The Eastern Produce Council is set to honor former president Marianne Santo at the John McAleavey Annual Gala on April 6. Santo, a three-time EPC president and senior category manager of produce and floral at Wakefern Food Corp., died Sept. 24, 2023. She was 61.
Slated to take place at The Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J., EPC’s 2024 gala will include a cocktail hour, dinner buffet, a Jersey Boys Act, DJ and more, according to a news release.
Philanthropic throughout her career and her life, Santo was passionate about supporting women and people in need, the release said. In this spirit, the EPC will collaborate with Dress Express Boutique, a New Jersey nonprofit organization founded with the mission to support young women.
At the event, people are invited to bring new or gently worn dresses of all types, styles and sizes, which will be donated to Dress Express Boutique.
The nonprofit will then host an event featuring the dresses, the proceeds from which will go to the Mercy Girl Effect, an organization that recognizes, funds and promotes causes impacting young women around the globe, with special focus on education and building leadership, the release said.
Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated, and checks can be made payable to Sisters of Mercy, says the EPC. In the memo include, “Dress Express Boutique/MGE.” Donation checks can be brought to the gala event or mailed to Eastern Produce Council, P.O. Box 897, New Providence, NJ 07974.
Related: Remembering Marianne Santo, EPC president and Wakefern Food veteran
This annual event, now in its 57th year, is the main fundraising effort of the EPC, enabling the council to continue to support worthy causes and organizations in the produce industry and its community, the release said.
McAleavey passionately served the council as its executive director for 25 years, says EPC. Following his death in 2015, the annual gala event was named in his memory.
To learn more about tickets, sponsorships and ad support for this event, visit the EPC website, email easternproducecouncil@gmail.com or call 908-723-0645.
