"Enhancing & promoting the educational development of our youth through: Mentoring, Scholarship and other Educational Forums."
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2026 Honorees

Reggie Pittman

Reginald Pittman has been a proud resident of the New York City metropolitan area for more than thirty years, following his relocation from Cleveland, Ohio. He is a graduate of Kent State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, and he holds a Master’s Degree in Music Technology from New York University.

Mr. Pittman’s distinguished career as a musician has placed him on stages with some of the most celebrated artists of our time. His performance credits include collaborations with Sarah Vaughan, Branford Marsalis, Natalie Cole, Queen Latifah, Clay Aiken, Eddie Palmieri, Aretha Franklin, The Allman Brothers, Joe Williams, Gladys Knight, The O’Jays, The Pointer Sisters, Queen, Babyface, The Temptations, John Mayer, and Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, among many others.

In addition to his performance career, Mr. Pittman has dedicated more than three decades to music education. His leadership has guided students to success in state and national competitions, and he has coordinated enriching educational travel experiences, including international study tours to China.
  
Mr. Pittman also brings over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, serving as both an investor and a licensed realtor.

Deeply committed to community service, he serves on the Board of the 100 Black Men of New York City, participates in the MLK Birthday Committee, and is an active member of the NAACP of Bergen County.

He is also a passionate advocate for holistic prostate health, using his platform to promote awareness and wellness among men in the community..

Guided by his personal philosophy, “The best is yet to come,” Mr. Pittman continues to inspire through his artistry, leadership, and service.

The Honorable Sandra Ann Robinson 
Judge, State of New Jersey

Judge Sandra Ann Robinson has been an attorney for forty plus years, which includes fifteen years as a Judge. She has worked for the Bergen County and Hackensack communities, as Bergen County Assistant County Counsel; Bergen County Adjuster; former Deputy Mayor of Hackensack, Councilwoman in Hackensack, Attorney for the Bergen County and Hackensack Municipal Planning and Zoning Boards, and Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies at Farleigh Dickinson University. Currently serving as Of Counsel in the Law Firm of Barbara B. Comerford, LLC

.Judge Robinson’s involvements in community life include: Life Member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc., member of CarePlus Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Board of Directors, former member of the Girl Scout Council Board of Directors, Member of the Board of Governors of Hackensack University Medical Center,

Life Member National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, former active member and attorney for the Bergen Passaic Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Judge Robinson has received numerous civic and legal awards and honors. She is admitted to practice law before the bars of the Supreme Court of the United States of America; the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey; and the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She received a Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree from Howard University School of Law and thereafter clerked for a New Jersey Superior Court Judge.

She is a scholar of The Honorable Anne E. Thompson Inns of Court, a member of the American and the National Bar Associations, Kappa Beta Pi International Legal Sorority, other Bar Associations in New Jersey and a former Member of the Board of Trustees of the Bergen County Bar Foundation. Judge Robinson is a life member of the National Association of Women Judges’ (NAWJ), past District III Director for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the Virgin Islands and a recipient of the NAWJ Mattie Bell Davis Award.

Interesting Tidbits about Judge Robinson: In the early 1960’s she met with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Minister and Civil Rights Activist, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Fannie Lou Hamer, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. a/k/a Muhammad Ali a former professional boxer considered the greatest heavyweight boxer in the history of sports, hugged the Late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who was a politician and philanthropist who served as South Africa’s first black chief executive and President from 1994 to 1999. She knew Thurgood Marshall the first Black Associate United State Supreme Court Justice, as well as the Late Associate Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Lewis Franklin Powell, Jr. who moved her admission to the United State Supreme Court Bar. Well known to her are Associate Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan who are members of NAWJ, where Judge Robinson currently serves as co-chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee.

Maria Carrol Green

Maria Carroll Green is the proud daughter of educators, Dr. Edward and Mrs. Arnell Carroll. She, too, became an educator and, as her parents did, decided to live her life in a way that was available to assist and uplift others in their life journey.

Maria’s education began in Texas, then on to Dwight Morrow High School, Fisk University, and Columbia University, where she earned a master’s degree in music supervision. As her curiosity and interests were varied, she continued to earn over 32 credits more in various subjects.


As an educator, Maria taught in the public schools of Wilmington, NC, James Island, SC, Englewood, NJ and at New Jersey City University. She has led educator workshops at the NJ Teachers’ Convention and NJ Performing Arts Center and was appointed to the National Committee for Professional Teaching Standards, and NJ Department of Education Performing Arts Committee. She was awarded a Governor’s Teacher Award.

As an entrepreneur, she and her husband Granville Green, Jr. owned Micro Information Systems, Inc., a data processing company that provided mass mailings, newsletters, and billing services for churches, non-profit organizations and small businesses.

As a member of the community, Maria has served as organist at Bethany Presbyterian Church and at Galilee United Methodist Church where she works on several committees and serves as director of the Intergenerational Bell Choir. She was an arts and culture reporter for The Torchbearer newspaper and a volunteer at Bergen PAC.

Most of her community service has been under the auspices of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC), Teaneck-Englewood & Vicinity Club (TEVC).As a local president, a national vocal arts chairperson, and local chairperson of NANBPWC - TEVC initiatives, she has been able to touch and uplift multitudes of individuals in the areas of education, financial literacy, health and safety, entrepreneurship, empowerment, local African American history, generational wealth, fraud, domestic violence, human trafficking, voter and census education and more.

Maria and her late husband, Granville, are proud parents of Kenneth Green and Jennifer Henry, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Miss Nia Symone Capers
2026 Youth Honoree

I am a senior at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, New Jersey, where I am known as a student who takes pride in academic excellence, leadership, and service. I put forth my best effort in all aspects of my education, guided by a strong work ethic and commitment to making
meaningful contributions to my school and community.

Academically, I take my studies seriously and continually challenge myself to grow. I have developed a particular passion for social studies, particularly world studies. I am currently taking a rigorous course load including dual
enrollment classes in Anatomy and Physiology and Precalculus, along with AP Biology, Honors English, Statistics and Data Analysis and other courses.  

In addition, I volunteer at The Valley Hospital as a part of an internship program through my school. Currently I am assigned to the Labor and Delivery unit.

Service and leadership are also important to me. Within my school community, I serve as a Student Ambassador, representing my school during events and outreach to prospective students. I am also the Captain of the track team and served as the manager for the cross country team. These roles that have strengthened my leadership, organization, and teamwork skills. As a member of the National Honor Society, I tutor fellow students. Additionally, I am the co-founder of the Black and Latino Student Union, an organization created to foster dialogue, cultural celebration, and unity among students.
Leading this initiative has been one of my most meaningful experiences, as it allows me to build community and uplift others.

Through my school, I have participated in various service initiatives, most notably serving in a leadership role coordinating the Junior "Souper Bowl" Project - a class-wide service project collecting soup and other pantry staple items for donation. Outside of school, I volunteer at my local church, where I provide childcare. These experiences have reinforced the importance of service and responsibility.

I am also a proud member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Bergen–Passaic Chapter, Role Model Mentorship Program. Through this program, I am further developing leadership and collaboration skills while
participating in community service activities. As part of my involvement, I have volunteered with the Center for Food Action and the Center for Hope.

Looking toward the future, I plan to pursue a career in postpartum nursing. I am interested in addressing the disparities in maternal morbidity experienced by Black women and hope to be part of meaningful change in healthcare through advocacy, education, and compassionate patient care.

The Hadnott Foundation

The Hadnott Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health outcomes in African American and Latin American communities through breast cancer awareness, prevention education, and community wellness initiatives. Founded in 2000 in Teaneck, New Jersey by Bennie Hadnott, CPA, the Foundation was created in loving memory of his wife, Earllene Hampton Hadnott, whose passing from breast cancer transformed personal loss into a lifelong mission to help save other families through education and access to resources. 

Guided by the Foundation’s original call to action, “Just in Time to Save a Life,” its work is rooted in the belief that reaching even one person with life-saving information can change outcomes. For 25 years, the Foundation has brought critical health education directly into communities through health fairs, breast cancer awareness programs, survivor-centered initiatives, and partnerships addressing health disparities and mental wellness. 

Honoring Earlene’s legacy through education, the Foundation established two scholarship initiatives: the Earlene Hampton Hadnott Scholarship in partnership with the Bergen County Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and the Earlene Hampton-Hadnott Class of 1970 Endowed Scholarship Fund at North Carolina Central University. 

Bennie Hadnott’s deep commitment to service has helped expand the Foundation’s reach. A member of 100 Black Men, he supported the inaugural efforts behind Eagle Academy and continues to champion youth development. He has served as Treasurer of the Bergen County NAACP, sits on the board of the Ronald McDonald House, and has supported numerous community and health-focused initiatives locally and nationally. 

Today, the Hadnott Foundation remains family-led. Its board includes business leaders, healthcare professionals, and a breast cancer survivor whose personal and professional experiences guide the mission. Since 2019, under the leadership of President Danielle Hadnott, the Foundation has expanded its collaborative partnerships to further strengthen community outreach, awareness, and life-saving education — continuing a legacy built on service, compassion, and impact.Sample text. Click to select the Text Element.