December, 2021, Jersey City, NJ –Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Foundation Chair Joseph Napolitano, Sr. announced that the Foundation’s 24th Annual Holiday Gala was a very enjoyable evening that raised $200,000 for scholarships. The December 2, 2021 festivities, entitled, “Hats Off to Hudson’s Heroes,” recognized the extraordinary achievements and caring provided by individuals and organizations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The evening included world-class cuisine prepared and served by students and chef instructors of the College’s award-winning Culinary Arts Institute (CAI). 

The Gala began with a Culinary Tour at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center in Jersey City, NJ. The College’s inaugural Student Poet Laureate, Natalie Akel, then established the perspective for the evening with the reading of her original poem, “The Body, a Well.” The work commemorates the heroism parents – especially mothers – and others demonstrated throughout the pandemic.

Nicole Bouknight Johnson, HCCC Vice President for Advancement and Communications, welcomed guests and introduced HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber, who spoke about the many heroes present that evening – HCCC Foundation Directors, Trustees, and students, faculty, and staff; Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise and County Commissioners, Mayors, and Legislators; and HCCC Foundation donors and supporters.

Dr. Reber also acknowledged the frontline individuals whose services made it possible for HCCC to operate safely during the pandemic, and presented the 2021 HCCC Foundation Distinguished Community Service Award to José “Pepe” Garcia, Founder and President of Maverick Building Services, Inc. “The story of the man we honor this evening is truly inspiring and mirrors the lives of many Hudson County Community College students,” Dr. Reber stated.

After emigrating from Cuba in 1968, Mr. Garcia settled in Union City, NJ, where his mother worked three jobs to support her sons. Mr. Garcia started his own cleaning business while attending Seton Hall University. Today, Maverick Building Services provides facilities services to college campuses, corporate parks, office buildings, ferry terminals, high schools, transportation centers, banks, and many municipalities. 

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Garcia said he owed the award and his success to the commitment, dedication, and selflessness of Maverick’s supervisors and staff who placed the safety of the community above their own wellbeing throughout the pandemic.

At the close of the event, the HCCC Foundation held its “Lucky Odds Raffle” with the Grand Prize – 40% of the raffle ticket sales – won by Chuck Spotts, Regional Vice President for Managed Services at Ellucian.