What an incredible evening! The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race's annual Celebrating Integration Gala brought a sold-out crowd to Orange Lawn Tennis Club for a night filled with warmth, energy, camaraderie, and enthusiastic support for the Coalition's mission.

The room was alive with conversation and connection as longtime friends, community leaders, partners, and supporters came together to celebrate the work of building a racially integrated, equitable, and inclusive community.

A highlight of the evening was honoring Marcia Hicks and Sarah Lester, two extraordinary community leaders whose work has made a lasting difference in South Orange and Maplewood. Their heartfelt acceptance remarks reflected their deep commitment to the community, the importance of collaboration, and the many ways that dedicated individuals can create opportunities and strengthen our institutions. We were proud to recognize their contributions and grateful for their longstanding partnerships with the Coalition.

The celebration continued throughout the evening, with a delicious dinner provided by Orange Lawn Tennis Club and music from the Essex Funk Collective, who kept the dance floor going right up to the very end! The enthusiasm in the room was a wonderful reminder of the friendships, relationships, and shared commitments that make our community so special.

Beyond being a memorable celebration, the Gala was also an important fundraiser for the Coalition. The generosity of our sponsors, guests, auction participants, and donors helps sustain our educational programs, community conversations, integration initiatives, and advocacy for racial equity.

With Special Thanks to Our Gala Sponsors: We are deeply grateful to the individuals, families, businesses, and organizations whose generous sponsorships helped make this year's celebration possible.

Coalition Builders

• Melanie Girton & Craig Marshall
• Julie & Thomas Pauly, Able Baker

Benefactors

• Robert A. & Fay Marchman
• Parr3
• Kelly Quirk & Martin Ceperly
• William Vaughan

Patrons

• Elizabeth Baker & Joel Vande Vusse
• Anita Gundanna & Mark DeCambre
• Terry & Lori Martin
• Kristien Webber & Damon Webber

Community Partners

• Darshna & Gaurav Patel
• Fred & Susan Profeta
• Audrey Rowe & Abdul Mubarak-Rowe
• Seton Hall University
• Jonah & Ellen Zimiles, [words] Bookstore

As we look ahead to the Coalition's 30th anniversary in 2027, we are especially grateful for the community of supporters who continue to believe in our mission. Building and sustaining an intentionally integrated and equitable community requires ongoing commitment, and evenings like this remind us that we are surrounded by people who are ready to do that work together.

Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated, volunteered, and helped make this year's Celebrating Integration Gala such a success. We couldn't do this work without you!