-
Honoring Jo-Ann Brown for a Lifetime of Service and Volunteering
Imagine devoting more than a half-century to volunteering in the community you call home. That’s exactly what Jo-Ann Brown has done, offering her time, energy, talent, and passion to Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) and other local organizations that make a difference in people’s lives every day.
In recognition of her lifetime of service and volunteering, NFSB is proud to honor Jo-Ann during the inaugural Harvesting Hope Gala on Tuesday, November 12 from 6 pm to 10 pm at Nanina’s in the Park, 540 Mill Street in Belleville. This community and fundraising event will benefit NFSB programs and services that are in such high demand.After spending her childhood in Newark, Jo-Ann moved to Brookline Avenue in Nutley, where she grew up with her parents and younger sister. She soon met a boy down the street named John Brown, whose parents owned SW Brown & Son Funeral Home on Centre Street in Nutley.
Jo-Ann and John attended Nutley High School together. After graduating, John went off to McAllister School of Embalming and Seton Hall University, while Jo-Ann attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School.
The distance could not keep them apart, and Jo-Ann and John were married in 1964. They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.
Jo-Ann and John have always been very active in the community, volunteering their time and talents for worthy causes. While their children, Suzanne and Peter, were in school, Jo-Ann kept busy at Radcliff School as a Cookie Mother and Chairperson of the Paul IV Dinner/Fashion Show.
At the suggestion of her neighbor, Marie D’Ambola, Joann started volunteering at the NFSB Thrift Shop in the early 1970s and has been a loyal volunteer at the shop for more than 50 years. In fact, Jo-Ann and the Brown family were instrumental in securing the purchase of the former Thrift Shop location at 172 Chestnut Street.
Jo-Ann served in many leadership roles in the NFSB Women’s Auxiliary, including treasurer, corresponding secretary, president, and Thrift Shop Steering Committee member. She was also a member of the NFSB Board of Trustees for eight years, serving as recording secretary and chair of the 1995 September Social. Jo-Ann chaired the NFSB Auxiliary Fashion Show and served as Treasurer of the NFSB/Nutley Sun Camp Fund.
Together, Jo-Ann and John co-chaired the NFSB Charity Ball. It’s only fitting that Jo-Ann will be honored at the Harvesting Hope Gala, the present-day incarnation of the Charity Ball, an NFSB tradition for decades.
In addition to NFSB, Jo-Ann volunteered with for many organizations in the Nutley area. She served as Recording Secretary of the Rosary Alter Society and the St. Lucy Filippini Sodality at Holy Family Church. Jo-Ann served as president, treasurer, and secretary for the Nutley Kiwanis Auxiliary, president and vice president of the Nutley Lions Women’s Auxiliary, and member and secretary of the Mattia Committee, earning the Mattia Committee Special Award for her service.
Jo-Ann was the co-recipient of the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award for Business in 1997 and was honored as an outstanding volunteer by the American Association of University Women, Nutley Branch in 1998.
And on Tuesday, November 12 at Nanina’s in the Park, Jo-Ann will be recognized as a community champion at the Harvesting Hope Gala.
Of course, it would be impossible to chronicle Jo-Ann’s entire body of service to her community. The countless interactions with NFSB clients, more than five decades of friendly greetings to Thrift Shop visitors, and endless hours of time and dedication to helping others are immeasurable.
The NFSB family is grateful to have this opportunity to honor Jo-Ann at the Harvesting Hope Gala. We hope you’ll join the celebration!
Tickets for the Harvesting Hope Gala are only $150. This is a black tie-optional event, with proceeds benefiting NFSB programs and services. Visit the Harvesting Hope Gala page on the NFSB website to purchase tickets and find out about sponsorship opportunities!
