May 2, 2009
NEW SURPRISE GUESTS
TO ATTEND NEW JERSEY HALL
OF FAME GALA INDUCTION
CEREMONY
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (May 2, 2009) – The New Jersey Hall of Fame today announced that several surprise guests have confirmed their attendance at the second annual induction ceremony. The event will take place on Sunday, May 3rd at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
Event organizers disclosed that among the confirmed notables are last year’s inductees Buzz Aldrin, Yogi Berra and Toni Morrison, along with Sopranos actor Vincent Pastore, comedians Jim Norton and Rich Vos, rock star Debbie Harry, actor, singer and musician Avery Brooks, and former New York City Mayor, David Dinkins.
“As this event gains more and more attention, it continues to attract people who want to be involved,” said Steve Edwards, the event’s executive producer and Hall of Fame Foundation Board member. Event officials would not reveal all of the surprise guests but according to Edwards, “We still have some additional surprises in store for this year’s ceremony.”
This year’s NJHOF inductees include Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, Jon Bon Jovi, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Althea Gibson, Jerry Lewis, Guglielmo Marconi, Shaquille O’Neal, Phil Rizzuto, Paul Robeson, Carl Sagan, Walt Whitman and William Carlos Williams. Senator Bill Bradley, who was unable to attend last year, will also accept his induction this year. Representatives from the NJHOF expect most of the inductees and/or their families to be present to accept the award.
This year the New Jersey Hall of Fame will also introduce the Unsung Hero Award in recognition of deserving New Jerseyans who are not as well known as most of the inductees. The inaugural award will be presented to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brian Brennan, a tremendously courageous soldier and a role model in overcoming unthinkable personal challenges. The New Jersey Hall of Fame is proud to salute Lt. Brennan and all of the young men and women from New Jersey who are unselfishly serving our country.
This star-studded event will begin at 5:30 PM with red carpet festivities kicking off between 4:00 and 4:30 PM. Tickets range in price from $25.00 to $90.00 and are available online at www.njpac.org, by phone through 1-888-GO-NJPAC, and at the NJPAC box office located at One Center Street in Newark. Following the ceremony, there will be a buffet dinner reception with the inductees and presenters. Tickets for the reception are available at www.NJHallofFame.org.
The stage band for the ceremony will be LaBamba and the Hubcaps, comprised of musicians from the Conan O’Brien Show and from the Asbury Jukes. Joining them to celebrate New Jersey will be popular recording artist Southside Johnny, pop star Kat DeLuna and other special guests.
More information and updates on the gala can be found on-line at www.NJHallofFame.org. The major sponsors for the New Jersey Hall of Fame include the accounting and consulting firm J.H. Cohn LLP, the NJEA, NJSEA, PNC Bank, Continental Airlines, the Hilton of Short Hills, Advanced Parking Concepts, Gem Limo, Cablevision, Comcast, Verizon, BGIAI and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information and photographs, contact Don Jay Smith at 908-832-1020 or don@lksassociates.com
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February 2, 2009
NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME
NEWEST CLASS ANNOUNCED
BY GOVERNOR JON CORZINE
TRENTON, NJ – The people of New Jersey are smiling with pride today as Governor Jon Corzine announced the newest class of inductees to the New Jersey Hall of Fame, a class which includes poets, novelists, scientists, athletes and entertainers.
Bon Jovi, Shaquille O’Neal and Jerry Lewis are just three of thirteen prominent names Governor Corzine unveiled as he introduced the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s second group of inductees. These leaders and legends in the categories of Arts & Entertainment, Sports, Historical, Enterprise and General all share one common denominator: a close relationship to New Jersey.
“This group of Hall of Famers embodies the spirit of New Jersey, a combination of drive, determination and creativity that has led them to greatness,” Governor Corzine said. “The New Jersey Hall of Fame should serve as a reminder that the people of New Jersey strive for excellence and engage in a myriad of productive and rewarding activities that help society and give back to mankind.”
Selected through a rigorous three-stage process which culminated in a three-month public vote, the Class of 2009 includes:
- Entertainment giants Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, Jon Bon Jovi and Jerry Lewis in the arts & entertainment category.
- Poet Walt Whitman and Rutgers star Paul Robeson in the historical category.
- Basketball great and Newark native Shaquille O’Neal, Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto and tennis legend Althea Gibson in the sports category.
- The father of radio communications Guglielmo Marconi and scientist Carl Sagan in the enterprise category, which includes business leaders, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
- Poet William Carlos Williams and writer F. Scott Fitzgerald in the general category.
When asked about his induction in the Hall of Fame, Phoenix Suns star Shaquille O’Neal said, “It is a great and humbling honor to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame alongside some extraordinary individuals. I hope that through this wonderful museum my accomplishments both in the NBA and in the classroom can be an inspiration to others.”
There will be a gala red carpet induction ceremony on Sunday, May 3rd, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark where the inductees or their families will be honored. Tickets for the public to attend will be available after the middle of February through the NJPAC box office.
“Last year’s ceremony was both entertaining and historic and the Hall of Fame team is excited about the potential for another fun and enjoyable evening,” said the event’s executive producer Steve Edwards. “We look forward to having most if not all of our inductees on stage this year as well as the appearances of several notable personalities.”
At the announcement, the New Jersey Hall of Fame also unveiled preliminary design concepts for its initial satellite museums, slated for installation at the Izod Center and NJPAC. The organization’s plans include the creation of a mobile museum to take to school districts around the state.
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.
Sponsors of the New Jersey Hall of Fame include the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, the NJEA, J.H. Cohn LLP, Comcast, Cablevision, PNC Bank, Johnson & Johnson, the Edison Innovation Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PNC Bank, the Star-Ledger/nj.com, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Gem Limousine, the Hilton of Short Hills, My9 and Continental Airlines.
The public can learn more about the New Jersey Hall of Fame on-line at www.NJHallofFame.org.
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February 2, 2009
Third Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Essay Contest Announced
The New Jersey Hall of Fame is calling for entries to its third annual essay contest which is open to all New Jersey students in grades 4 through 12.
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 April 1, 2009, 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 April 1, 2009 to be eligible and mailed to: |
NJ Hall of Fame Contest
NJEA
Attn: Dawn Hiltner
180 West State Street
PO Box 1211
Trenton, NJ 08607-1211
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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 teachers and New Jersey Hall of Fame representatives. The winners will be notified prior to the May 3 induction ceremony.
Each winning student and three guests will be invited as VIP guests to the New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 3, 2009, held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The winners will also receive $500.00 from the NJHOF.
“Not only do our winners receive recognition and a cash prize for their accomplishment,” said Don Jay Smith, the Hall of Fame executive director, “but they, their families and teachers are our guests for our annual red carpet induction ceremony. To walk the red carpet, enjoy a historic event from prime seats and attend a special reception with many New Jersey legends makes for a tremendously enriching experience.”
The inaugural class of Hall of Fame inductees included Buzz Aldrin, Clara Barton, Yogi Berra, Bill Bradley, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Malcolm Forbes, General Robert Wood Johnson, Vince Lombardi, Toni Morrison, Norman Schwarzkopf, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep and Harriet Tubman. The Class of 2009 inductees will be announced by Governor Jon Corzine in early February.
Sponsors of the New Jersey Hall of Fame include the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, the NJEA, J.H. Cohn LLP, Comcast, Cablevision, PNC Bank, Johnson & Johnson, the Edison Innovation Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
For more information about the Hall of Fame, visit www.NJHallofFame.org.
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