Manna from Heaven Honors 50 ‘Great Fathers’ for Uplifting Their Families and Community
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
PITTSGROVE — About 300 people gathered at The Grove at Centerton to recognize local men in a pre-Father’s Day celebration not just for their work in the community by being “great” fathers as well in an event sponsored by the nonprofit Manna from Heaven.
The Men of Distinction, Great Fathers celebration was a first but Manna from Heaven founder and CEO Angelia Edwards promised that it will be an annual event. The fundraiser for Manna from Heaven, which feeds the needy throughout Cumberland County and surrounding areas, spotlighted well-known community leaders along with others from all walks of life.
Edwards, a longtime member of the Bridgeton Public Schools board and a retired corrections officer, said in an age where many youths in poor communities don’t have a relationship with their fathers, it was fitting to honor those who were upholding their family responsibilities as well as serving the community.
“I wanted to showcase men who are doing great things with their families and in their communities,” Edwards told Front Runner New Jersey. “There are a lot of children who don’t know their fathers and then they are some men who have been a father to many, biological or not to make a positive impact. It’s time for men to take their rightful place and I had 50 men tonight [Sunday] who are doing just that.”
Some of the community leaders who were honored at the event included David Acosta, of Vineland City Council; Douglas Albrecht, of Cumberland Board of Commissioners; barber and community volunteer Barry Cephas; J. Curtis Edwards, Bridgeton City Council and president of CompleteCare Health Network; Richard Todd Edward, funeral home director and New Jersey State NAACP; David Gonzalez, Bridgeton City Council; Jack Ciattarelli, former New Jersey gubernatorial candidate; Mayor Anthony Fanucci, City of Vineland; State Sen. Mike Testa; Assemblymen Antwan McClellan and Erik Simonsen; Kenny Smith-Bey, Jr., Bridgeton Public School board; Richard Smith, New Jersey State NAACP Conference President; Alix Silva, Vineland Public Schools board and Bridgeton football coach Steven Lane Jr.
The full list of honorees proved by Angelia Edward, is below:
- David Acosta
- Rick Adams
- Douglas Albrecht
- Richard Allen
- George Barber
- Michael Barker
- Darnell Barnes
- Jarrett Brown
- Raymond Brown
- Nathan Canion
- Sean Carter
- Barry Cephas
- Jack Ciattarelli
- George Dairsow
- Roy Dawson
- Sherman Denby
- Carl Dolenete
- Michael Eckmeyer
- J. Curtis Edwards
- Richard Todd Edwards
- Terrell Everett
- Anthony Fanucci
- Jerry Fields Jr.
- Timothy Fleming
- David Gonzales
- Bobby Griffin
- Kerry Hall
- Samuel Hull
- Albert Jones
- Brian Labonne
- Steven Lane Jr.
- Danny Lee
- Glenn Lille
- Louis Magazuu
- Albert Marmero
- Rafael Maysonet
- Antwan McClellan
- Steven Morris
- Frank Phillips
- Shelton Powell
- Dean Satterfield
- Michael Sharp
- Alix Silva
- Erik Simonsen
- Richard Smith
- Kenny Smithbey Jr.
- Christopher Tavani
- Joseph Terrigno
- Michael Testa
- Billy D. Williams
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