The Rowan College Foundation at Gloucester County will host its annual Gatsby Gala on Friday at the Estate at Monroe in Williamstown, in partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) in Sewell.
This year, RCSJ will recognize Inspira Health’s president and CEO, Amy Mansue, as Person of the Year.
“Amy is being honored because she has made an enormous impact in the South Jersey region and at our institution,” said Cody Miller, director of the Rowan College Foundation. “RCSJ and Inspira have partnered to guarantee that we are training South Jersey’s best and brightest medical professionals.”
Mansue has been directly involved in those partnerships and collaborations, boosting the local medical community and education systems.
“We are extremely grateful that Amy has continued to enhance local partnerships between the medical community and educational institutions, including here at RCSJ,” Miller said.
Each year, the gala also recognizes 10 students with scholarships for their academic achievements, including the Women in STEM Academy Scholarship, the Minority Initiative in Leadership Excellence (MILE) Program Scholarship and the Start Smart Scholarship.
During the last year, the foundation has awarded more than $350,000 in scholarships to students with financial needs, with a total of more than $1 million raised through the foundation across its yearly fundraising events.
While the event will focus on the Person of the Year and select students, the public can attend with the purchase of a $150 ticket. All proceeds will directly fund future scholarships.
The foundation includes a board of 25 volunteers, and Miller cited the dedication it takes to plan the gala.
“This event takes a year to plan and execute because it is our largest fundraising event of the year and funds our foundation scholarships,” he explained. “As soon as we finish the event, we start planning for next year.”
Friday’s gala will be the first one in person since the pandemic began, so Miller’s personal experience with it nspires him to help create the best possible event for the students and public attending.
“This event and the organization means a lot to me, because I was one of the students who was a scholarship recipient that first attended the gala 12 years ago,” he recalled. “It’s full circle for me because I was able to afford my education here at RCSJ because of the Rowan College Foundation.”
Gala hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at RCSJ.edu/gc/Gala. For more information, call (856) 681-6242 or email cmille27@rcsj.edu.
