Published on May 24, 2017

East Windsor Township Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Hightstown Borough Mayor Lawrence Quattrone on May 20 hosted the Mayors Shining Star Gala, a standing room only charity event to raise funds for Better Beginnings, a local child development center.

Mayor Mironov stated, “The gala is to honor our ‘Shining Stars’ who help contribute to and better our community and to raise money for Better Beginnings which provides an important opportunity for high quality affordable child care for working families in our community.  The enormous turnout and support is a meaningful tribute to the many lives which have been touched and enriched over these many years by receiving a ‘better beginning’ and the good works of this organization.”  The Mayoral Proclamation congratulates Better Beginnings on celebrating a milestone 50th Anniversary and “recognizes this exceptional child care facility for providing affordable quality care for families and their children in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for the past 50 years.”  It further notes, “Better Beginnings has continued to advance their important mission of providing the children of working parents with an affordable enriched early childhood educational program that will provide a pathway for strong, healthy, self-reliant children and families.”

The Mayors Better Beginnings Gala honored individuals/groups/businesses as 2017 Shining Stars for their contributions to the community:   Jacqueline K. Bodin, Lifetime Achievement Award;  Ellen Ogintz, Individual Award;  CCL Label, Business Award;  Princeton Area Community Foundation, Organization Award, and the Peddie School Better Beginning Club, Youth Award.

Better Beginnings, a non-profit organization, has been serving children and families in East Windsor and Hightstown since 1967.  Better Beginnings was founded as a facility to provide economical disadvantaged children of the community with the opportunity and resources to reach their full academic potential.  Over the years, Better Beginnings has expanded their program to a licensed capacity of ninety-nine children and has evolved into an early childhood education center accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children..

East Windsor Mayor Mironov and Hightstown Mayor Quattrone recognize 2017 “Shining Star” honorees at the Mayors Better Beginnings Charity Gala.  Pictured (from left to right) are:  East Windsor Mayor Janice S. Mironov;  Jacqueline K. Bodin, Lifetime Achievement Award;  Jeffery Vega, President and CEO of Princeton Area Community Foundation, Organization Award;  Ellen Ogintz, Teacher at McKnight Elementary School, East Windsor Regional School District, Individual Award;  Dan Richardson, Human Resource Manager and Paul Byrnes, Quality Assurance Technician of CCL Label, Business Award;  Peter Le, President, Peddie School Better Beginnings Club, Youth Award, and Hightstown Mayor Lawrence Quattrone.

East Windsor Mayor Mironov and Hightstown Mayor Quattrone kick-off the 2017 Mayors Better Beginnings “Shining Star” Charity Gala, presenting a Mayoral Proclamation recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Better Beginnings Child Development Center.  Pictured (from left to right) are:   Hightstown Mayor Lawrence Quattrone;  Dennis McCleary, President of Better Beginnings Board of Directors;  East Windsor Mayor Janice S. Mironov, and Luz Horta, Executive Director of Better Beginnings.