Voorhees Township Committee congratulates VBRC winners
Mayor’s Message: Michael Mignogna
On Jan. 26, I was privileged to be part of the Third-Annual Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Community Awards Dinner. Harry Platt was honored as the 2011 Voorhees Business Person of the Year. Harry is the manager of Platt Memorial Chapels, Inc., the family funeral home established by his father (former Cherry Hill Mayor Bernie Blatt) in 1977. Harry is also manager of Marshall Monuments, the funeral home’s in-house grave monument company serving the Tri-State region.
For the past 27 years, Harry has played an active role in his community. He was a founding board member of the Young Leadership Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, a founding member of the Colonel David Marcus Lodge of B’nai Brith and served on the adult board of directors for the B’nai Brith Youth Organization.
He has served as a member of the board of directors for Jewish Federation Housing and Jewish Family and Children’s Service and currently serves on their advisory council.
He serves as a board member of Congregation Beth El, where he and his family are members.
Harry is a past co-chairman for the Allied Jewish Appeal Super Sunday Campaign.
He is a Mason and past master of Mizpah-Haddon Heights Lodge #191 F. & A.M. and is past recipient of the “Lights of Tomorrow” award presented by the Jewish Business Network.
In 1998, Harry was first elected to the Voorhees Township Committee and continues to serve as a member of the governing body, recently winning his sixth term. He served as Mayor of Voorhees from 2001–2004. He has also served on the planning board, the Buzby Landfill Task Force and the Camden County Open Space Advisory Committee.
He currently serves as deputy mayor of Voorhees.
Gwen DeVera was honored as the 2011 Voorhees Citizen of the Year. Gwen was born in the Philippines and has lived in Voorhees since 1988. She is commissioner and vice-chairwoman of the Camden County Human Relations Commission.
A retired professional registered nurse, Gwen decided long ago to commit herself to the community. She organized the Filipino American Political Action Committee at the grass roots level in South Jersey and in 1998, then director of the board of chosen freeholders, Jeff Nash, consulted her on issues impacting Filipino-Americans in Camden County.
The long list of Gwen’s accomplishments includes being chairwoman of Voorhees Township Cultural Diversity “International Day” and special liaison for the Government Service for the Filipino Executive Council.
From 1998 to the present, Gwen secured the support of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders to co-sponsor the Philippine Independence Day Celebration. Active in the Get Out the Vote Campaign, Gwen was the first Filipino to launch Fil-Vote — Filipino Race to Vote.
A tireless advocate for Human Services, Gwen has advocated for proactive assistance to aid senior citizens in housing, Food Stamps and Medicare/Medicaid programs.
She has also been instrumental in securing medical care, equipment, food, housing and emergency assistance for the poor and homeless in her native Philippines.
Over the years, Gwen has served with numerous organizations including the Camden County Board of Social Services, Camden County Women’s Commission, Camden County Division of Seniors, Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey and U.S. Filipino for Good Governance.
In 2001, she was appointed by Gov. McGreevey as commissioner of the New Jersey Asian American Council and from 2006 to 2008, she served as the chairwoman of the National Federation of Filipino Americans, State of New Jersey. She has received numerous awards, including commendations from U.S. Congressman Rob Andrews, former Gov. Corzine and me.
In 2001, Gwen received the first Camden County Martin Luther King Freedom Medal and in 2007, was recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in America” in Washington, D.C.
The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary has donated thousands in scholarship money to local high school students and hundreds of food baskets and backpacks with school supplies to needy Voorhees families. They have donated books to the Virtua Hospital Pediatric Unit and provided food and volunteers to serve meals at the Ronald McDonald House and Cathedral Kitchen.
Internationally, the club has raised funds for victims of the recent tsunamis, hurricane Katrina and the earthquakes in Haiti.
The club has also supported efforts to build a children’s playground at the Santo Domingo Orphanage.
Locally, the club is a fixture at Voorhees community events, particularly the summer concert series and Halloween in the Park. Each year, the club sponsors our local Easter egg hunt.
This year, the club was honored with two prestigious Rotary awards, the Presidential Citation, which recognizes the club’s commitment to fellowship and service, and the Community Service Award, which recognizes the Club’s dedication to public service and the community.
On behalf of the residents of Voorhees and the Township Committee, thank you to the Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club and congratulations to Harry Platt and Gwen DeVera. Both are wonderful ambassadors of Voorhees Township.
