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Otober 29, 2020 - Tri-County Scholarship Fund raised a record-breaking $2 million in scholarship funds through its 39th Annual Awards Celebration on October 26, the organization’s first virtual event, livestreamed to over 1,200 guests, friends and supporters. Fulfilling the mission of Tri-County, the scholarships will go to financially disadvantaged Kindergarten - 12th grade students in Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties so they can obtain quality, values-based educations at accredited private elementary and secondary schools. This year's virtual gala honored three distinguished members of the New Jersey community. The Hall of Fame Award was presented to Mr. John Howard, Chairman and CEO of Truist Insurance Holdings who was introduced by Mr. Paul Krump, Vice Chair of Chubb Group, Global Underwriting and Claims. The Leadership Award was presented to Trish O’Keefe, President of Morristown Medical Center, who was introduced by Mr. Brian Gragnolati , CEO of Atlantic Heath System. The annual Making A Difference Award was presented to Bob and Sue Sameth, multi-decade supporters of Tri-County Scholarship Fund, who were introduced by Fr. Brian Sullivan, Pastor of the Church of Christ the King in New Vernon where the Sameths have been parishioners for 45 years. The Most Reverend Kevin Sweeney, Bishop of Paterson, offered the evening’s invocation, and introduced the featured student speaker, Tri-County Scholarship recipient and Paterson resident, Guadalupe Aguilar, Mary Help of Christians Academy high school senior, and Senior Class President. After her moving speech, Guadalupe was presented with the new “Bishop Kevin Sweeney Tri-County Scholarship.” Dozens of Tri-County students and their families tuned in to view the event celebrating the 56 Tri-County partner schools that all opened for the school year with safe social distancing and COVID health precautions. Celebrity athlete appearances were made by past Tri-County Scholarship recipient, Tim Thomas, Paterson Catholic graduate, Villanova basketball star, and NBA star, by NY Jets Quarterback Sam Darnold, and by Jared Stroud, current # 8 midfielder on the NY Red Bulls soccer team. “A highlight of the evening was the $100,000 challenge donation from an anonymous donor that was matched by donors texting their support from home, via their cell phones,” said Prudence Pigott, President of Tri-County Scholarship Fund. “The need for scholarships is particularly great this year, as the COVID pandemic has caused many inner-city families to lose their jobs and small businesses. We are thrilled and grateful to our outstanding event honorees and to our generous supporters who answered this need with their exceptional donations.” Remarked honoree John Howard, “My wife Fran and I have been pleased to support this great cause and to witness the accomplishments of the Tri-County scholarship students as they go to college and careers.” John and Fran Howard, as well as 2020 honorees Bob and Sue Sameth, are Knights and Dames of the Order of Malta, a 900 year old Catholic lay religious order dedicated to helping the poor and the sick. Honoree, Trish O’Keefe is a graduate of DePaul Catholic High School. O’Keefe and Morristown Medical Center have a long history of supporting Tri-County Scholarship Fund and introducing scholarship students to career opportunities in the healthcare field. For the current school year Tri-County Scholarship Fund has awarded over 720 scholarships for financially disadvantaged Kindergarten – 12th grade students to attend 56 different partner schools. This includes $500,000 in Emergency scholarships for families hard hit by the COVID crisis. Over the past 39 years, $32 million has been raised by the organization to fund more than 33,000 scholarships awarded to needy children. Scholarship recipients have gone on to the top colleges in New Jersey and throughout the country. "While Tri-County was able to fund scholarships for 720 students this school year, we have another 2,000 students still on the waiting list,” said Tri-County trustee and event Co-chair Marc Adee, CEO of Crum and Forster. “By helping one child at a time, we can create an enormous ripple effect, touching the family, the community, and improving the lives of generations to come."

It was his class in anatomy and physiology in 2012, senior year at DePaul Catholic High School, that first peaked Joshua’s interest in medicine. Thanks to that experience, he decided to major in Biology as a pre-med student at the University of Scranton. After graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree, he was determined to become a physician. While he prepared for the MCATs (Medical College Admission Test), he took a full-time job as a nurse’s aide in the intensive care unit of a Wilkes-Barre, PA hospital. During this time, he also served as a Spanish translator for many patients. He became increasingly enamored of primary care as he worked closely with every member of the medical team. “Many patients were from immigrant families,” said Joshua, “and I learned a great deal about their lives. They reminded me of my own family’s Peruvian roots and what they had to overcome. It was impressive.” In 2017, he moved back to New Jersey to become a medical scribe for an orthopedic surgeon for a year, another assignment he totally enjoyed. Each new job served to further his determination to obtain his medical degree. Hoping to increase his chances to be accepted at medical school, he attended Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 2018-2020 and earned a master’s in biology. That summer he did a summer internship at Pfizer as a Medical Affairs Associate. Determined to succeed the third time he took the MCATs, he achieved the scores he wanted and was accepted by Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway. Five months into his freshman year, Joshua now feels he has a handle on medical school and is looking forward to completing his medical degree. He intends to specialize in primary care or sports medicine. Said Joshua, ““Tri-County allowed me to receive a well-rounded education at DePaul, which sparked my interest in medicine and enabled me to be successful at the University of Scranton. I want to say thank you to the Tri-County donors, who gave me an invaluable opportunity. The Tri-County Scholarship Fund also has given my sister Izabella, now a senior at DePaul, the same opportunity. Our family truly appreciates everything you have done for us.”

It’s not easy balancing a demanding full-time career while also becoming a successful entrepreneur, but somehow Tri-County alumna Monica Pope accomplishes it with grace, style, and passion. Monica is a 2008 graduate of Paterson Catholic High School. Her attendance was supported by the Tri-County Scholarship Fund, awarding her a scholarship each year for 4 years. She went on to Fairleigh Dickinson University on a 4-year Hennessey Scholarship, a program established by Tri-County’s co-founder Ed Hennessey in collaboration with FDU. Committed to giving back to her community, her first job after graduation was helping abused children and families through the Child Protection and Permanency Department, a division of the NJ Department of Children and Families. “I loved it,” says Monica, “because I was helping protect vulnerable children and families, often through the court system.” As a strong proponent of self-improvement, she attended FDU at night to earn her master’s degree in public administration. Six years later, being very knowledgeable about the court system, she took a new job as Court Administrator for the Essex County Superior Court. She now works closely with attorneys and judges, facilitating efficient services and fair treatment for defendants. At an early age Monica also grew a passion for becoming a real estate entrepreneur. Growing up, she experienced first-hand the challenges her family faced in their small painting business. She put her combined interests in business and real estate to use when she was just 23, buying a small rental property in Passaic County, NJ. Two years later she bought a rental property in Ohio. She gradually purchased other rental properties. Says Monica, “I try to be an amazing landlord and give tenants great quality. I manage my properties myself and try to help my community. I recently prioritized renting a 4-unit property to community victims whose homes had burned down.” Monica continues, “I want to give back in whatever way I can. People help you when they see you trying, whatever your circumstances. I really want to find my voice as a woman to talk to others about empowerment – to be an instrument to inspire them. 'Education is the reason I can do what I do. I never could have done what I’m doing without my education, and Tri-County helped me get that. I’d like to say thank you to all Tri-County donors for your support!”

Aaron McLean DePaul Graduate and Rutgers Pre-Med Student

PRESIDENT"S MESSAGE 2020 is off to a great start! Due to the efforts of our Board, Annual Awards Dinner Honorees, and supporters, Tri-County was able to help even MORE K-12 th  grade students for the second semester of this school year – totaling a record 560 scholarships for the 2019-20 school year! Our supporters have made it possible for these children to attend better, safer values-based schools.  Thank you! Please join us for these inspiring and fun upcoming Tri-County events: April 2: The 8th Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon May 19: Our 7th Annual Lawyers for Tri-County Dinner June 1: The 28th Annual Tri-County Golf Invitational at Morris County Golf Club October 26: Tri-County's 39th Annual Awards Dinner Stay tuned for exciting honoree announcements! With appreciation on behalf of our grateful students, Prudence Pigott VIEW THE WINTER e-NEWSLETTER

700 business people, friends and family, clergy and religious attended the Tri-County Scholarship Fund (TCSF) Annual Awards Dinner on October 28th, at the Hanover Marriott on October 28 where a record breaking $1.3 million was raised to provide partial scholarships for financially disadvantaged children in Passaic, Morris, and Sussex counties, enabling them to attend accredited  K-12 values-based schools. Tri-County Scholarship Fund recognized three honorees who believe in and support the TCSF mission at the dinner, which is the largest fundraiser for TCSF. Honored at the 38th Annual Awards Dinner were:  were Eric Andersen, Co-President of Aon, who received the Hall of Fame Award; Douglas Kennedy, President and CEO of Peapack-Gladstone Bank who was presented with the Leadership Award; and Ray and Cathy Donovan and the Donovan Family, who received the Making A Difference Award. “We are thrilled that we raised more than $1.3 million toward scholarships, and had the opportunity to honor such accomplished individuals, who are revered in their industries and admired for their commitment to the community, and to our mission,” said Prudence Pigott, TCSF President. “Our honorees exemplify everything that Tri-County stands for in their work to help children from underprivileged areas by providing educational opportunity at better, safer schools,” said TCSF President, Prudence Pigott. TCSF awarded 500 scholarships for the 2109-20 school year, and has provided more than $27 million for over 32,000 scholarships to deserving K-12th grade children, since its inception in 1981 by Edward Hennessy, and the late Bishop Frank Rodimer, of Paterson, New Jersey. View Event Page with Photo Gallery

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tri-county-scholarship-fund-honor-180532409.html #38thannualawardsdinner #honoree #DouglasKennedy

https://patch.com/new-jersey/bernardsville-bedminster/bedminster-county-club-owners-be-honored #38thannualawardsdinner #Honorees #Donovanfamily

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/madison/sections/giving-back/articles/madison-resident-honored-at-annual-awards-dinner #38thannualawardsdinner #Honoree #EricAndersenAon

President's Message All 500 of our scholarship children are settled in for the new school year. We are looking forward to an exciting night on October 28 for Tri-County’s big 38th Annual Awards Dinner. (Invite below) All ads for the Tribute Journal are due by Oct 9. Tri-County also has great “FRIEND-raisers.” Check out the photos from our 2nd Annual Sporting Clays Classic at Hudson Farm. We are proud of our graduates! Read below some stories of our Tri-County grads at their recent summer internships. We are also proud of our new office in Mendham and our new website! See the photos below of our office Open House, and check out our brand new website. We invite you to stop by and see us when you are in Mendham. As always, we are grateful for your friendship, and for your support of our scholarship students. Prudence Pigott Prudence Pigott View Fall 2019 Newsletter

Over 80 Tri-County friends and trustees enjoyed a fun day of sporting clays shooting, and an authentic barbecue pig roast on September 12 at the beautiful Hudson Farm nature preserve in Andover New Jersey.  It was a perfect afternoon, with overcast cool skies, followed by cocktails in the historic farmhouse, and cigars on the front porch. Thank you to our committee and major sponsors:  Crum & Forster, Validus Re, Anne and Paul Krump, Bob and Laurie-Anne Bailey, and Sandelands Eyet Law LLP. Thank you also to our station sponsors:  Bank of America Merrill Lynch, PBF Energy, Chubb, Crum & Forster, Jim Franson and Validus Reinsurance Co., The Jones Group- Ameriprise Financial, Robert A. Scirocco Law Offices,  Mike Lehman of the Lehman Eger Wealth Management Group, and our event Chair, Paul Onderdonk. See you at next year’s Tri-County Sporting Clays! VIEW EVENT PAGE AND PHOTO GALLERY

Rachel Szeliga spent the summer working at Chubb Insurance. As a Finance Intern, her tasks included assisting with monthly and quarterly closing procedures. Responsible for organizing and filing journal entries, and refreshing financial reports on a daily basis, Rachel was thrilled with the exposure she received to the world of business. Rachel shares a very important lesson she learned: "Chubb thrives on the fact that all employees eagerly lend a helping hand to each other whenever needed." Rachel realizes that this corporate culture goes a long way to enabling the business to succeed. She is thrilled by the skills she acquired. “My technological skills have improved tremendously and my familiarity with professional business language has broadened. Thank you TriCounty, for introducing me to Chubb. I’m very grateful for this time with Chubb and being able to grow and learn as an aspiring business professional,” says Rachel.