The Senator Walter Rand Institute (WRI) for Public Affairs at Rutgers–Camden presented the eighth annual Senator Walter and Leah Rand South Jerseyan of the Year Awards. In keeping with the legacy of the late Senator Walter Rand and his wife, Leah, the event applauded regional growth, service, and identity while also spotlighting scholarships at Rutgers–Camden.
  According to Richard Harris, a professor of political science at Rutgers–Camden and WRI director, “It’s important for South Jersey to think and act regionally if we hope to balance our competing desires for growth with the preservation of the quality of life that makes South Jersey such an attractive place to live.  Through research and public service the Senator Walter Rand Institute seeks to bring together citizens, policy makers and the resources of Rutgers University-Camden to advance these goals.”
  The WRI award honorees were selected on the basis of their efforts to promote regional approaches to growth and exemplary service in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
  Lombardo has served as president and CEO of Volunteers of America Delaware Valley for more than 20 years. He steered the organization through the Chapter 11 process and guided its transformation into a thriving, $34 million operation. Volunteers of America Delaware Valley operates 43 programs for men, women and children in southern and central New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware. From its headquarters in Collingswood, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley serves senior citizens; offenders in transition; people who are homeless; people with chronic mental illness; and individuals with developmental disabilities.
  Carbone is senior vice president of TD Bank Financial Group and president of TD Bank’s Metro Philadelphia Market, which comprises eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.  He oversees all retail and commercial bank services and profit centers, consumer and commercial lending and government banking within the market. A banker for nearly 23 years, Carbone is a current board member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Chamber’s CEO Council for Growth, as well as the CEO Access Network of Greater Philadelphia. He is also a board member of the Home Port Alliance for the Battleship New Jersey and the Committee of Seventy.  He recently joined the executive board for Penn Cardiovascular Institute.
  Sweeney (D.—3) is in his third term in the New Jersey Senate, where he serves as Majority Leader, the second-highest ranking position in the New Jersey Senate. He also serves on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. A strong advocate for workers’ rights, Senator Sweeney has authored laws to increase the state’s minimum wage and to create the New Jersey Minimum Wage Commission.  In May 2008, Sweeney’s Paid Family Leave legislation was signed into law, providing a wage-replacement benefit to workers who must care for a sick family member or a newborn or adopted child for up to six weeks. When the law is fully implemented in July 2009, New Jersey will be only the second state to make this benefit available to its workers.  Sweeney has received numerous honors, including the New Jersey Conference of Mayors’ Legislator of the Year Award and a similar award from the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police.  He resides in West Deptford.
 
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Pictured are (l. to r.):  Daniel Lombardo, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Delaware Valley; New Jersey State Senator Stephen Sweeney (D.—3); and Michael Carbone, president of TD Bank’s metro Philadelphia market.