Tony Cava, president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, has been named the 2022 Somerset County Citizen of the Year by the county’s Business Partnership.
We had a great weekend last week.
Our newest addition to the family – little Wills – was baptized.
But while I stood there holding the little guy, I realized how fortunate we are. And how important education…and the bonds you make through it…are to students, and families. And it’s why – in my opinion – we have to try and make a great education possible for those young men and women who want it.
My high school years – thanks to Prep – were the most important to me from an education standpoint. Yes, I went to a good college and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard…but the four years at Prep taught me more than either of those.
My dad made me go to Prep. And I thank him still today. Prep became part of our family.
Father John Browning, who became President of Prep, became a great friend and officiated at our wedding (44 years ago). He also baptized our three daughters – in the Prep Chapel.
Father Bob Reiser, a former President of Prep, officiated at the weddings of two of those daughters.
And Father Jim Keenan, a former President of Prep, has baptized all four grandchildren – in the Prep Chapel.
People talk a lot about their “North Stars.” Prep may be mine. Still have friends I went to Prep with. And their friends. Constantly meet people in business who went there…or know someone who did. And now meet parents of kids who went there…and they all say the same thing. What a great place.
That’s why we started a scholarship at Prep (Our Scholarships – Cento Amici) and other schools that seem to have the same values. Some of those “kids” who received those scholarships are now giving back to their schools, either directly or through our Foundation, Cento Amici. It’s a great circle. One of our first Prep scholarship recipients is now a member of the Cento Amici board…and I’m thrilled he is.
Foundations like ours are there for one reason – to help young men and women have the opportunity to get great educations. So please visit our website: www.centoamici.org and help even more great kids attain their dreams.
Congratulations to Freshmen Emily Sullivan (left) and Shaista Khatoon (right) awarded The Cento Amici Scholarship! Thank you to Cento Amici for your generosity and service to students throughout the state, Cento Amici is a community-based, member organization dedicated to providing scholarships to students in New Jersey. Their mission is to enhance the educational opportunities for those who need it most and who are most under-served by existing programs. Cento Amici currently supports scholarships at a number New Jersey high schools and colleges.
To see the Facebook post click here: https://www.facebook.com/SaintDominicAcademy/photos/np.1635359433697136.100000908632904/4572317222848039/?notif_id=1635359433697136¬if_t=photo_tag&ref=notif
By Tom Bergeron(ROI-NJ) – September 10, 2021
After his picture-perfect morning in Atlantic City came to a shocking end with images on his hotel TV of planes hitting buildings … after his race up the Garden State Parkway was filled with endless buzzes on his beeper and calls from members of his police squad and his family, especially his sister-in-law … after he arrived at the site of his place of work for the past five years only to realize he didn’t recognize the area … and only after his colleagues joined hundreds of others attempting to dig through the rubble that once was the Twin Towers in search of survivors, did Christopher Trucillo, a commanding officer with the Port Authority Police Department, get clarity on how he should respond to the greatest act of terrorism on American soil.
Read the entire piece here: https://www.roi-nj.com/2021/09/10/lifestyle/never-forget-for-some-it-has-been-a-mission-for-20-years/
When I was a student at Prep, I realized pretty quickly not only the positive impact of the financial support, but also the life-long value of getting a great education.
Had it not been for my scholarship, I wouldn’t have gone to Prep. I don’t know where I would have ended up. Attending Prep kept me away from some of my hometown friends who took very different paths than I did. Cento saved my life.
To anyone thinking about supporting Cento Amici or becoming a member, I would say the same thing I tell my clients: Do it. Don’t think about it. The most important thing you can do is make an impact on someone’s life. As a scholarship recipient, I can tell you that Cento Amici did that for me.
Brian K. Robinson
St. Peter’s Prep ’01
Recipient, Cento Amici Scholarship
Founder, Intentional Transformation, LLC
Communications Chair, Cento Amici
We remain inspired by Cento Amici’s generosity. Access to public higher education in New Jersey has never been more important. Your scholarship support provides critical financial resources to outstanding students who would not otherwise be able to attend. Cento Amici continues to make a significant difference in numerous students’ lives.
Daniel A. Gurskis, Dean, College of the Arts, Montclair State University
“I will be forever grateful for my scholarship, because I would not have accomplished my goal without the support from Cento Amici.”
It is with sadness that we inform our members that Joe Canderozzi passed this morning.
Joe was a great guy and served as President of Cento Amici for several years. He was a member of the initial “Trenta Amici” 33 years ago.
He and his wife Terri were great supporters of our organization. Joe introduced us to Montclair State University, and maintained the relationship between Cento Amici and MSU. He felt strongly about both organizations.
Joe will be missed by Terri, his family, and our members.
Please join us in remembering Joe and his family in your prayers.
-Robert Zito
| Contributions in memory of Joseph I. Canderozzi may be made here.
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To the members of Cento Amici,
This morning we learned that Cento Amici member Steve Kalafer had passed, after a years-long bout with cancer.
Many of you will remember the night Bob Hurley became a member of Cento Amici.
Hearing of the difficult position St. Anthony’s was in, Steve turned to Greg Olsen and suggested he and Greg put up $10,000 as a challenge to the room to match them, so Bob could leave with an additional $20,000 for the school that night. Of course, our members came through.
Steve will be missed. I was fortunate to serve on the RWJUH board with him…attend Actors Fund events with him…and the team at Zito Partners loved working with him. He supported our golf outing every year, and knew how to capture a television audience with one-liners that worked. CNBC and Fox Business made him a “regular” about the auto industry. (And of course, many of us bought our vehicles from him!)
Tom Bergeron, a regular at our dinners, wrote this wonderful piece about him.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steve’s family and friends.
-Robert Zito
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