Fanwood resident Marianne Kranz was among 10 women honored at the 25th annual Union County Women of Excellence gala on Friday, March 24 at Galloping Hill Golf Club in Kenilworth. Marianne, a 23 year resident of Fanwood, was recognized for her work at SAGE Eldercare, a non-profit eldercare agency in Summit, where she is Director of Volunteers and Meals on Wheels. In that position, she is responsible for delivering hundreds of daily meals, mostly to seniors who are home-bound, in Union and Essex County, coordinating hundreds of volunteers who do the actual delivery. She also recently surpassed 800 hours of volunteer work at the Caring Contact crisis hotline, answering calls from people who are in crisis, suicidal, lonely or depressed.
Present at the Friday night gala were Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, Council members Erin McElroy Barker, Kevin Boris, Kathy Mitchell, Jack Molenaar and Tom Kranz and Freeholder Al Mirabella of Fanwood.
“Together, our ten awardees demonstrate that women’s leadership and advocacy plays an essential role throughout the Union County community,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. The Commission on the Status of Women is sponsored by The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Each year, awards are given in multiple fields including education, health care, the arts, government, business, law, community service, technology, humanitarianism, public service, women’s advocacy, and lifetime achievement.
“The whole community is uplifted when we recognize the deep reservoir of talent among women in Union County, and work to ensure that each one has the opportunity to exercise her full potential,” said Freeholder Vernell Wright, who is the Board’s liaison to the Commission on the Status of Women.
