Bloomfield Charity Gala Raises More Money than Year Before

Donations are still trickling in, but the second annual Bloomfield Charity Gala netted as much as $30,000 in donations Wednesday night.

The 300 guests, including host Mayor Raymond McCarthy, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) and State Assemblyman Ralph R. Caputo, chipped in the night's raffle for prizes including dinner to Fascinos in Montclair and The Manor, as well as a New York Jets jersey signed by quarterback Tim Tebow which raised $1,000, the mayor said.

"I'm just impressed of people's generosity," McCarthy said Thursday.

The fundraiser, held at The Manor in West Orange, . The money will soon be divided and donated to Bloomfield organizations that benefit residents, like Bloomfield police social services, the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, local food banks, assistance with individual family utility bills and the United Way of Bloomfield.

Last year, the United Way of Bloomfield received $12,500 and the Bloomfield Municipal Alliance, The Bethel Community Development Rehoboth Food Pantry & Meal Center and Neighbor-to-Neighbor Network earned $2,500 each.

Three members of the Bloomfield community were also honored Wednesday night:

• Woman of the Year: 
Paula Peikes, Bloomfield Human Services Department
• Man of the Year
: Neil Greenstein, Owner of Brookdale ShopRite
• Business of the Year
: Provident Bank, Regional Manager First Vice President George Celentano