It’s hard to add up all of the ways Mindy Cohen has been of service to the N.J. Performing Arts Center.
As a volunteer, a board member, a gala chair, a fund-raiser and a financial contributor, Cohen has done it all.
And done it all without any compensation.
On Saturday night, Cohen became one of the most deserving Founders Award recipients in the history of the Spotlight Gala, an event she helped elevate to new heights while serving as its co-chair a record six times.
NJPAC CEO John Schreiber was beyond excited to introduce her and list her accomplishments to the Who’s Who crowd that gathered in Newark on the biggest night of the year for the arts community.
Schreiber thanked her for making NJPAC her ‘retirement project.’
“Mindy is the best volunteer leader and ferociously effective fundraising partner, this non-profit CEO could hope for,” he said. “If you’ve been paying any attention to what’s happening to arts funding in Washington, and trust me, I try not to, you know that champions like Mindy are more important than ever.
“Mindy has raised millions of dollars for our work in arts, education, community engagement and arts and well-being.”
It’s topped by her efforts with the gala itself, Schreiber said.
“Mindy made this gala so successful by launching a relentless charm offensive on the great and the good,” he said. “To succeed as a fundraiser, you have to be fearless, and you have to believe deeply in the work you’re advancing. Mindy is a believer, and Mindy is fearless.”
She also is humble.
Upon accepting the award, she thanked all the members of the NJPAC family — and her husband, David Bershad, with whom they have made numerous contributions.
“Working with the team here at NJPAC has been the biggest reward ever,” she said. “The staff is so professional, and I’ve gotten to know everyone, and they’re like that family.
“David and I’m so proud to support both financially and spiritually. This place is just so important to us.”
Then, as only she can, she made the ask.
“To anyone who wants to be involved in women@njpac, we would love to have you,” she said. “We would love to have your ideas and creativity and (after a brief pause) your money. Volunteerism is a team sport and there’s no better team than NJPAC.”
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Darryl Terry’s numerous connections to NJPAC include events and initiatives that do not necessarily get the spotlight.
Like having musicians perform personal shows for patients at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center — or having ensembles play in the lobby of the hospital he has been CEO of for nearly a decade.
Terry’s connection to Newark Beth goes much deeper. He has worked there for 30 years, met with his wife there — and seen some of his children and grand-children be born there.
Terry understands the value of the medical center to the community — and the value arts can have to improve everyone’s health.
That was clear from the impassioned speech Mayor Ras Baraka gave before Terry was presented with the other founder’s award of the night.
“I’m delighted and honored to have a partner at Newark Beth Israel, who understands what Beth Israel means to the city of Newark, who understands the families and the children of our city, who understands the social determinants of health, who understands when we say maternal mortality, what that means and what that looks like, who understands and loves the families of our community, who makes sure we get the kind of care, the kind of love, the kind of attention that we need, no matter where we are — that we can get it right here on Lyons Avenue in the city of Newark,” Baraka said.
Terry said it’s all part of an it-takes-a-village approach.
“It’s about the total well-being of the community that we serve — the phenomenal partnership that NJPAC and Newark Beth Israel has forged the arts,” he told the audience.
That’s what made the night special to Terry.
“This is an amazing honor,” he said. “I have so many reasons to be thankful. Not many people get to come to work every day and live out their values, but I do.”
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Schreiber is a classic master of ceremonies. Each year, he finds the right way to sum up a night of philanthropy and festivity.
“Duke Ellington liked to say that the secret to happiness in life is being at the right place at the right time, doing the right thing with the right people,” he told the crowd. “By this definition, I think we all made the right call to hang out together tonight.”
The gala announced it had raised more than $2 million in funding before Schreiber and Charles Lowrey, executive chairman, Prudential Financial, were able to unveil the big news: Leon and Toby Cooperman were donated $50 million to help kickstart a campaign to create an endowment for the social impact initiatives NJPAC will run out of the Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center when it opens in 2027.
Schreiber said he was eternally grateful to the Coopermans — “I’ll never ask for another dollar,” he joked — but also delighted that so many came.
“I’m grateful that you’re present to help celebrate the arts center, the city of Newark and this collaborative and beloved community whose future we diligently workshop together every day,” he said.
Schreiber spoke of all that is on the way.
“As you arrived, you may have seen the signs of transformation, evidence that our campus redevelopments are in full swing everywhere, not the least of which was our ability to actually stand on the outside terrace and patio this year for the first time, which was fabulous,” he said.
“In addition, if you looked over to your left, you could see Art Side, which is a mixed-use residential development which will feature new homes, restaurants, galleries and spaces for the community gathering, welcoming residents of all income levels.”
All of which was given a boost by the biggest night of the arts.
