2021 Spotlight Gala @ Home Journal

A VIRTUAL GALA 

CELEBRATING 

NJPAC AND ITS 

ARTS EDUCATION 

PROGRAMS! 

women@ 

PERFECT HARMONY 

SATURDAY 

10·02·2021 

TUNE IN 

NJ PBS @ 7PM 

njpac.org/gala

spotlightgala@home 

WELCOME! 

2 njpac.org/gala 

mission The New Jersey 

Performing Arts Center, 

by celebrating diversity, 

shall be America’s foremost 

urban presenter of arts and 

entertainment, a creative 

and effective leader in arts 

education for children, 

a convener of useful and 

enlightening civic engagement 

events, and a catalyst for 

economic development in 

its home city of Newark. 

4 Welcome from 

John Schreiber and 

Faith Taylor 

6 Spotlight Gala @ Home 

Sponsors 

9 Welcome from the 

Spotlight Gala @ Home 

co-chairs 

12 Letter from New Jersey 

Senator Cory A. Booker 

13 Letter from Senate 

President Pro Tempore 

M. Teresa Ruiz 

14 Letter from Governor 

Philip D. Murphy 

15 Letter from Newark 

Mayor Ras J. Baraka 

16 Heavenly Harmony— 

Meet Your Host, 

Kelli O’Hara! 

17 Sing, Sing A Song... 

Tonight’s Performers 

24 2021 Founders Award: 

Toby and Leon Cooperman 

and the Cooperman Family 

34 A Year Like No Other - 

Women@NJPAC 

42 The Future is Bright 

44 From New Virtual Vistas 

to Full Theaters 

46 Finding Their Voices, 

Virtually 

55 History of Spotlight 

Gala Honorees 

60 Women@NJPAC Board 

of Trustees 

63 Production Credits 

CONTENTS 

advertisers 

Prudential.......................................................8 

The MCJ Amelior Foundation.............10 

PSEG................................................................11 

PwC................................................................20 

Chubb Corporation.................................21 

Mindy Cohen and 

David Bershad....................................22 

Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq. and 

Theodore V. Wells Jr. ........................23 

Merck Foundation...................................30 

Rutgers University - Newark................31 

Arthur F. Ryan............................................32 

Tanenbaum Keale LLP..........................22 

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield 

of New Jersey......................................38 

Bank of America......................................39 

Audible.........................................................40 

Panasonic Corporation 

of North America.................................41 

Mario J. Gabelli and 

Regina M. Pitaro.................................48 

A. Michael and Ruth C. Lipper...........49 

Mazars USA, LLP.....................................50 

NJ PBS............................................................51 

Gibbons, P.C. ............................................ 52 

Shelley and Steven Einhorn................52 

Meg and Howard Jacobs...................53 

RWJBarnabas Health............................54 

NJM Insurance Group...........................58 

ADP................................................................58 

Genova Burns...........................................59 

Advanced Parking Concepts ............ 62 

Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office.................64 

Elberon Development Co. ...................65 

BD...................................................................66 

njpac.org/gala 3 

Arts Education, NJPAC ..........................67


“ Here’s to you, here’s 

to the power of the 

arts — and here’s to 

an amazing season 

to come.” 

WELCOME 

FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO 

A year ago, NJPAC hosted its first virtual Spotlight Gala @ Home. 

It was something we’d never attempted before; we’d only just begun 

to offer our concerts, community programs, summer camps and arts 

training workshops digitally. How much we’ve learned in a year! 

And one of the lessons was this: We can still host one phenomenal 

party, even when all the guests are attending from their own living 

rooms! Sharing our biggest and best show of the year with everyone 

in New Jersey (and beyond!) virtually is such an exciting way to 

highlight the Arts Center’s unique ability to bring diverse, world-class 

artists together for a show that’s always greater than the sum of its 

parts. It’s something we’ve learned from the incredible performers 

showcased this evening: Voices raised together in harmony can make 

the most inspiring songs! As we celebrate the start of a new season, 

the ebbing of the pandemic and the return of live performances 

at NJPAC and everywhere, we thank all of you, our marvelous 

supporters, audiences and friends, who worked in harmony with us 

to keep the performing arts alive through one of the most challenging 

years we’ve known. Here’s to you, here’s to the power of the arts — 

and here’s to an amazing season to come. 

John Schreiber 

WELCOME 

FROM THE 

PRESIDENT OF 

WOMEN@NJPAC 

Gathering communities 

together, amplifying the voices 

of women and girls, sharing 

our inspiration and our passion 

for building a better world: 

This is what the Arts Center’s 

“sisterhood for good,” Women@ 

NJPAC, does best. Tonight, we’re 

thrilled to have you join us in 

pursuing all those goals by 

supporting the work of the Arts 

Center with our annual Spotlight 

Gala. So many people who 

visit NJPAC to see their favorite 

artists perform don’t realize 

how much more this anchor 

cultural institution does: From 

music and literacy classes for 

preschoolers, to pre-professional 

programs for young women 

musicians, to discussions about 

social justice movements, plus 

hundreds of free performances 

in libraries, churches and parks, 

NJPAC brings the power of the 

performing arts to everyone 

in our community. Tonight’s 

celebration advances all that 

good work. I hope you enjoy 

the songs and stories you’ll hear 

tonight even more, knowing that 

this wonderful concert is making 

a difference in the lives of so 

many of our neighbors. 

“ I hope you enjoy the 

songs and stories you’ll 

hear tonight even more, 

knowing that this 

wonderful concert is 

making a difference in 

the lives of so many of 

our neighbors.” 

Faith Taylor 


njpac.org/gala 5



2021 


lead sponsors 

underwriter 

The MCJ Amelior Foundation 

hometown heroes (aka vice chairs) 


David Bershad 

Arthur F. Ryan 

Toby and Leon G. 

Cooperman 

Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq. and 

Theodore V. Wells, Jr. 

platinum channel 

surfer dinner 

committee 

Gibbons, P.C. 

gold 

live-streamer 

dinner committee 

ADP 

American Express 

Atlantic, Tomorrow’s 

Office 

Bank of America 

Chubb Corporation 

Shelley and 

Steven Einhorn 

Mario Gabelli and 

Regina Pitaro 

NJM Insurance Group 

RWJBarnabas Health 

silver remote 

controller 

Bloomberg 

Philanthropies 

BNY Mellon 

Boston Consulting Group 

Cognizant 

Alma DeMetropolis 

The Fidelco Group / 

Randi and 

Marc E. Berson 

Greenberg Traurig LLP 

William and Joan Hickey 

The Honorable 

Thomas H. Kean 

William J. and 

Paula Marino 

McCarter & English, LLP 

PNC Bank, N. A. 

Seyfarth & Shaw 

The Smart Family 

Foundation/ 

David S. Stone, Esq., 

Stone & Magnanini 

SP+ 

Structure Tone 

Wells Fargo Foundation 

platinum 

advocates 

Charles C. Anderson 

Sandy Bernhardt 

Evelyn and 

Stephen Colbert 

Elberon Development Co. 

Steven M. Goldman, Esq. 

Mazars USA, LLP 

Faith and Gary Taylor 

TD Bank 

Valley Bank 

gold advocates 

Deborah and Joseph 

Belfatto 

Bleema and William 

Bershad 

Mary Kay Strangfeld 

Mark and Jane Wilf 

Family Foundation 

silver advocates 

Audrey Bartner 

Patricia L. Capawana 

Veronica M. Goldberg 

Zenola Harper, Esq. 

KPMG 

Margarethe and 

Mark Laurenzi 

Nicole Wescoe 

advocates 

Susan and David Bloom 

Ann and Stan Borowiec 

Marcia Wilson Brown, Esq. 

Sherri-Ann Butterfield 

Edmund Hajim 

Obi Imegwu 

Tammye and 

David Jones 

Judith M. Lieberman 

Ferlanda Fox Nixon and 

Milford Nixon 

Christine Pearson 

Arnold and 

Sandy Peinado 

Richard W. Roper 

Schenck, Price, 

Smith & King, LLP 

full-page ad 

sponsors 

Audible 

Meg and 

Howard Jacobs 

A. Michael and 

Ruth C. Lipper 



of North America 

Rutgers University - 

Newark 

half-page ad 

sponsors 

Genova Burns 

in-kind donations 

Advanced Parking 

Concepts 

BD 

Marcus Samuelsson 

official 

media sponsor 

List as of 9/27/2021 

njpac.org/gala 7


Teachers Village 

Charter School Development 

New Jersey 

Performing Arts 

Center 

Prudential 

Tower & 

Military Park 

Committed to Newark for more than 140 years, 

we continue to see the promise of prosperity. 

1 

Women@ 

Studio 

Job # 

Date 

Alan Gross 

2021 Program ads 

9-14-2021 1:04 PM 

Small Business 

Development 

YouthBuild Newark, Inc. 

Free Ultra-High-Speed Wi-Fi 

In 1875, Prudential founder John Dryden chose Newark 

as the home for an idea that would change America 

forever: life insurance for everyday families. 

Today, we’re doing more than ever to champion the aspirations 

of Newark families. Through partnerships across the city, 

we’re creating avenues for new ideas and technologies 

to emerge. For businesses, nonprofit organizations and 

educational institutions to thrive. And to help individuals 

achieve the promise of prosperity for generations to come. 

We began with a sense of purpose that lives on today 

in our commitment to Newark and communities 

around the world. 

Hahne & Co. 

Redevelopment 

Prudential is proud to support the Women@NJPAC 2021 Spotlight Gala @ Home. 

Congratulations to the Founders Award recipients Toby and Leon G. Cooperman, 

and the entire Cooperman family. 

S:7.5" 

T:8" 

Live 

Trim 

Bleed 

4.5" x 7.5" 

5" x 8" 

None 

NINA Gutter NoneWELLS AND MINDY COHEN 

Pub Women@NJPAC 

Welcome from the Spotlight Gala @ Home co-chairs 

P. Date None 

Approvals: 

We are __________ both GCD so proud to join all the members of Women@NJPAC 

__________ CD 

in bringing you an absolutely marvelous performance, 

__________ AD 

one that is sure to have you singing along and up on your feet! 

__________ CW 

And we’re just as proud that tonight’s event has raised more 

__________ AE 

than $2 million to support the Arts Center’s many programs 

__________ Traffic 

for children and families. Those deeply impactful initiatives will 

__________ Proof 

reach even more kids in the future, as NJPAC is preparing to 

expand Scaled None its campus with the addition of the Cooperman Family 

Arts Education and Community Center, a home for arts education 

programs, Prudential Advertising community engagement performances — and a place 

where 973-802-7361 artists and teachers can workshop new ways to engage 

everyone with the arts. This is a very exciting time for NJPAC, 

and we’re thrilled that tonight’s event includes a salute to 

Toby and Leon Cooperman, and the whole Cooperman family, 

whose philanthropy has set the stage for this, the next step in 

the Arts Center’s evolution. 

Visit prudential.com/newark 

Nine Mitchell Wells, Esq. 

Mindy A. Cohen 

© 2021. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. 

and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. 

0307724-00001-00 

njpac.org/gala 9

“The most direct route 

to happiness is in service 

to others.” 

— Matthieu Ricard 

congratulations 

to Toby, Lee and the 

Cooperman Family. 


P O W E R I N G P R O G R E S S 

EMPOWERING PEOPLE > POWERING LIFE 

In these challenging times, staying connected 

is everything. PSEG is commited to providing 

the energy that powers our homes, our work 

and our connections to the world.

October 2, 2021 October October 2, 2, 2021 2021 October 2, 2021 

Jersey Performing New New Jersey Jersey Arts Performing Performing New Center Jersey Arts Arts Performing Center Center Arts Center 

Center Street One One Center Center Street Street One Center Street 

ark, New Newark, Newark, Jersey 07102 New New Newark, Jersey Jersey 07102 07102 New Jersey 07102 

r Friends, Dear Dear Friends, Friends, Dear Friends, 

an honor It to It is extend is an an honor honor my It warmest to to is extend extend an honor greetings my my to warmest warmest extend as you greetings my greetings gather warmest as for as you greetings you the gather Women@NJPAC’s gather as for for you the the gather Women@NJPAC’s for Spotlight the Women@NJPAC’s Spotlight Spotlight Spotlight 

2021. Gala Gala 2021. 2021. Gala 2021. 

more thanFor For two more more decades, than than For Women@NJPAC two two more decades, decades, than two Women@NJPAC Women@NJPAC decades, has worked Women@NJPAC tirelessly has has worked worked to help tirelessly tirelessly has support worked to to NJPAC’s help tirelessly help support support to help NJPAC’s NJPAC’s support NJPAC’s 

ities, including activities, activities, social including including activities, justice and social social including arts justice justice education social and and arts arts initiatives justice education education and that arts initiatives initiatives have education made that that initiatives lasting have have made made impact that a a have lasting lasting made impact impact 

lasting impact 

ur state’s on residents. on our our state’s state’s The on residents. residents. efforts our state’s of The your The residents. efforts efforts members, of of The your your especially efforts members, members, of during your especially especially members, this pandemic, during during especially this this have pandemic, pandemic, during this have have pandemic, have 

ed expand helped helped NJPAC’s expand expand programs helped NJPAC’s NJPAC’s expand to more programs programs NJPAC’s New Jersey to to more programs more students, New New to Jersey Jersey more providing students, students, New them Jersey providing providing with students, the them them providing with with the the them with the 

rtunity to opportunity opportunity pursue their to opportunity to artistic pursue pursue dreams. their their to artistic pursue artistic As a member dreams. their dreams. artistic As of As the a a dreams. member member Senate As Cultural of of a the the member Senate Senate Caucus, of Cultural Cultural the I am Senate Caucus, Caucus, Cultural I I am am Caucus, I am 

re of the power aware aware the of of the arts the aware power power can have of the the the on arts arts power young can can have have the people, arts on on young can young and have I know people, people, on that young and and your I people, I know know endeavors that that and your your I have know endeavors endeavors that your have have endeavors have 

fted and empowered uplifted uplifted and and our empowered uplifted empowered youth. and our empowered our youth. youth. our youth. 

e again, congratulations Once Once again, again, congratulations Once congratulations another again, congratulations year of another another remarkable year year on another of of accomplishments! remarkable remarkable year of accomplishments! accomplishments! remarkable Please accept accomplishments! Please my Please accept accept Please my my accept my 

tfelt appreciation heartfelt heartfelt for appreciation appreciation all heartfelt that you appreciation for for have all all that done that you you and for have have all continue that done done you to and and have do. continue continue done and to to do. do. continue to do. 

Sincerely, Sincerely, Sincerely, Sincerely, 

Cory A. Booker Cory Cory A. A. Booker 

Booker Cory A. Booker 

United States United Senator United States States United Senator Senator States Senator

October 2, 2021 


Women@NJPAC 

October 2, New 2021 Jersey Performing Women@NJPAC Arts Center 

1 Center Street New Jersey Performing Arts Center 

Women@NJPAC Newark, New 1 Center Jersey 07102 Street 

New Jersey Performing Newark, Arts Center New Jersey 07102 

1 Center Street Dear Friends of the Women@NJPAC: 

Newark, New Jersey Dear 07102 Friends of the Women@NJPAC: 

On behalf of the people of Newark, it is my pleasure to welcome every 

Dear Friends 

gathered 

of the 

this 

Women@NJPAC: 

On evening behalf of for the the people Women@NJPAC’s of Newark, it 24th is my Annual pleasure Spotlight to wel G 

entitled “Spotlight gathered Gala@Home.” this evening for the Women@NJPAC’s 24th Annual 


entitled “Spotlight Gala@Home.” 

On behalf This of event the people is normally of Newark, the largest it is my black-tie pleasure fundraiser to welcome in New everyone Jersey 

Women@NJPAC gathered proceeds this evening from This the for event the is support Women@NJPAC’s normally a major the portion largest 24th of black-tie NJPAC’s Annual activities, fundraiser Spotlight includin 

Gala N 

entitled “Spotlight highly-acclaimed Gala@Home.” 

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the COVID-19 highly-acclaimed Virus has forced Arts us Education again to be programs. creative this This year’s in Gala, organizin held 

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Dear Friends of the the Women@NJPAC: 

COVID-19 others Virus from beloved has Prudential forced and Hall. us legendary again to artists be creative – some this participating year in organizing from their ho it 

Fortunately, NJPAC has others risen from to Prudential the occasion Hall. as it always does by developing a 

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Cooperman This Family year’s in recognition gala will of the honor entire Toby family’s and leadership Leon Cooperman in New Jersea 

gathered this evening beloved for and 

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in City, recognition Annual and the of arts. Spotlight from their home 

the entire family’s Gala, studios and 

leadership i 

entitled “Spotlight Gala@Home.” 

others from Prudential Hall. 

their commitment to NJPAC, our City, and the arts. 

This unique event, streamed and shared across our state, will help sup 

This year’s 

This event is normally the programs 

gala will 

largest This that 

honor 

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event, 

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their commitment to performers NJPAC, our and City, stars. and the arts. 

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the COVID-19 Virus This has unique forced event, us again All streamed the to best for creative and an shared enjoyable this across year virtual in our gala! organizing state, will it. help support 

Fortunately, NJPAC programs has risen to that the will occasion empower as it always future does generations by developing of Newark a musica 

one-of-a-kind, hour-long, performers Sincerely live-streamed and stars. yours, show with special performances by 

beloved and legendary artists – some Sincerely participating yours, from their home studios and 

others from Prudential All the Hall. best for an enjoyable virtual gala! 

This year’s gala will Sincerely honor yours, Toby and Leon Cooperman and the entire 

Cooperman Family in recognition Ras J. Baraka of the entire family’s leadership in New Jersey for 

their commitment to NJPAC, Mayor our City, Ras and J. the Baraka arts. 

Mayor 

This unique event, streamed and shared across our state, will help support 

programs that will empower future generations of Newark musical 

performers and stars. Ras J. Baraka 

Mayor 

All the best for an enjoyable virtual gala! 

Sincerely yours, 

Ras J. Baraka 

Mayor 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

920 BROAD STREET, RM 200 • NEWARK, 

OFFICE OF 

NJ 

THE 

07102 

MAYOR 

TEL: (973) 733-6400 

920 BROAD 

• FAX 

STREET, 

(973) 733- 

RM 

3711 

200 • NEWARK, NJ 07102 

TEL: (973) 733-6400 • FAX (973) 733- 3711 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

920 BROAD STREET, RM 200 • NEWARK, NJ 07102 

TEL: (973) 733-6400 • FAX (973) 733- 3711


SING, SING A SONG... 

Tonight’s Performers 

HEAVENLY HARMONY 

Meet your host, Kelli O’Hara! 

Stage and screen star Kelli O’Hara is one 

of Broadway’s greatest leading ladies. 

Her portrayal of Anna 

Leonowens in The King 

and I garnered her 

the 2015 Tony Award 

for Best Leading 

Actress in a Musical. 

Kelli’s many other 

memorable moments 

on Broadway include 

her appearances 

in Kiss Me Kate, 

The Bridges of 

Madison County, 

Nice Work If You Can 

Get It, South Pacific, 

The Pajama Game 

and The Light in the 

Piazza — each a Tonynominated 

performance. 

In 2015, she made her 

Metropolitan Opera 

debut in Lehar’s 

The Merry Widow 

opposite Renee Fleming. 

She was awarded the 

prestigious Drama 

League’s Distinguished 

Achievement in Musical 

Theatre Award in 2019. 

Kelli also received an 

Kelli O’Hara, one 

of Broadway’s most 

honored actresses, 

kicks off the Gala. 

Emmy nomination for 

her portrayal of Katie 

Bonner in the hit web 

series The Accidental 

Wolf. Other film and 

television credits 

include Netflix’s 

13 Reasons Why, 

Sex & The City 2, 

Martin Scorsese’s 

The Key to Reserva, 

Showtime’s Master of 

Sex, The Good Fight, 

Blue Bloods and the 

animated series 

Car Talk. Kelli is 

currently shooting 

HBO’s new series, The 

Gilded Age, alongside 

Christine Baranski 

and Cynthia Nixon. 

BOBBY McFERRIN 

BOBBY McFERRIN is a 10-time GRAMMY® 

Award winner who has blurred the 

distinction between pop music and fine art, 

while goofing around barefoot in the world’s 

finest concert halls, exploring uncharted 

vocal territory, and inspiring a whole new 

generation of a cappella singers and 

beatboxers. His latest album, spirityouall, 

is a bluesy, feel-good recording, an 

unexpected move from the music-industry 

rebel who single-handedly redefined 

the role of the human voice with his 

a cappella hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” 

his improvising choir Voicestra and his 

legendary solo vocal performances. 

“I try not to ‘perform’ onstage,” says Bobby. 

“I try to sing the way I sing in my kitchen, 

because I just can’t help myself. I want 

audiences to leave the theater and sing in 

their own kitchens the next morning. I want 

to bring audiences into the incredible feeling 

of joy and freedom I get when I sing.” 


njpac.org/gala 17


SING, SING A SONG... Tonight’s Performers 

THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER NATURALLY 7 

Beginning with its 

first performances 

in the early 1970s, 

THE MANHATTAN 

TRANSFER has 

become a cornerstone 

of contemporary 

music, known for its 

amazing harmony 

and versatility, 

incorporating pop, 

jazz, R&B, rock ’n’ roll, 

swing, symphonic 

and a cappella. 

The group made its 

recording debut with 

a self-titled album in 

1975. Originally an 

East Coast cult act, the 

click to read more 

TAKE 6 

The quintessential a cappella group, TAKE 6 — Claude McKnight, Mark 

Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley — 

has been heralded by Quincy Jones as the “baddest vocal cats on the 

planet!” Their six virtuosic voices united in crystal clear harmony, against 

a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements and funky 

grooves, bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B and pop. 

The multi-platinum selling sextet has toured across the globe and is 



NATURALLY 7 

is more than a tightly 

orchestrated collection 

of great singers. They 

transform their voices 

into actual human 

instruments, effortlessly 

producing music of 

any genre. Their sonic 

mastery was on full 

display in a series 

of unforgettable 

performances on 

The World’s Best TV 

show, which premiered 

on CBS immediately 

following Super Bowl 

LIII. Hosted by James 

Corden, the show 

named Naturally 7 the 


UNDER THE STREETLAMP 

UNDER THE 

STREETLAMP, 

established in 2009 

by members of the 

Chicago company 

of the Tony Awardwinning 

musical 

Jersey Boys, is a 

fraternity of gifted 

performers who 

breathe new life into 

doo wop, Motown, 

and old time rock 

’n’ roll with their 

unique blend of tight 

harmonies and slick 

dance moves. After 

their run with Jersey 

Boys ended in 2010, 

the founding members 

spent the next year 

cultivating new takes 


njpac.org/gala 19

Some people 

make art. 

Others make art 

possible. 

Proud to Support 

NJPAC 

PwC is proud to support NJPAC and 

tonight’s gala as part of our commitment 

to passionate communities of people who 

uncover new perspectives. 

TheNewEquation.com 

chubb.com 

©2021 Chubb. Coverages underwritten by one or more subsidiary 

companies. Not all coverages available in all jurisdictions. Chubb®, 

its logo, and Chubb. Insured. SM are protected trademarks of Chubb. 

© 2021 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.

We would like to salute the 

Cooperman 

Family 

for this well 

deserved honor 

and also salute 

the NJPAC team for their 

amazing efforts 

during this 

challenging 

year. 


David Bershad 

Congratulations 

to the Cooperman 

Family for their 

incredible philanthropy 

& tremendous impact 

on New Jerseyans 

and so many others! 

We extend sincere and 

heartfelt appreciation for 

your incredible generosity 

and leadership. 

Nina and Ted Wells


toby and leon cooperman 

& the cooperman family 

building a legacy 

OF GENEROSITY 

Top 

LEON COOPERMAN — founder and chairman of Omega 

Advisors, and former Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset 

Management — is a financier par excellence, an executive, an 

extraordinary philanthropist and a fighter for what he believes is 

right. He’s also a father and a grandfather, the founder of a clan 

raised to work hard and, most importantly, to give back. 

father was a plumber. As a child, 

Lee attended public schools; as 

a teen, he took jobs ranging from 

fixing tires to serving as a movie 

theater usher. Lee attended Hunter 

College in New York, becoming the 

first in his family to get a degree. He 

met his wife of more than 50 years, 

Toby, at Hunter, in French class. 

After graduating, he attended 

Columbia Business School, where 

he discovered the value-investing 

strategy that would guide him 

through the rest of his career. He 

graduated in 1967, and, with student 

debt and responsibility for a young 

family heavy on his shoulders, 

he started at Goldman Sachs the 

next day. In less than ten years, 

he was named partner in charge 

of research. For the decade after 

that, he was named to Institutional 

Investor’s All-America Research 

Team for portfolio strategy. He rose 

to become CEO at Goldman Sachs 

Asset Management. 

Left: The Cooperman Family — 

including, from left, Wayne and 

Jodi Cooperman, Toby and Leon 

Cooperman, and Wayne and 

Jodi’s children Kyra and 

Courtney — visit the NJPAC 

campus. Top: NJPAC President 

and CEO John Schreiber with 

Toby and Leon. Middle: Toby and 

Leon Cooperman at home during 

the Spotlight Gala @ Home 

filming. Below: Leon Cooperman 

takes the stage for a conversation 

at the Arts Center. 

In so many ways, Leon, know to 

his friends as Lee, embodies the 

American dream, and works to 

make that dream come true for 

others. Lee, his wife Toby and 

all his family have long been 

supporters of the Arts Center, 

and we honor them tonight for 

that history of support, and for 

their foundational gift toward an 

exciting expansion of NJPAC’s 

campus, the new Cooperman 

Family Arts Education and 

Community Center, which will 

open across Center Street from 

the Arts Center’s theaters in 2024. 

The son of Polish immigrants, 

Lee grew up in a one-bedroom 

apartment in the South Bronx. His 


njpac.org/gala 25


The Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center on the NJPAC campus, 

made possible by a founding gift from the family, is slated to open in 2024. This new 

building on Center Street will be a purpose-built home for the Arts Center’s many 

existing arts training programs in dance, hip hop arts and culture, jazz and 

instrumental music. It will also offer arts programs for preschoolers, seniors and 

adults; a forum for free community engagement programs; space for the creation of 

new arts education programs and arts integration initiatives; and professional 

rehearsal studios for the creation of new work. 

After 25 years at Goldman, he left 

to start his own firm, the hedge fund 

Omega Investors. Lee, famous for 

his 12-hour work days, became 

“the James Brown of hedge funds — 

the hardest working man in 

the industry,” as his friend, and 

Seabreeze Partners Management 

founder Doug Kass, told CNBC. 

At Omega, he had more than $3 

billion in assets under management, 

much of it his own funds. His insights 

into the market yielded remarkable 

returns for his investors until 2018, 

when he converted Omega into 

a family office. 

From a boy of the South Bronx to 

a billionaire: Lee’s life story is a 

real-life Horatio Alger tale. (And he 

is in fact a member of the Horatio 

Alger Association, which strives to 

help young people advance through 

scholarships and education.) 

But where Alger would have ended 

the narrative with his plucky hero 

achieving his wildest dreams, that’s 

only the first part of Lee’s story. 

Toby, a teacher who worked as a 

learning disabilities specialist at 

the ELLC, a special needs school 

in Chatham, for many years, had 

already devoted her career to 

helping others. When their good 

fortune allowed them to lend a 

helping hand to those in need, 

philanthropy became a shared 

passion for both Toby and Lee. 

In 2010, they signed the Giving 

Pledge, joining the group of 

billionaires, formed by Bill Gates 

and Warren Buffet, who commit to 

giving the majority of their wealth 

to charitable concerns. “It was 

written in the Talmud that ‘A man’s 

net worth is measured not by what 

he earns, but rather what he gives 

away,’ ” Toby and Lee noted in an 

open letter declaring their intention 

to join the group. 

Both before and after they signed 

the Pledge, the Cooperman family’s 

generosity has been extraordinary. 

While their philanthropy has 

prioritized education, health, the 

arts and Jewish life, the Cooperman 

family has advanced innumerable 

efforts – the JCC and Daughters of 

Israel, among others. 

After founding Omega 

Advisors, Cooperman 

became known as 

“the James Brown of 

hedge funds — the 

hardest working man 

in the industry.” 

They supported their alma 

mater, Hunter College, with tens 

of millions in scholarships to 

current students, and funding 

for a new library. They presented 

Columbia Business School with 

millions towards a new campus — 

plus more for an endowed chair 

in economics, and funding for 

need-based scholarships. 

They funded the Cooperman 

Family Pavilion at Saint Barnabas 

Medical Center in Livingston, 


njpac.org/gala 27


and supported the Damon Runyon 

Cancer Research Foundation. 

Their recent gift to Jewish Services 

for the Developmentally 

Disabled helped fund its new 

headquarters building. 

They established the Cooperman 

College Scholars program, 

which offers not just academic 

scholarships but funding for books 

and computers, plus counseling 

and support, to ensure that 

students from Essex County could 

go to college and succeed there. 

Toby and Lee have shared their 

philanthropic spirit with their whole 

family, who are now also engaged 

in finding new ways of helping. 

Among many other charitable 

projects, their son, Wayne, and 

his wife Jodi, joined Toby and Lee 

in establishing The Cooperman 

Family Fund for a Jewish Future at 

the Jewish Community Foundation 

of MetroWest in New Jersey, which 

supports mitzvah projects, Birthright 

Israel trips and camp for Jewish 

youngsters. Their other son, Michael, 

is the founder and principal of 

PlusFish Philanthropy, which designs 

and funds science and capacity 

building to protect the fisheries 

of the developing nations of the 

tropics, an essential food supply for 

hundreds of millions of people. 

And a whole new generation of 

Coopermans — their grandchildren, 

Kyra, Courtney and Asher — are 

poised to join the family’s efforts. 

At NJPAC, the Cooperman 

family’s philanthropy has been 

transformative. Loyal supporters of 

Toby and Lee 

have shared their 

philanthropic spirit 

with their whole family, 

who are now also 

engaged in finding new 

ways of advancing the 

wellbeing of others. 

the Arts Center since they attended 

their first NJPAC Spotlight Gala in 

1997, they contributed every year 

to its programs, and in 2004, they 

established an endowed fund to 

support the Arts Center’s beloved 

Kwanzaa Family Festival, making 

this annual community celebration 

possible in perpetuity. Lee served on 

the NJPAC Board of Directors, and 

to this day serves as an advisor to 

the Board’s Investment Committee. 

Lee even brings hundreds of New 

Jersey’s executives and thought 

leaders together at NJPAC several 

times each season when he 

personally hosts Conversations 

with Cooperman, a series of talks 

with CEOs, politicians and other 

national leaders, at NJPAC. 

In 2019, the Cooperman Family 

made a foundational gift toward the 

next step in NJPAC’s evolution as an 

anchor cultural institution — 

a brand-new facility on the 

Arts Center campus to house its 

arts education and community 

engagement programs and more. 

Above: Leon, center, chats with David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder & Co-Executive 

Chairmen of The Carlyle Group, left, and NJPAC’s John Schreiber, right, at one of the 

much-anticipated discussions of business and finance he hosts at the Arts Center, 

Conversations with Cooperman. Below: Toby and Leon have become regulars at NJPAC’s 

Spotlight Gala celebrations, having attended the very first event in 1997. 

The Cooperman Family Arts 

Education and Community Center 

will be a new, purpose-built home 

for NJPAC’s extensive performing 

arts education initiatives, which 

serve tens of thousands of children 

and families every year. The Center 

will also be a site for bringing 

the arts to the entire Newark 

community, through free community 

engagement programming, new arts 

and wellness initiatives, interactions 

between professional artists and 

the community, and community 

arts group performances. High-tech 

digital classrooms, rehearsal space 

for professional arts groups, and 

arts education programming for 

children, preschoolers, seniors 

and others will keep the Cooperman 

Center open and bustling seven 

days a week, bringing new life 

and energy to Newark’s downtown 

arts and education district. 

We celebrate the Cooperman 

family for their myriad good works, 

their passion for philanthropy, 

and especially, for their 

transformational impact on NJPAC. 


njpac.org/gala 29

By putting 

lives first, we’ve 

created a legacy 

that lasts 

For nearly 130 years, we have tackled some of the world’s biggest 

health challenges and provided hope in the fight against disease, 

for both people and animals. Today, we continue our commitment 

to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company 

in pursuit of medical breakthroughs that benefit patients and 

society for today, tomorrow and generations to come. 

Rutgers University – Newark 

proudly joins Women@NJPAC 

in turning the spotlight onto the 

Cooperman Family in honor of 

their exemplary support for the 

arts—and beyond! 

Copyright © 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. 

All rights reserved. US-NON-04146 02/20


to the 

Cooperman Family 

on this 

well-earned honor. 

Let’s bridge the 

distance with our voices. 

The human voice has the power to bridge great distances. 

Tanenbaum Keale LLP is proud to sponsor 2021’s Women@NJPAC 

Spotlight Gala @ Home, a night of (virtual) performances. We 

embrace NJPAC’s ongoing mission to bring arts education, civic 

engagement and economic development to the community, all while 

creating one-of-a-kind experiences to keep us in perfect harmony, 

even when we’re apart. 

thank you 

for decades of generosity 

towards NJPAC. 

cheers 

to NJPAC’s reopening 

and the 

resilience it took 

to get there! 

The Ryan Family Foundation


A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER 

Women@NJPAC grew in 

new directions throughout 

an extraordinary season 

Even as NJPAC’s theaters remained closed for 

more than a year, Women@NJPAC’s unquenchable 

“sisterhood for good” branched out into new 

directions to fulfill its mission to inspire and educate 

women and girls, celebrate the voices of women 

and bolster NJPAC’s many programs for children 

and families. 

In Fall 2020, Women@NJPAC’s first-ever virtual 

celebration, the Spotlight Gala @ Home, brought 

the organization together to host a much-needed 

fundraising event that brought in more than 

$1.8 million to support the Arts Center. Broadway 

legend Brian Stokes Mitchell starred in and hosted 

the hour-long concert portion of the evening, the 

first to be shared with all of New Jersey as a free 

broadcast on NJ PBS. 

December brought the Women@NJPAC Annual 

Meeting — or, as outgoing President Marcia Wilson 

Brown dubbed it, “our Women@NJPAC Zoom 

Hollywood Squares annual meeting” — which 

included a Leading Ladies panel discussion with 

the team behind the newly created New Jersey Arts 

and Culture Recovery Fund: Evelyn McGee Colbert, 

President of Montclair Film; Sharnita Johnson of the 

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; Ann Marie Miller of 

Art Pride New Jersey; and Allison Tratner, Executive 

Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. 

@ 

In March 2021, the third annual Women@NJPAC 

Gathering of Givers event was held. This time, the 

celebration of the impact of women in philanthropy 

was a virtual event devoted to examining the role 


Andrea Jung, former CEO of Avon 

and current President and CEO of 

Grameen America, was one of the 

women philanthropists featured 

at the Women@NJPAC Gathering 

of Givers, to mark International 

Women’s Day.


women will play 

in reinventing the 

post-COVID-19 world. 

Speakers included 

Lara Abrash, Chairman 

and CEO of Deloitte 

& Touche and Joanne 

Lin, a principal at 

Newark Venture 

Partners. The gathering 

also brought together 

leaders from the 

worlds of philanthropy, 

art, and activism 

like fayemi shakur, 

Arts and Cultural 

Affairs Director in the 

City of Newark and 

Salamishah Tillet, 

Founding Director, 

The New Arts Justice 

Initiative at Express 

Newark who shared 

how art is transforming 

our public square. 

Later that month, 

Women@NJPAC 

supported the Arts 

Center’s robust lineup 

of social justice 

programming by 

hosting She Did That: 

Black Women in the 

Workplace, a part 

of the PSEG True 

“ We’re going into the future with 

a new energy and a new name. 

We’re still hosting fantastic events, 

still fundraising, but we’re also 

committed to programming, to 

developing community gatherings 

and engaging women around 

ideas of community-building.” 

Women@NJPAC supported the Arts Center’s social justice 

programming by hosting She Did That: Black Women in the 

Workplace, a part of the PSEG True Diversity Film Series. 

— Sarah Rosen 

Diversity Film Series, 

which highlighted 

the growing impact 

of African American 

women executives and 

entrepreneurs — and 

the barriers they face 

in making their mark in 

corporate America. 

In May 2021, the 

Women@NJPAC 

Spring Luncheon 

blossomed again, after 

a year’s hiatus, as a 

virtual event. The event 

brought a talk from 

iconic fashion designer 

Norma Kamali, who 

inspired all to age with 

“purpose and power.” 

Broadway’s leading 

lady, Laura Benanti, 

hosted the event — 

and acclaimed jazz 

violinist Regina Carter 

performed. 

June brought the 

launch of Women 

Leaders @ Work, a 

new series of Women@ 

NJPAC virtual events, 

co-sponsored by 

Executive Women 

of New Jersey, that 

explored the impact 

of businesswomen 

who are advancing 

enterprises large 

and small. The first 

event in the series, 

focused on women 

taking leadership 

roles on corporate 

and nonprofit 

boards, challenging 

the “old boys club” 

of these powerful 

organizations. 

While Women@NJPAC 

will eventually return 

to hosting in-person 

events, the group’s 

new focus on uplifting 

all women, and its 

widened scope as a 

programmer, are here 

to stay. This evolution 

is one that Women@ 

NJPAC Managing 

Director Sarah Rosen 

feels is a natural 

extension of the 

group’s mission. 

“Women hold up half 

the sky,” she says. 

“We’re charged with 

being multitaskers, and 

women shine and rise 

to the occasion, over 

and over again.” 

As does Women@ 

NJPAC. 

HAIL AND FAREWELL 

A leadership change at 

Women@NJPAC 

Of all the changes at the Arts Center over 

the year, one of the most bittersweet was 

the end of Marcia Wilson Brown’s tenure 

as President of Women@NJPAC, after four 

years leading the organization. Brown, Vice 

Chancellor for External and Governmental 

Relations at Rutgers-Newark, stepped down 

from her Women@NJPAC post at the end 

of 2020. In August 2021, Marcia also retired 

from her position at Rutgers University - Newark. 

“She is a unique and effective and remarkable 

community leader, and she is one of a handful 

of people I will turn to whenever I have a 

problem I can’t figure out,” John Schreiber said, 

praising Brown at the Women@NJPAC Annual 

Meeting in December, the last event over 

which she presided. 

Executive and educator Faith Taylor became 

president in January 2021. The former first 

Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer 

at Wyndham Worldwide, Taylor was teaching 

at the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair 

State University when she took on the 

leadership of Women@NJPAC — and shortly 

thereafter, she stepped into another new role, 

as the Environmental, Social, Governance 

Leader at Tesla. 

@ 


njpac.org/gala 37

HorizonBlue.com 

Health and wellness 

for mind and body. 

Here when you need us most. 

Thanks for putting art in the 

heart of the community 

S:8" 

T:8.5" 

B:8.75" 

Bank of America recognizes NJPAC for its success 

in bringing the arts to performers and audiences 

throughout the community. We commend you on creating 

an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a cultural 

experience. 

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/newjersey. 

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The Blue Cross ® and Blue Shield ® names 

and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The Horizon ® name and symbols are registered marks of Horizon Blue Cross 

Blue Shield of New Jersey. © 2021 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Three Penn Plaza East, Newark, New Jersey 07105. 

©2021 Bank of America Corporation | MAP3424741 | ENT-211-AD

The Arts Move Us! 

Newark Working Kitchens, in collaboration with local 

restaurants, has delivered more than one million meals 

to residents in need — sustaining and strengthening 

the neighborhood anchors that are powering our 

city’s comeback. 

Newark Working Kitchens needs your support now 

more than ever. 

NewarkWorkingKitchens.com 

Thank you to our supporters. 

Panasonic is a proud sponsor of NJPAC since its inaugural season 

in 1997. We’re committed to supporting our Newark, NJ community 

and our partnership with NJPAC is a natural extension of that 

social impact work. 

As we emerge from these challenging times, we are excited to 

see the arts community thrive once again. We continue to stand in 

support of Newark’s artists, performers, and cultural ambassadors 

and look forward to an unforgettable season of rich performances 

and entertainment. Thank you NJPAC! 

Panasonic congratulates NJPAC on over 20 years as one of 

the leading cultural institutions in the tri-state area and looks 

forward to continuing our shared mission to inspire. Visit us at 

na.panasonic.com/us/social-impact


wer Facade 

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT 

NJPAC announced plans 

to expand its campus — 

and transform Newark’s 

downtown 

AC ARTS AND EDUCATION DISTRICT 

MORE, OWINGS & MERRILL LLP 

AFTER YEARS OF WORKSHOPPING AND PLANNING, 

the Arts Center has unveiled the next phase of its evolution — 

two projects that will change the landscape of its downtown 

Newark neighborhood. 

In 2024, the Arts Center plans to 

open the new Cooperman Family 

Arts Education and Community 

Center. This project’s development 

was launched by an extraordinary 

$20 million gift from Toby and Leon 

Cooperman and the Cooperman 

family, tonight’s Founders Award 

honorees. 

The Cooperman Center will be a 

purpose-built home for NJPAC’s 

arts education and community 

engagement programs. This new 

building will house classrooms and 

a fully-functioning black box theater 

for student performances, and 

spaces for community engagement 

programs such as film screenings 

and panel discussions. 

But the Center will also offer so 

much more, including an initiative 

The Cooperman 

Center will create 

an environment 

where new 

methods of 

teaching the arts 

are developed, 

tested and shared, 

both in-person 

and digitally. 

to develop new arts education 

and arts integration programs. 

A whole floor of the Center will be 

devoted to professional rehearsal 

spaces, where visiting artists and 

performance groups can come 

to rehearse and develop new 

work — while interacting with NJPAC 

students and the community. 

“The Cooperman Center will be 

where all are invited to create — 

where staff and teaching artists 

can invent curricula and pedagogy 

grounded in trauma-informed care, 

where artists can create work that 

is responsive to our community, 

where students find their voice 

through art-making and where 

elders can celebrate and reflect 

on Newark’s rich artistic history,” 

says Chelsea Keys, NJPAC’s 

Director of Special Projects. 

There will even be a children’s arts 

reading room, curated in conjunction 

with the Newark Public Library, 

which features books written 

specifically for youngsters about 

artists in all genres. 

A new series of programs created 

around the idea of marrying the 

performing arts with wellbeing — 

think art therapy classes, or 

dance movement workshops 

that include presentations by 

nutritionists — will also be offered 

at the Cooperman Center. 

Simultaneously, NJPAC will redevelop 

the portion of its campus on the 

other side of Center Street, creating 

a vibrant new neighborhood of 

low-rise and high-rise multifamily 

buildings, retail establishments, 

restaurants and cultural spaces. 

This project will transform an area 

that is now a parking lot into an 

exciting work-live-play destination. 

“Contributing to the ongoing 

revitalization of Newark’s downtown 

has always been central to the 

Arts Center’s mission as the city’s 

anchor cultural institution,” says 

John Schreiber, NJPAC’s President 

and CEO. “This plan will bring a 

thoughtful, curated mix of residential 

buildings, retail environments and 

cultural resources to our campus.” 

The development will include a 

pedestrian-friendly extension 

of Mulberry Street, across what 

is now NJPAC’s Lot A parking 

area. A simultaneous redesign of 

NJPAC’s Eastern facade will create 

a welcoming additional entryway 

to the Arts Center. 

NJPAC has partnered with 

developers Center Street Owners, 

led by L+M Development Partners, 

to complete the project. L+M has 

developed other sites in downtown 

Newark including Walker House 

and the Hahne & Co. building. 

Prudential Impact & Responsible 

Investments is a partner in the 

project as well. 

World-renowned restaurateur and 

entrepreneur Marcus Samuelsson, 

whose Newark restaurant, Marcus 

B&P, has become a highlight of the 

city’s dining scene, is also engaged 

in the project. The centerpiece of the 

new neighborhood will be a food 

hall — similar to Boston’s Faneuil 

Hall, but on a smaller scale — 

curated by Samuelsson. Celebrated 

architectural firm Skidmore, Owings 

& Merrill (SOM) has been engaged 

to design these new facets of 

NJPAC’s campus. 

NJPAC staff spent months meeting with 

community groups across Newark, to 

learn the needs of the city’s children, 

senior citizens and young people. 


njpac.org/gala 43


The Arts Center 

welcomed in-person 

audiences back in 

Summer 2021. Rap 

legend Rakim (left) 

was among the artists 

who drew joyful 

crowds to the Horizon 

Foundation Sounds of 

the City outdoor concert 

series. And comedian Vic 

DiBitetto (far right) was 

the first artist to appear, 

post-pandemic, in front 

of an in-person audience 

in an NJPAC theater. 

FROM NEW VIRTUAL VISTAS 

TO FULL THEATERS 

After a year and a half of exploring 

digital programming, the Arts Center 

reopens with a season of stars 

For NJPAC and its audiences, the 

future has never looked brighter. 

In Fall 2021, the Arts Center will 

welcome audiences back for a full, 

in-person season of performances 

of everything from jazz to doowop, 

fado to R&B, with world-class artists 

including Chaka Khan, Chris Botti, 

Frankie Valli, Mariza and more 

appearing on its stages. 

This exciting season follows the 

successful relaunch of the Horizon 

Foundation Sounds of the City 

outdoor concert series this summer. 

These free concerts, a tradition 

in Newark, were a chance for 

the community to reunite and 

remember how exciting watching 

an artist perform in person can be. 

Thousands greeted performers like 

legendary rapper Rakim, reggae 

fusion band Third World and Arts 

Center favorite Felix Hernandez at 

the weekly series. 

The Arts Center’s reopening officially 

kicked off on June 26, when 

comedian Vic DiBitetto stepped 

onto the Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch 

Stage in the Victoria Theater in front 

a packed, if socially-distanced, 

house — the first performer to 

appear before a live audience at 

the Arts Center in 15 months. 

This thrilling return to live 

performance follows a year in which 

NJPAC grew into a powerhouse 

of digital content. The Arts Center 

programmers began by producing 

virtual events for NJPAC members 

and ticket buyers almost as soon 

as its theaters closed — and then 

expanded its work into sharing that 

programming with audiences and 

organizations across the country. 

Last Fall, when the Arts Center was 

able to produce a full slate of jazz 

content through the TD Bank Jazz 

Series, it offered that content for 

free to other organizations that 

shared its mission of growing new 

audiences for “America’s classical 

music.” The Jazz Standard, one of 

New York City’s largest jazz clubs, 

as well as the State Theater in New 

Brunswick, Montclair’s Jazz House 

Kids, and the Cape May-based 

Exit Zero Jazz Festival, all offered 

NJPAC’s virtual programs. 

During the 2020 holiday season, 

NJPAC took its virtual programming 

even further, launching its Hip 

Hop Nutcracker on an extended 

nationwide virtual tour. This 

production, which marries 

Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday 

music to athletic hip hop dance, has 

been a staple of NJPAC’s December 

programming. During the virtual 

tour, a filmed version was presented 

virtually by arts centers coast-tocoast, 

including Lincoln Center, 

The Kennedy Center, Miami’s Arsht 

Center, Cleveland’s Playhouse 

Square and the Los Angeles Music 

Center. More than 200 scheduled 

“streams” of the production were 

shown in 74 markets over the course 

of the tour, reaching more than 

100,000 viewers. 

The Arts Center’s social justice 

programming, launched in response 

to the murder of George Floyd, 

included many online events that 

resonated with audiences far and 

wide. One example: A screening 

of Good Trouble, a documentary 

about Representative John Lewis 

of Georgia, the Congressman 

and activist, paired with a panel 

discussion about his legacy was 

shared virtually with more than 

60 cultural organizations. More 

than 12,000 viewers participated. 

“This is now part of our 

organizational mission, and one 

that will only grow,” says David 

Rodriguez, NJPAC’s Executive 

Producer, who spearheaded the 

Arts Center’s digital expansion. 


njpac.org/gala 45


FINDING THEIR VOICES, VIRTUALLY 

All year long, NJPAC brought the life-enhancing 

power of the performing arts to students 

From virtual band practice to online 

collaborations between poets and 

musicians, NJPAC’s arts education 

program grew and expanded online 

throughout the past year. 

Saturday arts training initiatives, 

including the long-running Wells 

Fargo Jazz For Teens program, 

Hip Hop Arts and Culture classes, 

and programs in drama and 

musical theater, reached students 

virtually through Zoom meetings, 

Google Meets and a host of 

other online platforms. In the Mix, 

an online gathering for students, 

was developed as a free virtual 

clubhouse where students of all 

art forms drive conversations 

about climate change, social 

justice, arts activism and other 

issues. The Arts Center’s new 

Creative Coaching program paired 

faculty with a small cohort of 

students to help them achieve their 

goals outside of the classroom. 

City Verses, NJPAC and Rutgers- 

Newark’s multi-pronged initiative in 

celebration of the tradition of making 

performances that blend jazz music 

and poetry — supported by a grant 

from the Mellon Foundation — grew 

to include summer camp programs, 

virtual community performances, and 

in-school programs delivered as a 

video content series that was created 

and shared with schools, so poetry 

and jazz faculty could conduct 

lessons online. After about every 

third lesson, a flurry of recorded 

tracks — words and music —were 

synchronized by NJPAC Director of 

Jazz Instruction Mark Gross, Jazz 

Co-Artistic Lead Alvester Garnett, 

and Dr. Rigoberto González, head 

of the Rutgers graduate creative 

writing program, to illustrate what 

a collaborative performance looks 

and sounds like. 

“And it worked,” Gross says of the 

virtual residencies. “The schools loved 

it. The students loved it. The success 

of the program allowed us to grow 

the program from the four schools 

we began with to, in the Fall 2020 

semester, six schools.” 

Summer camps remained virtual 

this year, and tuition was significantly 

reduced. 

“We didn’t want to keep families and 

students from participating in the 

arts because of cost, a cornerstone 

of NJPAC Arts Education is to remove 

as many barriers to participation as 

possible” says Jennifer Tsukayama, 

Vice President of Arts Education, 

who adds that the morning session 

of one Summer program was $75 for 

a month-long camp. 

In-person arts education programs 

will resume in Fall 2021 — but a 

handful of NJPAC’s students got 

an early opportunity to return 

to making art live, when those 

participating in the Hip Hop 

Arts and Culture and City Verses 

programs were invited to perform 

at NJPAC’s Horizon Foundation 

Sounds of the City summer concert 

series, as the opening act for hip 

hop legend Rakim. It was the first 

in-person event for NJPAC students 

since the pandemic began. 

“And it was joyous,” says Rosa 

Hyde, NJPAC’s Director of Arts 

Education Performances & Special 

Event Operations. 

“When I went to the rehearsal, all I 

could think was: I am so excited to 

play music with real humans again 

for the first time in a year and half!” 

exulted Lili M., a 14-year-old pianist 

from Cranford who took part in 

the City Verses summer camp and 

performed at the July event. 

Sheikia Norris — NJPAC’s Director 

of Hip Hop Education Programs, 

better known to her students by 

her hip hop name, Purple Haze — 

notes the rehearsals for this Sounds 

of the City appearance were the first 

times her students had been together 

since they went on a field trip to hip 

hop venues in New York City 

on March 9, 2020. 

“Several times [at the event] I found 

myself crying, I was just so happy — 

to see them all, to be alive to witness 

this after last year,” she recalls. 


njpac.org/gala 47


is pleased to support 

Spotlight 

Gala @ Home 

& 

Honoring Our Friends 

Toby and Leon Cooperman and 

the entire Cooperman Family 

Mario J. Gabelli and Regina M. Pitaro 

to Toby and Lee and the 

Cooperman Family and thank 

you for all that you do for NJPAC 

and New Jersey! 

NJPAC 

We are proud to support 

and its marvelous 

Arts Education program. 

And bravo to the staff 

on their 

resiliency & 

fortitude. 

The Lipper Family Foundation 

191 Mason Street, Greenwich, CT 06830

A wide range of 

skills, one idea 

of excellence. 

We Know 

New Jersey. 

Anchor Briana Vannozzi 

and the NJ Spotlight News 

team are committed 

to covering the 

Garden State. 

Mazars is a proud supporter of the 

New Jersey Performing Arts 

Center’s 2021 Women@NJPAC 

Spotlight Gala. 

Find out more at www.mazars.us 

Weeknights at 

6pm, 7:30pm and 11pm 

on NJ PBS 

NJSpotlightNews.org 

Major funding for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, the Fund for New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health, NJM Insurance Group, 

New Jersey Education Association, Orsted, PSEG Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, 

The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, Wyncote Foundation and Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey.


To tonight’s honorees 

Toby & Leon G. Cooperman 


Proud to support the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and 

Women@NJPAC 

Toby and Leon 

and their children 

are people we respect 

for the investments 

they have made to 

the community — 

each has had a 

positive impact on 

tens of thousands 

of lives. 


Congratulations to 

Toby and Lee 


for an honor 

very well deserved. 

Shelley and Steve Einhorn 

to the Coopermans 

and Cheers to NJPAC! 

With thanks from 

Meg & Howard Jacobs 

and their family

wjbh.org 

RWJBarnabas Health 

proudly supports the 

Women@NJPAC 

and congratulates the 

Founders Award honorees, 

Toby and Leon G. Cooperman, 

and the entire Cooperman Family. 

Clara Maass Medical Center 

Community Medical Center 

Jersey City Medical Center 

Monmouth Medical Center and 

The Unterberg Children’s Hospital 

Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus 

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and 

Children’s Hospital of New Jersey 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and 

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset 

Saint Barnabas Medical Center 

RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center 

Children’s Specialized Hospital 

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey 

FOUNDERS AWARD 

for commitment to 

njpac, newark & the arts 

The Founders Award — named in honor of Raymond and 

Patricia Chambers, Arthur and Patricia Ryan, and Roy 

and Diana Vagelos, champions of the New Jersey Performing 

Arts Center since its earliest days — honors an individual 

or institution whose achievements and service advance 

NJPAC’s core mission: 

Revitalizing our home city 

of Newark and improving the 

lives of it citizens; sustaining 

New Jersey’s cultural 

community with diverse 

programming that engages 

audiences from all across the 

state; and providing an 

education, in the arts and in 

citizenship, to children in 

Greater Newark and beyond. 

The award recognizes a 

profound generosity of spirit, a 

thoughtful approach to 

philanthropy, and a love of the 

arts and of the city of Newark. 

Honoring 

individuals 

whose 

achievements 

and service 

advance 

njpac’s 

mission. 

njpac.org/gala 55


history of 

spotlight 

gala 

HONOREES 

Ralph A. LaRossa, and Ralph Izzo, 2019 Honorees 

1997 

The Chambers Award: 

Raymond and 

Patricia Chambers 

The Vagelos Award: 

Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and 

Diana Vagelos 

1998 


Allen and Joan Bildner 


The Star-Ledger and 

Susan and 

Donald Newhouse 

1999 


The Lewis Katz Family 


AT&T and 

Richard Martin 

2000 


The Honorable 



CIT and Albert Gamper 

2001 


Betty Wold Johnson 

and Douglas Bushnell 


PSE&G, E. James Ferland 

and Alfred Koeppe 

2002 


Josh and Judy Weston 

The Ryan Award: 

Arthur and Patricia Ryan 


Verizon and 

Dennis Bone 

2003 


Victor Parsonnet 


Lore and Eric Ross 


Wachovia Corporation 

and Reginald E. Davis 

2004 


Michael R. 

Griffinger, Esq. 


Arlene and Leonard 

Lieberman 


American Express 

Company and 

Edward Gilligan 

2005 


Ruth and 

A. Michael Lipper 


Savion Glover 


Sills Cummis & Gross 

and Clive Cummis 

2006 


Morris and Charlotte 

Tanenbaum 


Mary Sue Sweeney Price 

and Clement Price 


ADP and 

Arthur Weinbach 

2007 

10 th Anniversary 


The Chambers Family 


The Ryan Family 


The Vagelos Family 

2008 


Leon G. and Toby 

Cooperman 


Barbara Bell Coleman 

and The Honorable 

Claude Coleman 


Horizon Blue Cross Blue 

Shield of New Jersey 

and William Marino 

2009 


Marc E. Berson 


Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq. 

and Theodore V. Wells, 

Jr., Esq. 


Merck & Co., Inc. and 

J. Chris Scalet 

2010 


Rose and John Cali 


Donald A. Robinson, Esq. 


Prudential Financial and 

John R. Strangfeld 

2011 


Mary Ellen and 

Robert C. Waggoner 


Trish Morris-Yamba and 

Dr. A. Zachary Yamba 


JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

and James E. (Jes) Staley 

2012 


Walter and Judy Shipley 


Alfred C. Koeppe 


PwC and Robert E. 

Moritz 

2013 


Veronica M. Goldberg 


Cephas Bowles 


Gibbons P.C. and 

Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., 

Esq. 

2014 


William J. and 

Paula Marino 


Lawrence P. Goldman 


The Chubb 

Corporation and 

Harold L. Morrison, Jr. 

2015 


Nicolas Berggruen and 

Ron Beit 


Robert and Patricia 

Curvin 


United Airlines and 

Oscar Munoz 

2016 


Stephen P. Holmes 

and Wyndham 

Worldwide 


Victor L. Davson 


Robert H. Doherty and 

Bank of America 

2017 

20 th Anniversary 

The Founders Award: 

Don Katz, Founder and 

CEO of Audible 

2018 


Barry H. Ostrowsky, 

President and CEO 

of RWJBarnabas 

Health 

2019 


Ralph Izzo, 

Chairman, President and 

Chief Executive Officer 

Public Service Enterprise 

Group 

Ralph A. LaRossa, 

President and Chief 

Operating Officer, 

PSEG Power 

2020 


Thomas H. Kean, 

Former Governor of 

New Jersey 

Philip D. Murphy, 

Governor of New Jersey 

Tammy Snyder Murphy, 

First Lady of New Jersey 


njpac.org/gala 57

NJM Insurance Group 

is pleased to support 

Women@NJPAC’s 

Spotlight Gala @ Home 

and congratulates this year’s honorees 

njm.com | 1-800-232-6600 

This isn’t just insurance. 

It’s NJM. 

EST. 1 9 1 3 

It’s a beautiful 

thing when people 

love what they do. 

ADP is proud t o support t he New Jersey Perf orming 

Arts Center for its ongoing commit ment t o celebrat e 

diversit y t hrough art s, ent ert ainment and educat ion. 

Congrat ulat ions t o Toby and Leon G. Cooperman and 

t he ent ire Cooperman Family for their transformative 

impact at t he New Jersey Perf orming Art s Cent er. 

Newark, NJ 

973.533.0777 

Jersey City, NJ 

201.469.0100 

Camden, NJ 

856.968.0680 

New York, NY 

212.566.7188 

Philadelphia, PA 

215.564.0444 

Basking Ridge, NJ 

973.387.7800 

Lambertville, NJ 

609.773.6150 

ADP, the ADP logo, and Always Designing for People are trademarks of ADP, Inc. 

Genova Burns LLC • Attorneys-At-Law • www.genovaburns.com


WOMEN@NJPAC 

Women@NJPAC Board of Trustees 2021 

PRESIDENT 

Faith Taylor 

Environmental, Social, 

Governance Leader 

Tesla 

CO-EXECUTIVE 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Margarethe Laurenzi 

Chief Philanthropic Officer 

Community Foundation 

of New Jersey 

Sonia Luaces 

Partner 

PwC LLP 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Deborah Q. Belfatto 

Community Leader and 

Philanthropist 





Suzanne M. Spero 

Executive Director 


TREASURER 

Lisa Osofsky 

Partner, Private Client Services 

Practice Leader 


SECRETARY 

Christine Pearson 



IMMEDIATE PAST 

PRESIDENT 

Marcia Wilson Brown, Esq. 

Retired Vice Chancellor 

for External and 

Governmental Relations 


Farah N. Ansari 

Partner 

Schenck, Price, Smith & 

King, LLP 

Rana Peterson Barclay 



Audrey Bartner 



Adenah Bayoh 

Owner/Managing Member 

Foya Foods, LLC 

Sherri-Ann P. Butterfield, 

Ph.D 

Executive Vice Chancellor 


Patricia L. Capawana 

Retired Vice President 

Executive Events 

Prudential Financial 

Alejandra Ceja 

Executive Director 

Panasonic Foundation 


of North America 

Patricia A. Chambers* ** 


Philanthropist; Chair 

Lambert Bridge Winery 

Sally Chubb* ** 



Mary Lynn Clark 

Retired President 

Wyndham Vacation Rentals 

Barbara Bell Coleman** 

President 

BBC Associates, LLC 

Michellene Davis, Esq. 


National Medical 

Fellowships, Inc. 

Antoinette Ellis-Williams 

Chairperson and Professor 

Department of Women’s 

and Gender Studies 

NJCU 

Catherine J. Flynn 

Partner 

Flynn Watts Law 

Christine C. Gilfillan 

President 


Tenagne Girma-Jeffries 

Founder and CEO 

The Cultivation Group 

Aisha Glover 

Vice President 

Center for Urban Innovation 

Audible 

Veronica M. Goldberg* ** 



Shané Harris 

President 

The Prudential Financial 

Foundation 

Zenola Harper, Esq. 


Litigation, Labor & 

Employment 

Horizon BCBS of New Jersey 

Tammye T. Jones 



Sheila F. Klehm** 

Managing Director 

Wealth Management 

UBS Financial Services Inc. 

Ruth C. Lipper** 



Dena F. Lowenbach** 



Marlie Massena 

Senior Brand Planner 

Jellyfish 

Gabriella E. Morris, Esq.* 

Senior Vice President 

The UNICEF Bridge Fund, 

U.S. Fund for UNICEF 

Ferlanda Fox Nixon, Esq. 

Chief of Policy and 

Government Affairs 

African American Chamber 

of Commerce of New Jersey 

and Editor, TAPinto Denville 

Lori Spoon 

Senior Vice President 

Global Head of Customer 

& Broker Engagement 

Berkshire Hathaway 

Specialty Insurance 

Mary Kay Strangfeld** 



Mikki Taylor 

President, Satin Doll 

Productions, Inc. 

Editor-at-Large, ESSENCE 

Magazine 

Diana T. Vagelos* ** 



Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq. 

Former Secretary of State 

State of New Jersey 

Nicole D. Wescoe 

Regional President 

Whole Foods Market 

Northeast Region 

*Founding Member 

**Trustee Emerita 

njpac.org/gala 61

HOSPITALITY 

IMPRESSIONS PERFECTED 

S U I T E O F S E R V I C E S : 



Women@NJPAC gratefully acknowledges the ingenuity 

and expertise of all the people whose dedication and efforts 

have contributed to make the Spotlight Gala @ Home 2021 

a resounding success. 

C O N C I E R G E / F R O N T D E S K 

F R O N T C I R C L E G R E E T E R 

V A L E T P A R K I N G 

E V E N T S E R V I C E 

S H U T T L E T R A N S P O R T A T I O N 

C O N S U L T I N G F O R 

H O S P I T A L I T Y & P A R K I N G 

O P E R A T I O N S / D E S I G N 

G R E E T E R & D I R E C T E D 

A S S I S T E D P A R K I N G 

N O N C L I N I C A L 

H E A L T H C A R E S E R V I C E S 

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 

309 BLOOMFIELD AVE. 

Verona, NJ 07044 

Office: 973-857-2008 

info@apchospitality.com 

apchospitality.com 

SCAN QR CODE 

FOR MORE INFO 

GALA CO-CHAIRS 


Women@NJPAC and 

NJPAC Trustee 

Nina Mitchell Wells, 

Esq. 

Women@NJPAC and 

NJPAC Trustee 

LEADERSHIP 

Faith Taylor 

President 

Women@NJPAC 

Steven M. Goldman, 

Esq. 

Barry H. Ostrowsky 

Co-Chairs, NJPAC 

Board of Directors 

John Schreiber 


NJPAC 

Amy Fitzpatrick 


Development, NJPAC 

Sarah Rosen 

Managing Director 

Women@NJPAC 

EVENT EXECUTION 

Christine Walia 

Director of Events 

NJPAC 

Gail P. Stone 

Christine Borowsky 

Gail P. Stone Events, Inc. 

NJPAC SPOTLIGHT 

GALA @ HOME: 


PRODUCTION 

CREDITS 

David Rodriguez 

Executive Vice President 

and Executive Producer 

NJPAC 

Michael Kostel 

Executive Producer 

Simma Levine 

Producer 

NJPAC 

Chris Moses 

Senior Director 

of Production 

NJPAC 

Patricia Ryan 

Creative Art Director 

NJPAC 

Christine Capuano 

Graphic Designer 

Christopher 

“Crick” Staton 

Production Manager 

NJPAC 

Murray Horwitz 

Writer 

Darren Peister 

Editor 

Al Crawford 

Lighting Design 

Vinny Caravano 

Graphics 

COOPERMAN FAMILY 

VIDEO 

Phil Alongi 

Executive Producer 

Alongi Media 

Maddie Orton 

Producer / Writer 

Alongi Media 

Governor 


women@

TOMORROW’S OFFICE TECHNOLOGY 

T 

O 

D 

Y 

A 

tomorrowsoffice.com 

ELBERON 

DEVELOPMET GROUP 

CELEBRATING 

100 

-YEARSl!J'.lO 

O"O 

Official Imaging Supplier of NJPAC 

CONGRATULATIONS TO 

The Women’s Association of NJPAC for the great 

work they do supporting the cultural, educational 

and artistic vision of NJPAC. 

Official Imaging Supplier of NJPAC 

CONGRATULATIONS TO 

annual 

Women@NJPAC for the great work they do supporting the 

cultural, educational and artistic vision of NJPAC 

gl 

AND 

2019 

Toby and Leon Cooperman and the Cooperman Family 

for being honored with the 2021 Founders Award for 

commitment to NJPAC, Newark and the Arts. 

FULL-PAGE PROGRAM AD SPECS 

Full-page advertisement fee: $5,000 

Space reservation must be received by August 30, 2019 

AND 

Payment due by September 11, 2019 

Ralph Izzo and Ralph LaRossa 

for being Safety: honored 5" x 8" with the 

Founders Award Live: 5.5" for x 8.5" Commitment 

to NJPAC, Trim: Newark 6" x 9" and the Arts. 

Ralph Izzo 

Chairman, President 

and CEO, PSEG 

FILE FORMAT 

Print-ready PDF or JPEG (300 dpi) are accepted 

All files must be CMYK 


All press-ready artwork required by September 6, 2019 

Please send artwork to Amy Mormak, amormak@njpac.org. 

Please call Amy at 973.353.7043 with any questions. 

Ralph LaRossa 

President and 

Chief Operating Officer, 

PSEG Power 

Elberon Development Group is pleased to 

support the 2021 NJPAC Spotlight Gala 

and to pay tribute to the Founders' Award 

Honorees, Leon and Toby Cooperman and the 

entire Cooperman family, in celebration of 

their philanthropy's significant impact on the 

City of Newark and its environs. 

Anne Evans Estabrook, Chairman • Dave Gibbons, President & CEO 

633 Division Street · Elizabeth, NJ 07201 

908.272.7555 • elberon.com 

LIVE 

SAFETY

saturday 

performing arts 

programs 

band • hip hop 

jazz • theater 

Programs start at $50 

Sign Up! 

Visit njpac.org/education for more information.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS oct—dec 2021 

babyface 

nov 21 

sarah 

brightman 

nov 27 

oct 30 

frankie valli and 

the four seasons 

nov 19–20 

oct 2021 

Thu Oct 14 7:30PM Boney James 

Fri Oct 15 8PM Havasi 

Fri Oct 15 7:30PM Tierney Sutton & Ann Hampton Callaway — In Technicolor 

Sun Oct 17 7PM Los Tigres del Norte 

Fri Oct 22 7:30PM Parsons Dance 

Fri Oct 22 8PM 90’s All-Star Dance Concert 

featuring Robin S., CeCe Peniston, Black Sheep, Ten City, 

Lumidee, George Lamond, Lisette Melendez, Aly-Us, 

Nardo Ranks, Marshall Jefferson, Strafe, 

Rochelle Fleming and Boriqua Posse 

Sat Oct 23 8PM Ledisi with special guests Musiq Soulchild & Kenyon Dixon 

Fri Oct 29 8PM Gilberto Santa Rosa 

Sat Oct 30 2PM Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows TM Part 1 In Concert 

with the NJSO 

nov 2021 

Fri Nov 5 8PM John Waite 

Fri Nov 19 8PM Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons 

Sat Nov 20 8PM Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons 

Sun Nov 21 7PM Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds 

Fri Nov 26 8PM Thanksgiving Comedy Fest 

with Earthquake, Luenell, Capone, Smokey 

and hosted by Tony Rock 

Sat Nov 27 8PM Sarah Brightman — A Christmas Symphony 

Sat Nov 27 8 & 10PM Chris Distefano 

TD James Moody Jazz Festival 

Fri Nov 5 6 & 8:30PM Django Festival Allstars featuring Samson Schmitt, 

Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard, Doudou Cuillerier 

& Antonio Licusati 

Sat Nov 6 6PM Jazz Vespers: Buster Williams 

Sat Nov 6 7PM Nimbus Dance 

Sat Nov 6 8PM Chaka Khan with special guest Leela James 

Sun Nov 7 2PM WBGO Kids Jazz: Don Braden Septet 

Thu Nov 11 7:30PM Christian McBride’s The Movement Revisited: 

A Musical Portrait of Four Icons 

Fri Nov 12 7PM Divine Sass: Lillias White Sings Sarah Vaughan 

Fri Nov 12 8PM Chris Botti 

Sat Nov 13 8PM Dianne Reeves plus Artemis featuring Renee Rosnes, 

Anat Cohen, Ingrid Jensen, Nicole Glover, 

Noriko Ueda and Allison Miller 

Sat Nov 13 2PM The WBGO Story: Bright Moments from Newark 

to the World 

Sun Nov 14 11AM & 1PM Dorthaan’s Place: Cyrus Chestnut 

Sun Nov 14 3PM Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition 

Sun Nov 21 3 & 7PM Maria Schneider Orchestra 

dec 2021 

Wed Dec 1 7:30PM Neil deGrasse Tyson — 

The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries 

Fri Dec 3 7:30PM The Princess Bride — An Inconceivable Evening 

with Cary Elwes 

Sat Dec 4 7PM Richard Thompson 

Tue Dec 7 8PM Earth, Wind & Fire 

Wed Dec 8 8PM Earth, Wind & Fire 

Thu Dec 9 7:30PM Jane Lynch — A Swingin’ Little Christmas! Live in Concert 

Fri Dec 10 7 & 9:30PM Kathleen Madigan — Do You Have Any Ranch? Tour 

Sat Dec 11 3PM The Nutcracker — State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine 

Sun Dec 12 3PM Greg Gutfeld: The Plus Tour with special guest Tom Shillue 

Wed Dec 15 7:30PM Mannheim Steamroller — Christmas 

Sat Dec 18 2 & 8PM The Hip Hop Nutcracker with MC Kurtis Blow 

Fri Dec 31 10AM & 2PM Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure 

Sun Jan 2 10AM & 2PM Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure 

dianne 

reeves 

nov 13 

the 

nutcracker 

dec 11 

njpac.org/gala 69

THANK YOU! 

women@ 

@njpacwomen | njpac.org/gala | #njpacgala

2021 Spotlight Gala @ Home Journal

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