July 17, 2003
MEDICAL CENTER HOSTS PROJECT LITERACY U.S. PLUS OF BERGEN COUNTY 15TH ANNUAL AWARDS RECEPTION


Hackensack University Medical Center recently hosted Project Literacy U.S. (PLUS) of Bergen County’s 15th annual awards reception. Robert C. Garrett of Covent Station, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the medical center served as the honorary chairperson for the reception which recognized outstanding accomplishments in the field of Adult Literacy. 

“On behalf of the medical center, I am proud to salute PLUS for its numerous efforts to reduce the staggering statistics of illiteracy and I wish to offer congratulations to all of the honorees,” Mr. Garrett said. “Although much progress has been made, I urge everyone in the community to support efforts to reduce illiteracy.” 

Thomas McVeigh of Oakland, president of PLUS and director of Human Resources at the Minolta Corporation in Ramsey noted, “ Based on recent statistics, 26 percent of Bergen County adults age 25 and below do not have a high school diploma.” 

The medical center’s ongoing commitment to literacy includes “Reach Out and Read,” a program that makes literacy a standard part of pediatric care. 

New Jersey State Assemblyman – 37th District and Undersheriff for Bergen County Gordon M. Johnson of Englewood appeared as the keynote speaker. Nancy Pirilli and N. George Tucker were both honored as recipients of the Volunteer of the Year award. Sibel Sahin, Hae Yeon Ohm Ko, and Noriko Hattori were honored as Students of the Year. Kiyoko Aoki, Kyung Mi Khol, Remon Khushba and Mi Yyung Lee received Student Honorable Mention awards. The medical center was also awarded a special recognition award. Citibank of Englewood Cliffs received the Corporation of the Year award. 

For more information on how to recognize literacy efforts within the greater Bergen County area, please call PLUS at (201) 489-7066. For more information on the “Reach Out and Read” program at the medical center, please call Child Life Services at (201) 996-5333.
Pictured, from left: Walter Hecht of Ridgefield Park, founding president of PLUS and dean of Bergen Community College Ciarco Learning Center; New Jersey State Assemblyman – 37th District and Undersheriff for Bergen County Gordon M. Johnson of Englewood; Nancy R. Corcoran of Mahwah, vice president of Operations at the medical center and Awards Planning committee member of PLUS; Dennis McNerney of Hackensack, Bergen County Executive; and Thomas R. McVeigh of Oakland, president of PLUS and director of Human Resources of the Minolta Corporation in Ramsey gather for a presentation of a Special Recognition Award to Hackensack University Medical Center from Project Literacy U.S. PLUS at a recent ceremony hosted by the medical center. 

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