Following Mary Pat

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Announces Spirit of a Hero Scholarship Recipients

    Governor Christie, Mrs. Christie today during a ceremony at Drumthwacket
    Posted 05/30/2013

    Twenty students from throughout the state will each be receiving a $5,000 scholarship to pursue post-secondary education opportunities The winners were chosen from a pool of over 700 applicants from across the state These students serve as role models to their peers and exhibit extraordinary leadership skills Most importantly, they have a demonstrated commitment to volunteerism and community contribution...

  • “Open For Business” Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie joined President Barack Obama in Asbury Park

    Posted 05/28/2013

    Governor Christie, Mrs Christie, and their children toured the shore with President Obama, making stops in Point Pleasant Beach and Asbury Park  The Christie family and the President played a round of Frog Bog along the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach After the boardwalk visit, they all traveled to Asbury Park where the President delivered remarks, officially opening up the Jersey Shore for business this summer season...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Appears on the TODAY Show

    The Governor and Mrs. Christie appeared on the TODAY Show
    Posted 05/24/2013

    The Governor and Mrs Christie appeared on the TODAY Show to cut the world's longest ribbon for the grand re-opening of the Jersey Shore in Seaside Heights  After the ribbon-cutting, the band FUN performed in front of an excited crowd of New Jerseyans  Mrs...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Hosts Prince Harry in Seaside Heights

    Governor Christie, Mrs. Christie, and their children hosted Prince Harry playing games games and
    Posted 05/14/2013

    Governor Christie, Mrs Christie, and their children hosted Prince Harry for a tour of the Jersey Shore in Mantoloking and Seaside Heights, NJ  The Christies showed Prince Harry some of the shore's most notable spots - including the "Insert Name of Boardwalk" boardwalk where they played games and greeted New Jerseyans who were instrumental in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy   

    ...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie visits Manasquan, aids Coastal Habitat for Humanity in rebuild project

    Mrs. Christie and her daughter Sarah with the Coastal Habitat for Humanity Team
    Posted 04/19/2013

     On April 19th, Mary Pat Christie traveled down to Manasquan to assist in the rebuild of a residential property with Habitat for Humanity The First Lady, along with her daughter Sarah, met with local residents, community leaders and the Coastal Habitat for Humanity Team Before getting to work on the house, Mrs Christie thanked everyone for their tireless work in the rebuilding efforts in the area...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie visits Point Pleasant Beach, meeting with volunteers and community leaders, announcing another grant from the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund

    First Lady with volunteers, community leaders
    Posted 04/15/2013

     On April 15th, Mary Pat Christie spent the morning at the shore, visiting Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church in Point Pleasant Beach  Reverend Carl Wilton gave Mrs Christie a tour of the Church’s facilities Following her tour, the First Lady met with volunteers, community leaders and residents of the area, learning about the rebuilding efforts taking place in Point Pleasant Beach and the surrounding areas...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Names First New Jersey Hero of 2013

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her eight NJ Hero of 2011
    Posted 03/26/2013

    Mary Pat Christie spent the afternoon honoring Asia Smith of Purple REIG...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie visits with local residents and businesses in Point Pleasant

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her eight NJ Hero of 2011
    Posted 03/7/2013

    On February 22nd, Mary Pat Christie spent a day at the Shore touring reconstruction efforts and greeting local residents and business owners in Point Pleasant Beach

    Her first stop was to the boardwalk for a photo shoot with NJ BIZ, where she will be featured for her work as Chairwoman of the New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund

    The second stop was a visit to Jersey Mike’s Subs  Mrs...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Showcases the Artistic Contributions of Photographer Wendel White During Black History Month Exhibit at Drumthwacket

    Wendel White
    Posted 02/7/2013

    This February, Mary Pat Christie celebrated the artistry and cultural contributions of Newark-born Wendel White during a Black History Month presentation of his photographic works at Drumthwacket, the Governor's official residence in Princeton  Mr White's portfolios, 'Small Towns, Black Lives,' and 'Schools for the Colored,' will be on exhibit in through April 5, 2013

    White's ‘Small Towns, Black Lives' exhibit documents New Jersey’s small, historically African American towns and settlements in the state’s southernmost counties...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Continues Season of Service at Newark Family Resource Network

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie works on arts and crafts projects with volunteers and children at the Newark Family Resource Network Holiday event.
    Posted 12/15/2012

    As part of the Christie Administration’s Season of Service, First Lady Mary Pat Christie and daughters Sarah and Bridget Christie helped distribute clothing and toys to local mothers and their children during the Newark Family Resource Network’s annual holiday event Mrs Christie was joined by Shin Odake, CEO of UNIQLO, whose company delivered warm clothing donations for the participating families In addition, the Hess organization provided toy trucks for the children attending...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Visits Rutgers University Mobile Kitchen and Two Campus Shelters

    Mrs. Christie and her children visited Rutgers University Mobile Kitchen in West Piscataway where they worked with volunteers to prepare food. They also visited with displaced New Jersey residents at two campus shelters.Mrs. Christie and her children
    Posted 11/2/2012

    Mrs Christie and her children visited Rutgers University Mobile Kitchen in West Piscataway where they worked with volunteers to prepare food They also visited with displaced New Jersey residents at two campus sheltersMrs...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Recognizes Gian Paul Gonzalez as the 18th NJ Hero for His Work to Inspire At-Risk Youth

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie and Gian Paul Gonzalez
    Posted 10/10/2012

    Gian Paul Gonzalez was the forward for Montclair State University basketball team during his time in college  In his junior year, he asked a handful of his competitors from surrounding colleges to join him in starting 4-One  4-One is an organization that motivates at-risk youth throughout NJ through the game of basketball, inspiring pride and self-esteem in kids who need it the most  These NCAA basketball stars found a way to use basketball as a tool to bring hope and a life-changing message to inner-city public schools and juvenile jails in NJ...

  • Visit to Avis Budget Group Headquarters

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie during the Visit to Avis Budget Group Headquarters
    Posted 09/7/2012

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie Celebrates Avis Budget Group’s Commitment To Serving Others At Employee Appreciation Rally
    Avis Budget Group wrapped up an eight-week bus tour across North America on September 7th at the company headquarters in Parsippany This bus tour was designed to celebrate the contributions of employees and to thank customers for their business The “Rolling Pride Rally” visited 83 Avis and Budget locations in the US and Canada...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Announces Ten Recipients of the New Jersey Heroes Heart of a Hero Scholarship

    The recipients of the New Jersey Heroes Heart of a Hero Scholarship , family , friends and Mrs. Christie
    Posted 08/22/2012

    Back in June, First Lady Mary Pat Christie visited the Riverdale Armory to announce the start of the New Jersey Heroes Heart of a Hero Scholarship Program for NJ veterans We are thankful to Wal-Mart for donating $100,000 to fund ten $10,000 scholarships that will help New Jersey military service members pursue a post-secondary education, be it college or vocational school The application process was open through the summer and concluded at the end of July We were overwhelmed with the amount of applications we received...

  • Mary Pat Christie and Commissioner Mary O’Dowd Announce Autism Grant recipients at Montclair State University.

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie and Health and Senior Services Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd with children holding flowers.
    Posted 06/28/2012

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie and Health and Senior Services Commissioner Mary E O'Dowd announced $37 million in grants to create a New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence and a separate research site Mrs...

  • Girl Scouts Celebrate 100th Anniversary at Liberty State Park

    Mrs. Christie with a Girl Scout
    Posted 06/23/2012

    2012 marks the Centennial anniversary for the Girl Scouts of America, and this June thousands of troops celebrated at Liberty State Park The Girls Scouts program has been a part of Mrs Christie's life from the time she was a child and still is today She was a Brownie growing up in Paoli and now that she is a mom, she has had the chance to watch both of her daughters, Sarah and Bridget, participate in the Brownie program...

  • Mary Pat Christie donates 500 Scholastic books to The Children’s Institute in Verona

    Mrs. Christie recieving a plaque.
    Posted 05/31/2012

    The Children's Institute is a beautiful place - situated on a lush hilltop in Verona - but the children who attend this school are what make it really special Today Mrs Christie toured the school geared towards children on the autism spectrum and with related disabilities ages 3-21 She visited their classrooms and even participated in an interactive history lesson...

  • New Jersey Marine brings home banner from Afghanistan

    Today, Lance Corporal (LCpl) Zachary R. Sanders, of Somerville, returned the placard to Mrs. Christie with a photograph of his fellow soldiers with the banner.
    Posted 05/15/2012

    In December 2011, First Lady Mary Pat Christie named Rod Hirsh, founder of Operation Shoebox New Jersey, as her ninth New Jersey Hero Back then, she sent a banner of well wishes and support to the Middle East with deployed troops Today, Lance Corporal (LCpl) Zachary R Sanders, of Somerville, returned the placard to Mrs...

  • Birth Haven Luncheon

    Posted 05/10/2012

    Established in 1985, Birth Haven is a non-profit organization that supports pregnant girls and young women from throughout the state of New Jersey and its Tri-State area Today, Mrs Christie served as the keynote speaker at the annual luncheon But what was most impressive was the young mother who spoke to the crowd of 300 women about her life experiences and hard ships...

  • Brick Stars Coach Alex DePalma the fourth New Jersey Hero of 2012.

    Brick Stars Coach Alex DePalma the fourth New Jersey Hero of 2012.
    Posted 04/27/2012

    After being a hockey coach for some 25 years, Alex DePalma felt he was ready for a new challenge involving hockey Recognizing the large number of children and adults with developmental disabilities in our state, he decided it would be exciting and beneficial to start a hockey program to introduce this group of citizens to his favorite sport In 2009, Alex started the Brick Stars Challenger Program, which has since turned into the fastest growing special needs ice hockey program in NJ Today, I had the opportunity to meet Alex, his coaches/staff, his players, and their parents at Ocean Ice Palace in Brick...

  • Jane Hanson Co-Founder of Partners for Women and Justice a New Jersey Hero

    Jane Hanson Co-Founder of Partners for Women and Justice a New Jersey Hero
    Posted 03/28/2012

    It seems very fitting to be able to recognize a hero like Jane Hanson during Women's History Month...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names Robert Clark, founder of YouthBuild Newark, her 2nd NJ Hero of 2012

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie names Robert Clark, founder of YouthBuild Newark, her 2nd NJ Hero of 2012
    Posted 02/17/2012

    Today was a great event because not only did I get to name our next hero and meet some incredible people, but my daughter Sarah and her friend were able to join me on their day off from school  I had the pleasure of naming Robert Clark, founder of YouthBuild Newark, my 2nd NJ Hero of 2012  YouthBuild is a very unassuming storefront in downtown Newark, but what happens behind it's doors is nothing short of amazing  The YouthBuild Newark program is based off the national YouthBuild model, which gives youth ages 16-24 a second chance at a new life...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her first NJ Hero of 2012

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her tenth NJ Hero of 2011
    Posted 01/19/2012

    Meeting our January hero, Malcolm, really struck a chord with me today Malcolm was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma at the age of 10 As he was sitting in his hospital room with his mom, he looked around at all the other kids in the pediatric cancer ward and realized that someone really needed to make some noise about this disease He saw that 1 in 320 children are diagnosed with cancer before their 21st birthday, yet pediatric cancer research receives less than 3% of all cancer research funding...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her ninth NJ Hero of 2011

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her ninth NJ Hero of 2011
    Posted 12/15/2011

    Today I had the pleasure of naming my 9th NJ Hero of 2011, Rod Hirsch of Operation Shoebox New Jersey Rod and his volunteers at Operation Shoebox NJ have sent over 50,000 care packages to our troops in the Middle East since their inception in 2005

    When Rod was an Eagle Scout in 1969, he had friends who were sent over to serve in Vietnam He chose then to do a service project, sending care packages to his friends and other troops who were overseas...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her eighth NJ Hero of 2011

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her eight NJ Hero of 2011
    Posted 11/23/2011

    Today I traveled to Burlington, New Jersey with the Governor and 3 of our children to honor my 8th NJ Hero of 2011, Aidan McManus Aidan was 5 years old when he saw a homeless man on the street It was then and there he decided he would dedicate himself to helping those in need He creates comic books, plans movie night fundraisers, and does various chores to make money to donate to his local soup kitchen, Ladle of Love...

  • New Jersey’s 2011 National Christmas Tree Ornament

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie admires the 2011 New Jersey National Christmas Tree Ornaments created by Amanda’s Easel Art Therapy Program in Hazlet
    Posted 11/3/2011

    Every year, each US state, territory, and the District of Columbia select a local artist and local youth to design and create 24 ornaments for the National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC  One of these 24 ornaments will decorate the White House Visitor Center Christmas tree...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie Promotes Autism Awareness

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie with Mayor Goldberg
    Posted 11/3/2011

    Today I had the opportunity to visit another school in our state that is doing great things for children with autism Jefferson Elementary School in Hawthorne offers incredibly impressive programs for all their students, including those with autism and other learning disabilities They were chosen to be a Blue Ribbon School in 2011 by the US Department of Education, one of 7 in our state! So it was great to go see them and learn more about their curriculum My daughter Sarah and I had the chance to see some classes in action and meet with the children...

  • Breast Friends Forever

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie with Mike and Erika
    Posted 10/28/2011

    Our seventh heroes, Mike Ruane and Erika Rech of Breast Friends Forever, were announced this morning They came to the Governor's Residence, Drumthwacket, for a gathering with their families, board members, doctors they work with, patients they have helped, and various members of the breast cancer awareness community throughout the state to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness month Commissioner O'Dowd from the Department of Health and Senior Services was also here today to highlight a program the state has to help women in need get the screenings that are necessary to detect this cancer

    Mike and Erika started Breast Friends Forever (BFF) when they were just 15 years old...

  • “Read for the Record” Campaign

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie reading the book Llama Llama Red Pajama to a class of children with autism
    Posted 10/7/2011

    Today I had the pleasure of visiting Larchmont Elementary School in the Mount Laurel School District I went to the school to take part in Jumpstart’s “Read for the Record” Campaign As part of the campaign, millions of people around the country all read the same book on the same day, reinforcing the importance of reading in children’s lives I also took the opportunity to visit and learn more about the Mount Laurel School District, which is known for their exceptional special needs programs in public schools...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her 6th NJ Hero of 2011

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie names David McCauley, Executive Director of Rise Up to Cure Paralysis, as her sixth New Jersey Hero
    Posted 09/23/2011

    I had the pleasure of meeting with our 6th NJ Hero of 2011 today, David McCauley Talk about an inspiration… David took a tragic situation and turned it into a positive by committing himself to helping others with the same injury as his David broke his C6 vertebrae in a diving accident 3 years ago and was paralyzed from the chest down He started up the non-profit foundation Rise Up to Cure Paralysis (RUTCP) in order to give Quality of Life grants to people who have spinal cord injuries...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her fifth NJ Hero of 2011

    Mary Pat Christie with Team Walker and youths
    Posted 08/12/2011

    Jerry Walker is not only a star athlete, playing basketball for St Anthony High School and Seton Hall, he is also a hero to many children growing up in his hometown of Jersey City Through his non-profit foundation, Team Walker, he provides inner city youth with a safe and fun place to spend their free time after school and throughout the summer Having a program like this that focuses on academic and recreational activities gives these children a better chance to stay free from any negative influences they might encounter in their neighborhood...

  • The 2011 Seafood Challenge at Drumthwacket

    Mary Pat Christie with 16 chefs and judges
    Posted 06/30/2011

    Today I hosted the 2011 Seafood Challenge at Drumthwacket  This was a great event because it really showcased some of the great chefs, restaurants, and seafood that we have to offer here in New Jersey  Did you know that NJ ranks first in the landings of clams and 2nd in the nation in scallop landings?  And those are just two impressive statistics...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her fourth NJ Hero of 2011, Wendie Blanchard of Arthur & Friends

    Mrs. Christie visited her daughter Bridget’s 2nd grade class to blow bubbles
    Posted 06/16/2011

    Today I announced my fourth NJ Hero of 2011, Wendie Blanchard Wendie started a group called Arthur & Friends in 2008, after speaking with her nephew Arthur about the hardships of finding meaningful work for people with developmental disabilities Arthur has Down syndrome Wendie and Arthur came up with the idea of starting a hydroponic greenhouse, that would supply fresh produce for local farm markets and area restaurants year round, while giving Arthur and his friends more worthwhile jobs and helping them to become more productive community members...

  • Donation of Scholastic Books and Tour of the Developmental Learning Center Warren

    Photo of First Lady Mary during the Tour of the Developmental Learning Center Warren
    Posted 05/19/2011

    This is my 2nd year as a Scholastic Reading Ambassador in the Summer Reading Challenge  As a Reading Ambassador, I'm given the opportunity to donate 500 books to a school in New Jersey  This year I donated books to the Developmental Learning Centers Developmental Learning Centers in NJ are schools for children with autism from ages 3-21 and are part of the Morris-Union Jointure Commission...

  • Department of Human Services Seminar on Autism

    Photo of First Lady Mary Pat Christie reading
    Posted 04/29/2011

    Today I had the chance to speak at a conference being held at the Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick The hospital itself was incredibly impressive I had the chance to meet with many doctors and administration associated with the hospital, which was great Commissioners Velez and O’Dowd invited me to join them in unveiling the new guide on autism and website for the Office on Autism...

  • First Lady Mary Pat Christie names her third NJ Hero of 2011

    Photo of First Lady Mary Pat Christie and Matt Cortland.
    Posted 04/21/2011

    Today I announced the third NJ Hero of 2011, Matthew Cortland  Matt is an incredibly impressive senior at Rutgers University and a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity  He is being recognized as a NJ Hero for the work he has done, and continues to do, for the autism community
    Matt started Bros UniteD, or B...

  • Roundtable Discussion and Tour of ECLC of NJ P.R.I.D.E. Center

    Mrs. Christie visited the ECLC of NJ in Chatham to take a tour of the P.R.I.D.E. Center
    Posted 04/14/2011

    Today I had the pleasure of visiting the ECLC PRID...

  • Blowing Bubbles for Autism Event:

    Mrs. Christie visited her daughter Bridget’s 2nd grade class to blow bubbles
    Posted 04/12/2011

    I received a request from a little girl named Isabelle in Ventnor, NJ to join her in blowing bubbles in support of autism awareness as part of the 8th annual Blow Bubbles 4 Autism Day Her twin brother, Kyle, has autism and she wrote a book about him and their relationship I read part of the book to my daughter Bridget’s class and then we went outside and blew bubbles between 10am and 10:01am The campaign was hoping to set the Guinness Book of World Records for people simultaneously blowing bubbles in multiple locations...

  • Visit to Woodrow Wilson Middle School’s Coffee Shop

    The children taking order from Mrs. Christie
    Posted 04/8/2011

    I had such a great time today at Woodrow Wilson Middle School I visited the “coffee shop” run by Mr Macchiaverna’s class, which is made up of children with autism and multiple learning disabilities The children fondly refer to him as, Mr...

  • Autism Awareness Month Kick-off

    First Lady Mary Pat Christie is gaving a proclamation in front of teachers, parents, and students, announcing April as Autism Awareness Month
    Posted 04/1/2011

    Today I had the opportunity to visit the EPIC School in Paramus to kick-off Autism Awareness Month EPIC stands for Educational Partnership for Instructing Children and is a non-profit school that provides education services for children with autism At this school, the children are able to learn new skills that will increase the probability of them being more independent adults I had the pleasure of meeting many of the students, as well as some of their parents and teachers, and I must say I was beyond impressed with the work they do there...

  • Roundtable and Tour of the Women’s Opportunity Center at the YMCA of Burlington County

    Roundtable and Tour of the Women’s Opportunity Center at the YMCA of Burlington County
    Posted 03/16/2011

    I am proud to announce my second NJ Hero of 2011, Cathi Rendfrey Cathi is a true NJ Hero for the work she does with displaced homemakers in the Burlington/Camden county areas She started working at the Women’s Opportunity Center, or WOC, in 1991 and has been fighting to help make women’s lives better ever since The WOC has helped approximately 3,000 women since it’s inception, through various workshops that offer emotional, occupational, and educational support...

  • Roundtable and Tour of YouthBuild Site at Isles, Inc.

    First Lady in the YouthBuild Institute at Isles
    Posted 03/3/2011

    Today I had the opportunity to travel a stone’s throw from the state house to the YouthBuild Institute at Isles, Inc in Trenton YouthBuild acts as an alternative high school for youth ages 16-24, who also receive vocational training in construction, computer technology, and office administration with the dual objective of having students receive a GED and attain transferable employment skills upon their graduation Not only was the school itself incredibly welcoming, the students were genuinely happy and excited to be there learning, which is always great to see...

  • Black History Month Luncheon and Unveiling of "Clown" by New Jersey Artist Jacob Lawrence

    Photo of Mary Pat Christie
    Posted 02/24/2011

    Today I hosted a luncheon at Drumthwacket to celebrate Black History Month and unveil an awesome painting by New Jersey artist, Jacob Lawrence  Jacob was actually born right in Princeton  His painting, "Clown", brings a whole new light and style to the walls of Drumthwacket  I have to give a big "thank you" to Mary Sue Price and our friends at the Newark Museum, who gave us this painting on loan for the next year...

  • Annual New Jersey Flower and Garden Show at the NJ Convention Center in Edison

    Photo of Mary Pat Christie
    Posted 02/17/2011

    Today I had the pleasure of kicking off the 9th Annual New Jersey Flower and Garden Show by cutting the ribbon with what else, but a pair of gardening sheers! It is truly amazing that there is such talent within our state when it comes to gardening and horticulture I learned that since 1998, New Jersey’s horticulture industry has grown 44% and we are ranked 8th in the nation in the value of our horticulture crops Those are some pretty impressive numbers No wonder a show like this expects to see approximately 25,000 people come through its doors over a 4 day period! I had the chance to view all of the gardens with “Broadway” themes and must say I was truly impressed by the talent and workmanship...

  • Honors NJ Heroes - Clark & Jean Paradise

    Photo of Mary Pat Christie with Clark and Jean Paradise
    Posted 02/3/2011

    Today I had the pleasure of going to meet Clark and Jean Paradise, my first NJ Heroes of 2011  After going through numerous submissions, I chose the Paradises because they truly embodied what it means to be a hero  They saw a need within their community, took action, and spread their good deeds throughout our state  Both in their 80s, they started out by helping people living in a tent-city community nearby by bringing them blankets, clothing, and portable heaters...

  • New Jersey Heroes Launch Event

    photo - First Lady speeking
    Posted 12/8/2010

    Today was a very exciting day for me This afternoon, at Drumthwacket, I launched the New Jersey Heroes initiative and my website to a group of organizations that I have had the pleasure of meeting, visiting, and getting to know in my time as First Lady The New Jersey Heroes initiative was started back during my husband’s inauguration We chose four great New Jersey heroes to showcase at the time...

  • Decorating Day at Drumthwacket

    photo - The Library decorated by Club Trio
    Posted 11/29/2010

    Garden Clubs from around the state come to Drumthwacket every Christmas to decorate various rooms in the residence This year’s decorations are just beautiful From the winter wonderland in the dining room to “Twas a night before Christmas” in the library, the rooms brought out the festive nature of this season in a creative and special way So on behalf of the Governor and me, many thanks to the following garden clubs that volunteered their time and skill to making our residence look so spectacular: New Vernon Garden Club, Neshanic Garden Club, Montville/ValHalla Garden Clubs, Hunterdon Hills Garden Club, Gardeners of Somerset Valley, Essex Fells Garden Club, and Garden Club of Spring Lake...

  • Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) Thanksgiving Dinner Serving

    photo - The Governor, Mrs. Christie, and their daughters Sarah and Bridget at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)
    Posted 11/24/2010

    Today the Governor, Sarah, Bridget, and I had the opportunity to get involved with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (or TASK), serving hot meals to people who wouldn’t otherwise have one this Thanksgiving During this season of giving thanks, it is so important for us to give back to our community and help those who might not be as fortunate as we are It was great to volunteer our time for such an important organization Experiences like these help us to never take things for granted and to always appreciate what we have been given...

  • Integrity House Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

    photo - Integrity House Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
    Posted 11/10/2010

    Former Governor Jim McGreevey reached out to me regarding a program that is very near and dear to his heart, Integrity House  Integrity House is located in Newark and is a women's supportive housing facility that offers a safe home for women and mothers with children dealing with addiction, be it alcohol or drugs  At the home, they will continue to work on their recovery from addiction and try to gain more stability in their lives for them and their children  I went on a tour of the facility and had the chance to walk through and see the apartments that these women will be living in...

  • Fugitive Safe Surrender Tour

    photo - Fugitive Safe Surrender Tour
    Posted 11/5/2010

    Attorney General Paula Dow invited me to join her on a tour of the Fugitive Safe Surrender site this year in Somerset at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens  After learning the background of the Fugitive Safe Surrender program, I eagerly accepted her invitation  Fugitive Safe Surrender is not an amnesty program for offenders, but it is a program that offers favorable consideration from the court because these people are "owning up" to the offense they have committed  Most of these non-violent offenders will receive probation or reduced fines, instead of facing incarceration...

  • GlassRoots, Inc. Facility Tour and Ornament Presentation

    photo - GlassRoots, Inc. Facility Tour and Ornament Presentation
    Posted 11/2/2010

    I visited GlassRoots, Inc in Newark today for a tour of the facility and to see the New Jersey ornament I asked the group to create for the national tree in Washington, DC  It came out exactly how I pictured it...

  • New Jersey Department of Families & Children State Central Registry Tour

    photo - Mrs. Christie at the New Jersey Department of Families & Children State Central Registry
    Posted 10/27/2010

    In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I went to the New Jersey State Central Registry, a division of the Department of Families & Children, to take a look at the progress they have made in helping residents of our state find the services and help they need  I was able to go on a tour of the call center and meet with the employees that answer these, most times very difficult, phone calls  The SCR was created in 2004 as part of statewide reforms designed to more effectively protect children from abuse and neglect...

  • Tri-County Scholarship Fundraiser

    Posted 10/12/2010

    The Governor and I attended the Tri-County Scholarship Fundraiser tonight in Parsippany The Tri-County Scholarship Fund provides scholarship assistance, based solely on financial need, for children to attend private and parochial schools in New Jersey Here’s a great fact – in the past 2 years, Tri-County has awarded over $18 billion to 1,100 students...

  • Jumpstart's Read for the Record Campaign Visit to Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center

    photo - Mrs. Christie with people with disabilities
    Posted 10/07/2010

    Today I participated in Jumpstart’s “Read for the Record” campaign I joined many celebrities, dignitaries, and volunteers across the nation in reading “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats to preschool and kindergarten children I was fortunate to be hosted by the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC) The center serves children ages 3-21 who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder...

  • Research Down Syndrome Benefit Gala at Drumthwacket

    Posted 09/25/2010

    My dear friends Dr Pat White-Flatley and Dan Flatley have a 9 year-old boy with Down syndrome They started an organization to do cognitive research for Down syndrome called Research Down Syndrome I was delighted to be the Honorary Chairperson of the benefit gala and to host this event at Drumthwacket because it recognizes the work of an organization that is blazing a new path to improve the lives of individuals with Down syndrome...

  • Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative

    photo - Mrs. Christie welcoming a delegation from the State of Nevada
    Posted 09/23/2010

    Mrs Christie attended and gave remarks at the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) site visit by a delegation from the State of Nevada at Thomas Edison College in Trenton The JDAI began in 1992 in an effort to find ways to reduce the number of children unnecessarily or inappropriately detained, minimize the number of youth who fail to appear in court, improve conditions of confinement, and to redirect public funds towards successful reform strategies In 2004, the Juvenile Justice Commission received a grant from the Annie E...

  • Sculpture Unveiling at Drumthwacket

    Gloria and Herbert Glatt
    Posted 09/22/2010

    I was thrilled to welcome a new piece to the Drumthwacket Art Collection today Gloria and Herbert Glatt, from Harding Township, donated a J Seward Johnson life-size bronze sculpture called “Between Appointments” This is a whimsical piece that consists of sculpture of a man lying on the bench with the newspaper over his face...

  • Community Options, Inc. Facility Tour

    photo - Mrs. Christie with people with disabilities
    Posted 09/19/2010

    Today I went to see the Daily Plan It facility in Morristown, which is part of the Community Options group The Daily Plan It is just one of a few business that Community Options has started to employ people with severe disabilities throughout New Jersey Community Options is nationally based and headquartered in Princeton Their mission is to create residential and employment supports for people with disabilities using technology and training...

  • Cantor Fitzgerald Charity Day

    Governor as a “Celebrity Broker”.
    Posted 09/13/2010

    In addition to being the First Lady of New Jersey, I also work as a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald On September 11th, 2001, Cantor was the worst hit company, losing 658 employees, all of the employees in the office at the time of the attacks, which equaled two thirds of its work force Charity Day has been held every year since 2001 to commemorate those who lost their lives that day by donating Cantor’s global revenues on the day to charities This year, the Governor joined me at work as a “Celebrity Broker”...

  • America’s Grow-A-Row Community Service Event

    photo of First Lady
    Posted 08/20/2010

    On the morning of August 20th, the Governor, three of our four children, Sarah, Patrick, and Bridget, and I, made our way from our home down to the Peaceful Valley Orchards in Pittstown, NJ for a really rewarding community service event at America’s Grow-A-Row Members of the Governor’s Office Staff and their families joined us that morning, picking green beans from the fields All of the green beans we picked that day were delivered to the Community Soup Kitchen in Morristown and the Community Food Bank in Hillside It was great to see Chip Paillex again, the founder of America’s Grow-A-Row...

  • Community FoodBank of New Jersey Tour

    photo Director, Kathleen DiChiara, Sarah, First Lady Mary Pat
    Posted 07/21/2010

    Today my daughter, Sarah, and I went to visit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey It is a great organization that does so much to raise awareness of hunger and poverty in our State The organization's Executive Director, Kathleen DiChiara provided us with an in depth tour of their expansive facility

    Back in 1975, Kathleen felt a call to action to help the underprivileged and began distributing groceries out of the trunk of her car...

  • Summit Speech School Visit

    photo - Loredana Cromarty, Sarah and Mary Pat
    Posted 07/7/2010

    I recently received an invitation from my friend, Loredana Cromarty, to visit Summit Speech School in New Providence She and her son Will, who is now alumnus of the school, were kind enough to give me a tour and provided me the opportunity to see what outstanding work the faculty is doing Each year, more than 180 students with hearing and speech disabilities attend the school where 50 staff members are on hand to work with the students  They teach them the skills they need to grow and become fully integrated, independent, and naturally communicating members of society...

  • Queen of England’s Visit to NY

    photo - Queen of England ring her visit to Ground Zero
    Posted 07/6/2010

    Chris and I, along with Andrew and Sarah, had the pleasure of meeting the Queen of England in New York today, during her visit to Ground Zero  It was an honor to be with her during the wreath laying ceremony, as she paid her respects to those who lost their lives during the tragedy of 9/11

    ...

  • CEA Reception

    photo - Mary Pat speaking at a reception
    Posted 06/21/2010

    On Monday, June 21, I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at a reception celebrating the Center for Educational Advancement's (CEA) "40 Years of Business Partnerships" The CEA was founded in 1970 and has worked for forty years as a not-for-profit social business enterprise that provides persons with disabilities or social disadvantages with employment opportunities and employment readiness services

    The CEA's training and job placement programs have helped over 4,000 New Jerseyans since they first opened their doors, but not without the help of many prominent companies and industries in the region This reception honored the long-standing history of collaboration that has existed between the CEA and private business enterprise...

  • School Street Book Event

    photo - The Scholastic Summer Challenge Banner
    Posted 06/10/2010

    When the school year ends and summer finally rolls around, I always look forward to some extra relaxation time with the family While summer is a great time for the kids to take a break from their daily workload, it doesn't mean that they shouldn't pick up a book during their break In fact, sometimes there is nothing more enjoyable on a sunny day than being outside with a good book!

    As a Reading Ambassador for Scholastic, Inc, I have pledged to encourage children of all ages to continue to read, especially during the summer months...