Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit supporting the community as the food bank for Mercer County and through comprehensive family and education programs, hosted its Fifth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration, presented by Grand Sponsor Bank of America, on June 10, at its food bank warehouse in Ewing.
The event honored the individuals and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to Mercer Street Friends’ mission have nourished minds, strengthened bodies and empowered families and communities.
The 2025 honorees were Bank of America, Corporate Leadership & Public Service Award; Phyllis Stoolmacher, Humanitarian Award; Dan Rodgers, Robert M. Appelbaum Service Award.
“It’s an honor to celebrate our three remarkable awardees this evening – each of whom has played a unique role in shaping who Mercer Street Friends is today,” Bernie Flynn, CEO, Mercer Street Friends said. “On behalf of our entire organization, I want to thank them as well as our incredible staff, volunteers and sponsors. Your support makes this annual celebratory event – and our mission – possible.”
Bank of America, a longstanding partner and steadfast supporter of Mercer Street Friends, exemplifies corporate leadership and a deep commitment to strengthening communities through meaningful action. By investing in local initiatives, it helps create pathways for New Jersey residents to achieve stability and thrive. Since 2019, over 400 of the bank’s employees have contributed over 502,000 volunteer hours to support New Jersey nonprofits, including at Mercer Street Friends.
“Our team first got involved with Mercer Street Friends many years ago, recognizing that quality food, shelter and support are all needed for a brighter future. Mercer Street Friends has the power to change lives for the better,” Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey said. “As one of the largest employers in the state, we’re proud to support those efforts throughout the region.”
Phyllis Stoolmacher launched and led the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank for 30 years, fostering the Food Bank as it grew to the primary provider of food to anti-hunger programs in Mercer County.
“I witnessed firsthand the real impact that access to food can have on families’ lives. Work that began decades ago, continues today. It’s been an honor to contribute to such a powerful and compassionate organization,” Stoolmacher said.
Dan Rodgers is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History Emeritus at Princeton University. He served on the Mercer Street Friends Board of Trustees for 18 years, including four years as Board Chair.
“Mercer Street Friends stands out for its holistic approach to strengthening communities. It recognizes that poverty is not caused by a single factor, but by a complex web of challenges – including access to nutrition, quality education, social support and resources for parents. Mercer Street Friends is a model for how community-based organizations can create lasting change,” Rodgers said.
Additional event sponsors included Benefit Sponsors NJM Insurance Group and Anne Irwin & Bob Holt; and Awards Sponsors Capital Health and Ann & Bernie Flynn.
