Greater Trenton Gears Up for 3rd Annual Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration

On December 8, 2020 at 4 p.m., Greater Trenton will broadcast its 3rd Annual Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration honoring Anthony “Skip” Cimino, Executive Director of the New Jersey General Assembly Majority Office and an instrumental leader in the conception and formation of Greater Trenton. The streaming broadcast will be accessible for all to watch for free at www.GreaterTrenton.org.

A longtime friend of Caren Franzini, Skip Cimino has dedicated his life’s work to improving communities in and around New Jersey’s State Capital. Through his countless roles from owner and operator of a family retail business to Mercer County Commissioner board president to New Jersey Assembly Representative from the 14th Legislative District, Cimino’s integrity, passion and kind nature has always been at the core of who he is. As an assemblyman, Skip introduced the nation’s first bicycle helmet law for children 14 years and younger, a lifesaving policy that is now used in 21 states.

“As a founding member of Greater Trenton, Skip served the organization with great distinction, passion and vision as Board Chair, Corporate Secretary, and Chair of the Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee,” said Kevin Cummings, Greater Trenton Board Chair. “From President and Chief Executive Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton to Partner at the Kaufman Zita Public Affairs Group, Skip has done it all and has done it well.”

An outstanding and deeply experienced corporate, community and political leader who shines as a committed advocate for Trenton’s revitalization, Cimino adds to a growing roster of outstanding individuals to receive the distinguished Caren Franzini Capital City Award including 2018 and 2019 award recipients Anthony R. Coscia, Esq., Partner at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP and the Honorable Congressman Bonnie Watson Coleman, respectively.

“We’re excited to present our Third Annual Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration on December 8, 2020 honoring the legacy of Caren Franzini, former NJEDA CEO and one of the founders of Greater Trenton, by honoring our friend, Anthony ‘Skip’ Cimino, with the 2020 Caren Franzini Capital City Award,” said George Sowa, Greater Trenton’s Chief Executive Officer. “We thank all of our sponsors who have supported this event, particularly during these challenging times. While we will not be gathered together as in past years, the broadcasted event will certainly be inspirational and accessible to the public. We look forward to everyone tuning in.”

“Having worked together as former co-chairs of Greater Trenton’s Board of Directors, I can tell you that Skip is an outstanding leader who has shown tireless dedication and commitment serving as a champion for New Jersey’s Capital City,” said Bernie Flynn, Greater Trenton Chair Emeritus. “He has done tremendous work in shaping and advancing Greater Trenton’s mission to facilitate Trenton’s development and revitalization.”

Serving as the first co-chair of Greater Trenton along with Bernie Flynn, former president and CEO of NJM Insurance Group, Caren Franzini was dedicated to bringing jobs, businesses and places to live to the downtown. Reflecting on her tremendous impact and emboldened by the momentum she brought to the Capital City, Mr. Flynn came up with an idea. He suggested the creation of The Caren Franzini Capital City Award which morphed into the idea of an annual celebration that would revisit Caren’s vision and revolutionary work in support of Greater Trenton’s mission.

This year’s celebration has been made possible by a committee of community leaders chaired by Letícia Ferri, Bristol Myers Squibb’s global lead for the Organization for Latino Achievement and Mike Van Wagner, Vice President of Public Affairs for NJM Insurance Group including Brenda Ross Dulan, The Ross-Dulan Group; John Goedecke, US Bank; Bryan Evans, Greater Trenton; Nancy Faherty, Cashel Faherty Public Relations; Bernie Flynn, Mercer Street Friends; Reggie Hallett, 1911 Smokehouse BBQ; Pat Hartpence, NJM Insurance Group; Jeannine Frisby LaRue, Kaufman Zita Group; Karen Jezierny, Princeton University; Shirley Michael, Greater Trenton; Aquatia Owens, PNC Wealth Advisors; George Sowa, Greater Trenton; John Thurber, Thomas Edison State University; and Andy Zalescik, Northfield Bank.

This year’s support includes Presenting Sponsors Bristol Myers Squibb and NJM Insurance Group; Developing Sponsor Investor Bank; Building Sponsors Bernard M. Flynn (Bernie), Comcast, Janssen, PNC Bank, Princeton University, and PSE&G; Sustaining Sponsors AT&T, Kaufman Zita Group, and Northfield Bank; and Supporting Sponsors Anderson & Company PC; DeCotis, Fitzpatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP; Duane Morris; Gibbons P.C.; RWJ Barnabas Health; and US Bank.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will be allocated to scholarships and internships for Trenton’s youth. “From assisting Trenton residents and businesses impacted by COVID-19 to creating opportunities through high school internship programs to spreading positive narratives about our multifaceted community through TrentonDaily.com, our core mission is to always embrace diversity and build equity for every current and future Trentonian,” noted Sowa.

“I am so honored to be a part of this important effort to assist in leading this celebration,” said Letícia Ferri, Co-Chair of Greater Trenton’s Caren Franzini Capital City Award Committee. “The tremendous support from all of our sponsors, board and committee members will ultimately help Greater Trenton continue to expand its role in developing and revitalizing Trenton.”

“Despite very difficult times fueled by a pandemic impacting our city and our nation, we all remain strong and committed to building on great momentum that was in place before COVID-19,” said Mike Van Wagner, Co-Chair of Greater Trenton’s Caren Franzini Capital City Award Committee. “While we won’t all be together in person this year, we will certainly be together in spirit as we honor the legacy of Caren Franzini and present our key award to Skip Cimino for his incredible leadership.”

For more information about Greater Trenton’s Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration, please visit www.greatertrenton.org/CapitalCityAward.

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