service on the enterprise-wide Corporate Diversity Council and as Lead DEI Advocate within PNC Bank. A passionate community advocate, Gateman serves as an Executive Committee member for The Community Food Bank of New Jersey and has been involved with the Boards of Family Services of Morris County and Gill St. Bernard’s School. A Douglass College/Rutgers University alumna, she lives in Mendham, New Jersey, with her husband and two college-aged children. Monica Martinez Milan's journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship and her advocacy for small business owners has made her a respected leader and mentor. Her story is one of perseverance and determination, rising from the challenges of being a first-generation child of immigrants in Newark, NJ, to establishing successful businesses and serving on prestigious boards, notably as a board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and the first Latina Chairwoman in the 100+ year history of the Somerset County Business Partnership. She and her husband, Mark, own several businesses including Stumpy’s Hatchet House in Green Brook and the real estate development companies, Elmsgate, LLC and Tyrol Group, LLC. They reside in Peapack-Gladstone with their two children. Ashley Travers is Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at KGPCo. With a career spanning over two decades, Travers has made significant impacts in the telecommunications sector, notably spearheading the strategic planning and execution of the $42.5 billion BEAD initiative aimed at enhancing internet accessibility across the United States and its territories. At her previous role with Verizon, Ashley’s leadership was instrumental in the success of the first 5G Super Bowl in Atlanta, followed by similar achievements in Miami and Tampa. Travers holds an MBA from Rutgers University and has participated in professional development programs at Harvard Business School, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn State University. Her dedication to community service is evident in her volunteer work with homeless and at-risk youth and as a youth lacrosse coach. She resides in Bernardsville with her two children. Event Information and Registration:

In the realm of pivotal moments for medical students, Match Day stands out as a monumental milestone. Falling on the third Friday of March each year, Match Day sees medical schools across the country hosting live events where students learn of their residency assignments in an atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie. This year, we have the immense pleasure of spotlighting a remarkable Tri-County alum, Joshua Guardia, as he embarks on a prestigious journey into the field of Internal Medicine. Joshua has been matched with the Internal Medicine Program at Mount Sinai Morningside West in the heart of Manhattan. This achievement is not just a testament to Joshua's dedication and brilliance but also a shining example of the impact of Tri-County Scholarship Fund's support. From Dreams to Reality: Joshua's Journey Reflecting on his personal history, Joshua notes the challenges and triumphs of his family. "My dad is an immigrant from Peru, and my mom’s side of the family is from Peru as well. I come from a single-parent household, but my mom was able to raise a family, become a teacher, and provide the opportunity for me to achieve a high-quality education. Because of the support of Tri-County Scholarship Fund, I was fortunate to earn a private Catholic education throughout middle school and high school.” Joshua's story is one of determination, resilience, and the transformative power of education. His path led him from Tri-County partner school, DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, NJ, where he graduated in 2012, to The University of Scranton, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Philosophy in 2016. Following this, Joshua earned a Master of Science from the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies and went on to Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Joshua's gratitude towards the Tri-County Scholarship Fund and its donors resonates with profound sincerity. He shares, "By giving back with financial and educational resources, more students like me who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds can follow their dreams. Thank you, Tri-County, and all the donors who have made all this possible for me and continue to make this possible for so many students like me." Joshua Guardia's remarkable journey from a Tri-County scholar to a budding physician at a prestigious medical institution is a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating that with determination, support, and access to quality education, dreams can indeed become reality. As he steps into his residency at Mount Sinai Morningside West, we look forward to witnessing the many ways in which he will contribute to the field of medicine and beyond. Congratulations, Joshua, and thank you for reminding us all of the power of education and community support.

Dear Tri-County Friends, At Tri-County Scholarship Fund we send our congratulations and best wishes to the 88 Tri-County high school seniors who graduated this past June, and who are now headed off to college. Bravo! Now as our Tri-County partner schools are getting ready for the start of the new school year, we are proud to share the news that Tri-County has been able to provide scholarships for 830 K-12th grade students for this 2023/24 school year. These 830 children will now have the opportunity to attend a safe, quality, independent school, and have a chance in life. Thank you to our generous donors for making this possible. Of course, our work does not end there. Because we keep thinking about the equally deserving 1,600 additional children still on our scholarship waiting list. How can we help more of them? Check out the Summer ’23 newsletter below and see what we have planned and some of the people who will help make it happen. Please mark your calendar for our big Annual Awards Dinner on October 24. Thank you to our three terrific honorees! May we ask you to consider supporting a child for this school year – with a $2,000 scholarship for grade school or $4,000 for high school? You cannot imagine what a life-changing difference your support will mean – how much it will fill a child’s heart with hope and happiness! We know it will fill your own heart to be part of a child’s journey of opportunity. Looking forward to seeing you this school year. Thank you for making such a difference for the grateful children we serve. With appreciation, Prudence Pigott President, Tri-County Scholarship Fund

The newly formed Friends of Tri-County group hosted a special night to remember on February 8th. The group collaborated with Matt Hanifin, a Tri-County supporter and salesperson for the NJ Devils, to bring together students, alumni, and supporters of Tri-County. And what better way to unite for a cause than through the adrenaline-pumping excitement of a New Jersey Devils hockey game? The event raised an $900 through ticket sales, a great first year! But the highlights of the night went beyond just numbers. After the game, the Tri-County group had the unique opportunity to step onto the rink and gather around the iconic NJ Devils logo for a group photo. Attending the event was upcoming honoree for the Women of Achievement luncheon on April 11, Monica Martinez Milan as well as Elisa Charters, a past Women of Achievement honoree! The Friends of Tri-County group also included event organizers, Lauren Conigliaro, Gaby Gomez and past scholarship recipient, Alessandra Veliz. Students and chaperones from Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta were in the stands cheering on the Devils! Even though the Devils were not victorious, it's clear that the real victory was off the ice. In bringing supporters and students together for a common goal and raising funds for scholarships. It's a reminder that when we come together, we can make a difference in the lives of others, one goal at a time, one child at a time. Here's to more nights like this, where fun, community, and purpose align to create a brighter future for all. Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and cheered – you are the true champions of education.

Alessandra (Ally) Veliz grew up in a home where education was valued at the highest level. Her mom Rosa, a Peruvian immigrant, displayed steely determination and resolve, attaining a bachelor’s degree after a divorce and making sure her 3 children had a good education. Even though they divorced, her mom and dad, Alberto, were united in wanting the best education for their children. Inspired by her parents’ example, Ally excelled at DePaul Catholic, then in college at NYU Tisch School of the Arts where she majored in film. Afterwards she rose through a series of challenging jobs that propelled her forward to the current job she loves. Head of Growth for Co-x3 Family Foundation, Ally brings her experience in corporate media and passion for marketing and business development to this non-profit, intending to help it grow into a global influencer offering tools to enable clients to meet their personal and business goals. Prior to Co-X3, Ally was in marketing for a non-profit, IEEE, the largest global technical professional organization. While there, Ally taught herself 10 different software programs which she then taught to her co-workers. "It was a very rewarding experience. If you hand me a problem, I can solve it,”she says. Ally was introduced to DePaul Catholic when her sister received a Tri-County scholarship. She was very grateful to get a scholarship too. “It saved me from going to a school district that wouldn’t have provided for me the way DePaul did. I want to create change in the world and would not have been able to be in my current position without De Paul and Tri-County." A member of the newly formed, Friends of Tri-County group of alumni and young supporters who want to share the mission of Tri-County and raise funds as a group, Ally has been involved in planning the recent February 2024 event, Tri-County Night at the Devils. She also attended the 2023 Tri-County Annual Awards Dinner with a group of other past scholarship recipients. Ally wants Tri-County to know, “You’re creating influence that makes young people want to go out and change the world the way that you changed their lives.”

Anyone who had the privilege of attending last year's Tri-County Annual Awards Dinner, will remember the inspiring words of high school student speaker, Claudia Olivero. Claudia was poised and engaging as she addressed 900 guests at Tri-County's largest event ever. (Watch video of her speech) Claudia humbly gave us a glimpse into her life growing up in Paterson with her single mother who did her best to take care of Claudia and her 3 younger brothers. Life was difficult enough when her mom was diagnosed with brain cancer. Claudia had to step up to be a second mom to the boys: doing all the shopping and meal prep, helping her brothers with their homework, looking after them, as well as, doing all the laundry and cleaning. Incredibly, in the midst of all these adult responsibilities, Claudia persevered in her own studies at Mary Help of Christians Academy maintaining excellent grades while taking Honors and AP courses. Claudia and her mom credit the generosity of the Tri-County donors for making it possible for her to attend this high quality, values-based school which fed her intellect, understood and cared for her emotionally, and nurtured her spiritually during this challenging time. Thankfully, her mother recovered which allowed Claudia to dream about graduating high school and attending college. We are excited to report that Claudia graduated from Mary Help of Christians Academy! She is pictured above wearing her National Honor Society stole. Claudia received many college acceptances and was thrilled to choose American University where she received a generous. financial aid package. We wish her much success as she heads to campus in a just a few weeks! We are so proud to be part of Claudia's journey of overcoming hardship to achieve great things.

Read Story: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/morristown/articles/morris-county-resident-and-chief-administrative-officer-for-atlantic-health-system-to-be-honored-at-women-of-achievement-event

2023 Women of Achievement honoree, Betsy McNeilly of Morgan Stanley, on a school visit and mentoring session with Tri-County scholarship students at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon. Read Story: https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/want-post-patch-heres-how-get-started

2023 Women of Achievement honoree, Heather Sperduto of ADP, with Tri-County scholarship recipients at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon Read story: https://patch.com/new-jersey/matawan-aberdeen/ep/4072311/nodx

Karyn Miller of Capital One with Tri-County scholarship recipients from Mary Help of Christians Academy Read Story: https://midjersey.news/2023/03/07/monroe-township-resident-to-be-honored-at-women-of-achievement-event/

Dear Tri-County Friends, Coming off a strong 2022, we are well on our way with planning for 2023 Tri-County events, all in-person this year. Scroll below for the dates, and plan to join us. Thank you for helping to fund scholarships for a record 820 students in grades K-12 for the current school year. This includes scholarships for 20 Ukrainian refugee children who landed in New Jersey after escaping from their war-torn homeland. How rewarding to be able to help children at their time of need, so they can attend a quality school, where they feel safe and nurtured, and where they are able to rise above the challenging personal and financial circumstances of their young lives. Scholarship applications are pouring in for the next school year. We anticipate a longer waiting list of deserving students, and hope to provide scholarships for 835 children in the coming year. Thank you for your generosity, for attending our events and for continuing to help these vulnerable children. Together we are making a difference. Please know that you are appreciated by Tri-County and by the grateful scholarship children we serve. Looking forward to seeing you in person this year! Prudence

Mariana is currently a Project Coordinator at Frontage Laboratory. Mariana attended Franklin and Marshall College in beautiful Lancaster, PA. Her dedication to education and a High School GPA of over 4.0 combined with a devotion to helping others earned her a very generous scholarship from her college, plus two other small grants that combined to provide a full ride. Mariana’s passion for health care was fired by adversity, and by stoked by an internship. “At first I wanted to be a lawyer because a doctor really hurt my dad. One doc gave him the wrong medication and a second doctor performed surgery incorrectly. He couldn’t even sit up straight. He had several surgeries that were really botched. Her desire to make things right through legal channels soon gave way to a new passion for becoming a health care professional. Participating in the Healthcare Connections program at St. Joseph’s Hospital through her school, Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, solidified her commitment. “I interned in the ER department and got to see some surgery,” says Mariana. “At that point I thought I wanted to work in this field. Helping someone when they most need it – I would find it very rewarding.” Soon Mariana studied to become an EMT, graduating at the top of her class. During EMT training, she also became valedictorian of her senior class at Mary Help. She was also secretary of the National Honor Society, a tutor, and a school ambassador and alternated between debate club, linguistics, healthcare occupations of America, and traveling dance program through which she taught dance to children. Perhaps most revealing of her character and values is the award she received for completing the most service hours of any student during all 4 years in high school. Growing up in Wayne, Mariana understood the value of hard work and the grace that can come unexpectedly from the kindness and commitment of a caring stranger. “My mom, Veronica, came here from Guatemala because of a kind American couple who sponsored her and found her a job as a nanny,” says Mariana. She described Veronica’s impoverished circumstances, living in a small shack in rural Guatemala, and the benevolence of the couple who provided her with a way out, and a new life in the United States. Eventually she met and married James an immigrant from Italy and together they have worked hard to provide a secure home for Mariana and her brother Dominick, 15. Marie Hess, Director of Healthcare Connections and teacher of all life sciences provided ongoing support and advice to Mariana. Calling her “a true scholar,” Mrs. Hess lauds Mariana as a “very dedicated. She went well beyond the text book. When you have a student that’s that enthusiastic you really want to work with them. In her senior year, she passed Rutgers exams and earned 14 college credits. Mariana realizes the important role Tri-County has played in her success and she is very grateful. “Being able to attend a private Catholic school was really important to my mom. She had me apply even though we couldn’t afford it. That’s when I applied to Tri-County, and only then could we afford it. Everything that I’m doing in my life, I try to do it for everyone who’s supporting me in my education, and when I’m older I want to do the same for kids like me,” says Mariana.