10/18/2026
What a night!!
Thursday night, the Union County Fatherhood Initiative Coalition hosted our 14th Annual Appreciation Awards Banquet at the beautiful Grand Centurion in Clark, NJ, and the room was full of greatness.
This year's theme...Leveling Up Fatherhood. Strengthening Fathers. Building Strong Communities was more than a tagline. It was the heartbeat of every conversation, every handshake, and every award given.
We were honored to have Dr. Demond T. Hargrove as our guest speaker. His words on fatherhood, leadership, and lived experience moved the room. A true example of the impact one man can have.
🏅 Congratulations to this year's award recipients:
⭐ Dr. Demond T. Hargrove — Leadership in Education Award
⭐ Assemblywoman Annette Quijano — Community Leadership Award
⭐ Crystal Orr, Urban League of Union County — Community Partner Award
⭐ Friends of the New Jersey Legacy Foundation — Community Partner Award
⭐ Derron Osgood — Father of Resilience Award
The future of fatherhood in Union County is bright. We are connecting with more young fathers between the ages of 18 and 40, partnering with incredible organizations, and expanding our work, including new opportunities with the Department of Corrections to support fathers at every stage of life.
To everyone who attended, partnered, and celebrated with us, THANK YOU. The work doesn't stop here. It builds.
💛 Tag a father who deserves to be in this room next year.