Dear Friends,
Thank you for joining us for our Annual Benefit Gala: A Night In Lights. Your presence and generosity help make the arts accessible to all—regardless of circumstance.
Thanks to your support, State Theatre connects our vibrant, diverse community to transformative artistic experiences, bringing our community closer through the arts. Each year, more than 13,000 students experience the wonder of live performance—many for the very first time. And nearly 3,200 of our most vulnerable neighbors qualify for tickets at little to no cost through our flagship DiscoveryTix program. These are just two of the many ways your generosity brings the arts to our community.
A Night In Lights celebrates the transformative power of live performance to inspire and connect. It’s also a tribute to you—our donors, friends, and advocates—whose belief in our mission to inspire, educate, and uplift through the performing arts.
We are especially proud to recognize John and Jeanne Fitzgerald for their lifelong commitment to education, service, and the arts. Their generosity, leadership, and unwavering belief in the unifying power of the arts continue to inspire us and reflect the very best of our community.
Special thanks to our Gala Co-Chairs, Robert DiLeo and John Reissner, and to our dedicated Gala Committee for making this magical evening such a success.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, our staff, and the thousands of lives you help us reach through your generosity, thank you for being part of this unforgettable evening.
With heartfelt appreciation,
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| Sarah K. Chaplin President & CEO |
Friends and Supporters of State Theatre,
Welcome to this year’s A Night In Lights Annual Benefit Gala! We’re thrilled to share this special evening with all of you who make the magic of State Theatre New Jersey possible.
Tonight, we are honored to recognize two extraordinary individuals as this year’s Arts Advocate Honorees. John and Jeanne Fitzgerald’s steadfast commitment to the arts, their home state of New Jersey, and their deep-rooted passion for live performance have helped enrich not only this organization, but the cultural fabric of our entire community. Their leadership and generosity are truly inspiring, and we are proud to celebrate them this evening.
We’d also like to extend heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Gala Committee and the incredible STNJ staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this event to life. And of course, thank you—to each and every one of you—for being here tonight. Your presence and support ensure that State Theatre can continue offering powerful, transformative arts experiences to audiences of all ages and backgrounds for generations to come.
We hope this evening leaves you with some incredible memories and pride in the enduring impact we create—together—here at State Theatre New Jersey.
Enjoy your evening!
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Robert J. DiLeo | John Reissner |
Born and raised in Dunellen, NJ, John and Jeanne Fitzgerald have been steadfast supporters of the performing arts and education across the state for decades. Married for 40 years, the Fitzgeralds have dedicated their personal and professional lives to enriching the cultural and civic fabric of New Jersey.
John currently serves as the President & Chief Executive Officer of Magyar Bank, headquartered in New Brunswick. An industry veteran with over 35 years of experience, John joined Magyar Bank in 2001, where he established the Commercial Lending Department before becoming President & CEO in 2010. A graduate of the University of Maryland and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, John is active in numerous professional and community organizations. He is also a past Chair of the New Jersey Bankers Association, past Chairman of the Board of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, past President of the North Jersey Chapter of the Risk Management Association, past President for the Community Bankers Association, and a former member and past President of the Dunellen Board of Education.
John’s commitment to the arts has been especially visible through his long-standing involvement with State Theatre New Jersey. He currently serves as Chair of the Board, where he has played a crucial role in guiding the theater through significant strategic initiatives, including a major renovation campaign completed in 2021 and the expansion of community arts access programs to advance STNJ’s mission of bringing the power of live performance to diverse audiences. John and Jeanne have co-chaired several of STNJ’s Annual Benefit Galas in support of arts programming and education.
Jeanne, a graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University, retired after 28 years as a special education teacher in the Springfield Public School District. Jeanne continues to work with special needs individuals through the Division of Developmental Disabilities of NJ. Jeanne helps individuals increase independence by teaching life skills and ways to participate meaningfully in the community. Jeanne is also an active volunteer at Lifetown, providing opportunities for recreation, education, and therapeutic play for individuals with special abilities and their families in Livingston, NJ. Her passion for education and the arts has informed her decades-long involvement with nonprofit organizations, where she continues to volunteer her time and talents. Jeanne’s background as an educator has fueled her belief in the transformative power of the arts to inspire learning and build empathy, particularly among young people.
Together, John and Jeanne Fitzgerald exemplify dedication to the performing arts and unwavering service to their community, making a lasting impact across New Jersey. They are the proud parents of two children, Christina and Jay.
GALA CO-CHAIR
Robert J. DiLeo*
NAI DiLeo-Bram & Co.
GALA CO-CHAIR
John Reissner
Magyar Bank
GALA AUCTION CHAIR
Eileen Harkins*
Retired, Johnson & Johnson
GALA COMMITTEE
Hiam Boraie*
Boraie Development, LLC
Benjamin Bucca, Jr.*
Middlesex County
Christine Bucca
Retired, Leader & Berkon, LLP
Saul Curtis
Retired, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Laura DeCandia
Johnson & Johnson
Joey Kareem Grinkley*
Merck
Craig J. Guiffre*
American Benefits Consulting
Lisa Martin*
GlaxoSmithKline
Alma Scott*
Retired, Johnson & Johnson
Todd Shamy
Kenvue
Robin Suydam*
Franklin Mutual Insurance Companies
Wendy L. Wiebalk, Esq.*
Cahn & Parra, LLC
Doris “Dee” Zampella
EAB Insurance Group
*State Theatre New Jersey Board Member
STANDING OVATION SPONSORS
SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Campbell
Alma Scott
ENCORE SPONSORS
Boraie Development LLC
Cahill, Wilinski, Rhodes & Joyce
EAB Insurance Group
John and Jeanne Fitzgerald
Johnson & Johnson
NAI DiLeo-Bram & Co. and The DiLeo Family Foundation
CENTER STAGE SPONSORS
Lisa and Rick Martin
Todd A. Shamy and Joey Kareem Grinkley
Robin E. Suydam and Paul Corkery
MARQUEE SPONSORS
The Bauer, Dammann, Palumbo & Malewski Group
Benjamin and Christine Bucca
Cahn & Parra, LLC
Stephan DeMicco and Jeanne Fox
IBEW Local 456
Sharon Karmazin
Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A.
Presidential Cleaning
Sherman Atlas Sylvester & Stamelman LLP
Somerset Regal Bank
Turner Construction Company
Unity Bank
RED CARPET SPONSORS
Eileen Harkins
Reilly Financial Group
Peter and Maggie Stavrianidis
World Insurance Associates, LLC
DONORS
Autoland Toyota • Jeanne and Paul Benner • Saul Curtis • DIG Construction LLC • Yvonne Harrison and John Dowbackuk • Kevin Hoagland and Eileen Weber • Sergio Iacovitti • My Local Roofer, LLC • Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. Nissenblatt • Dennis and Doris O’Dea • Joan Poole • Schiller, Pittenger and Galvin, P.C. • David Simon and Risa Trinker • Spectrums End LLC
Show your support for State Theatre New Jersey and take home something special for yourself!
Whether you have your eye on signed memorabilia from some of STNJ’s top performances, a unique experience, tickets to see your favorite team, or a fun and romantic night out on the town, our Signature Silent Auction has something special for you!
Make sure to include your mobile phone number when you create your account to subscribe to bid alerts and for instant notifications if you’re a winner!
Auction closes at 10:30pm on June 7, 2025. Winning bidders can pick up their items upstairs in the Studio at the end of the Gala or arrange pickup with STNJ staff the week of June 9-13. For more information and to participate, visit STNJ.org/Auction.
Beasley Media Group
Cambridge Wines
Marlene Canavera
Catherine Lombardi
Saul Curtis
Delta’s Restaurant
Eskaysi
Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club
The Frog & The Peach
George Street Playhouse
Hamilton Jewelers
Eileen Harkins
Harvest Moon
The Heldrich Hotel
Hyatt Regency New Brunswick
Magyar Bank
Mountain Tap Brewery
Mythology Distillery
New York Jets
Polished Planters
Raspa Jewelers
Salt Seafood & Oyster Bar
Sophie’s Bistro
Stage Left
Steakhouse 85
Robin E. Suydam & Paul Corkery
Stephen Taylor Portrait Artist
Venus Jewelers
We offer sincere appreciation to the following individuals and businesses for their generous support of this year’s A Night In Lights Annual Benefit Gala through the exemplary services provided and
in-kind donations made.
A special thank you to the State Theatre Staff and Gala Committee for their dedication and commitment to making this event a success, and also to the volunteers who helped.
AJ Images
Jeffrey Auger Photography
Bright Thyme Catering
GS-JJ Enamel Pins
IATSE Local #21
La Vie En Rose Talent
New Brunswick Police Department
Party Rental Limited
Star-Lite Stained Glass
Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com
