Thank you to all who joined us at the 21st annual A Taste of Newark, celebrating Link’s 49 years successfully educating urban youth and honoring Ellen Maher and her non-profit, NJGoals Ahead, for commitment to and support for Link and for providing enriching extracurricular athletic programming for its students. We are especially grateful to the participating restaurants, caterers, and beverage companies that donated and served their delicious fare to our guests, Without them, there would be no “taste” in the event! We are also appreciative our sponsors, guests, auction donors, advertisers, student performers, and volunteers for ensuring a successful event.
Guests were to hear inspired by Eriqah Vincent ’02 who described the great impact that Link had on her life’s journey, particularly the exposures she gained which led her to her career and the nurturing, caring environment of the school that helped her to succeed. Adedire Fakorede ‘10, who introduced the evening’s honorees, Ellen Maher and NJGoals Ahead, poignantly shared how his participation in their ice hockey program while at Link helped him to gain confidence and perseverance that has served him so well in life. Ellen recounted her experience bringing NJGoals Ahead’s program to Link and how impressed she was about the immediate acceptance and the eager student participation. She stated that throughout her tenure – leading the ice hockey program and serving as a trustee, she always felt the warm and nurturing educational environment at Link. She also asserted that she often felt as if she took away more from Link than she gave.
Lin’s students delighted guests with two amazing performances: the female musical ensemble, Her Voice, and the African Dance troupe. The performers, led by teaching artists Lisette Santiago (Jazz House Kids) and Candace Hundley-Kamate (Newark School of the Arts) respectively, provided a visual example of how their support of Link enhances the “mind, body, and spirit” of our students.
Proceeds from the event fund student programming (arts and adventure education, field trips, elective classes, and more) that provides exposures to enrich their education as well as professional development for teachers so they can ensure student success.
It’s not too late to make a gift!
If you didn’t have the opportunity to contribute to Link at A Taste of Newark or were unable to attend, there is still time to support strong educational results by making a gift today. Just click below to make an online donation; send your check to Link Education Partners, 23 Pennsylvania Avenue, Newark, NJ 07114; or call our development office at 973.642.5343 to make a gift of stock or a gift via a credit card.
Click here to read more about the evening and donate today!
