January 11, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 15 Area Sister Gloria Perez, the executive director at Eva’s Village, will assume the new role of senior advisor for mission. In making the announcement, Board President Dale Calvert said, “Sister Gloria has lived the problems of poverty for 10 years as the executive director of Eva’s Village. Now, as the needs of the poor constantly push our own limits as an organization, we know that we must reach out to a wider audience for the support that will enable us to build the resources to meet that need. So once again, we call on Sister Gloria for her special talent to organize new initiatives, her experience as an educator and her well-deserved reputation as a person of compassion and integrity to represent Eva’s Village to that wider audience.” While continuing to represent the hungry, homeless, and addicted by presenting their Perez becomes senior advisor for mission stories of hope to the world, new initiatives to be created by Sister Gloria include establishing a regional advisory board of community leaders, creating formal awareness programs about homelessness and substance abuse for schools and organizations, and developing new opportunities to serve the poor through the comprehensive antipoverty model she has worked to create at Eva’s Village. “Because of the vision of our dedicated board of directors and because of the tremendous growth of our programs, Eva’s administrative duties are constantly changing and growing, I have had the privilege of being the executive director at Eva’s Village for the past 10 years,” Sister Gloria said. “In that time I have been blessed to help this organization grow and add new services to better help God’s poor. Working with the board of directors and a talented staff, we have built the most comprehensive anti-poverty organization in the state of New Jersey. I have put together a top notch management team, and now it is time for me to change my role to senior advisor for mission, faithfully representing the mission as an advocate for those we serve. I am grateful for all of your support over the years and hope to build even stronger relationships with you in the future.” Eva’s Village announced that Marie Reger, who has been chief financial officer for the past six years, will assume the position of executive director. “I appreciate the confidence Sister Gloria and the board of directors place in me by appointing me executive director of Eva’s Village. I have been pleased to be part of Eva’s journey as chief financial officer, and now look forward to working with our wonderful team here at Eva’s, our donors and volunteers to further our goal of providing a better life to all those we serve,” Reger said. Founded by Monsignor Vincent E. Puma in 1982 as a response to the poor and homeless in Paterson, Eva’s Village (www.evasvillage.org) is a non-profit comprehensive social service organization with a mission to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, treat the addicted, and provide medical care to the poor with respect for the human dignity of each individual. Through almost three decades of service, Eva’s Village has established a commendable record in facing community challenges and changing the lives of the hungry, homeless, and addicted. It has grown from a simple soup kitchen to (continued on page 17) Thirtieth Annual Martin Luther King Day event set The 30th Annual Ridgewood/Glen Rock observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be held on Monday, Jan. 16 at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton Street in Ridgewood. This year’s celebration will focus on the theme, “The Power of One, The Strength of Many.” Sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Ridgewood/Glen Rock Communities, the celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with an interfaith service featuring speaker Rabbi Neil Tow of the Glen Rock Jewish Center, readings by Ridgewood and Glen Rock students, and musical performances by the Indian Hills Chamber Choir and Men of Umoja Chorus. The service will be followed by a rally in Van Neste Square and will conclude with a community luncheon at the church. The event is free and open to the public. Rabbi Tow has been serving the Glen Rock Jewish Center since 2006. He serves on the board of the Jewish Federation Apartments in Paterson, and on the Jewish Community Relations Council. Interfaith work has become an important part of Rabbi Tow’s service to the community, and he is a member of the Religious Communities of Glen Rock, the Community Relations Advisory Board of Glen Rock and Ridgewood, and the “Bergen Leads” class, a 10-month learning and leadership experience for community leaders in Bergen County. He co-teaches an interfaith Bible Study class, is a leader of the Glen Rock Interfaith American Cancer’s Relay for Life team, and recently introduced a series of free 30-minute lunchtime webinars on social justice. The annual Ridgewood/Glen Rock Martin Luther King Jr. celebration began in 1983 in an effort to unite area residents, regardless of faith or ethnic background, in worship and action as they work toward peace and justice for all. More than 20 religious groups, the Ridgewood and Glen Rock boards of education, local government, and civic organizations participate in and support the event each year. Financial support is generously provided by many organizations, individuals, agencies, and businesses throughout the area.