Young Audiences Welcomes Four Local Arts Supporters to Board

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Denyce Mylson

Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania

609-243-9000

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Young Audiences Welcomes Four Local Arts Supporters to Board

PRINCETON, NJ; August 14, 2015 — Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania (YA) has named Colleen A. Foy, Amy McHugh, Barbara (Bobbie) Panfili, and Steve Runk to its Board of Trustees. The four were welcomed to the 30-member board at its June annual board meeting.

“We are delighted that Colleen, Amy, Bobbie and Steve have accepted our invitation to join the Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania Board,” said Laurence Capo, YA President & CEO. “Our trustees provide exceptional guidance and support to further our mission and to help realize our goal to provide quality arts experiences to every child in the region. There is no doubt that these four ambassadors of arts education will make a remarkable addition to the YA team.”

Colleen A. Foy

Foy, a Princeton resident, is a commercial real estate professional currently serving as Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at M&T Bank in Princeton. She is a frequent volunteer with several organizations including Table Café, Habitat for Humanity and Crisis Ministry of Princeton and serves as current President of the New Jersey chapter of the Real Estate Lenders Association. Foy earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters Degree in Real Estate Investment and Development from New York University.

“Young Audiences is a successful, highly developed organization from which I hope to both learn from and contribute to,” shared Foy. “I am looking forward to contributing my ideas and energy to support arts education as well as serving my community.”

Amy McHugh

Mendham resident McHugh graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in Math/Computer Science and went to work for Anderson Consulting for ten years helping organizations plan and implement critical systems. Since then, McHugh has found great satisfaction in committing herself to service, seeking out opportunities where she could have a direct impact on the life of a child. She founded and coordinated a youth service organization at Resurrection Parish in Randolph, served as President of the Arts Council for Delbarton School in Morristown, and through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization, enjoyed being a “Big Couple” with her husband to mentor a 10 year-old boy. McHugh is currently an active volunteer at CASA of Morris/Sussex where she advocates for children in foster care.

“YA’s mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts resonated with me,” said McHugh. “The passion, dedication and commitment of all those involved with the organization is something I am excited to be a part of.”

Bobbie Panfili

Panfili, born and raised in Trenton, resides in Hamilton. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville and pursued degrees in education at The College of New Jersey and Trenton State College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education, a master’s degree in Student Personnel Services and Education Leadership and is certified in Elementary Education. Panfili has been employed by the Hamilton Township School District for the last 35 years as a special education teacher, guidance counselor, vice principal and, for the last 6 years, the proud Principal at George E. Wilson Elementary School. She is actively involved in her school neighborhood community and works closely with the Hamilton-Robbinsville Rotary Club and the Sunshine Foundation.

“I saw first-hand through Wilson School’s grant opportunities and ongoing partnership with YA, the impact that the arts in education had on students, staff, families and most importantly learning. Positive! Positive! Positive!” stated Panfili. “Arts education is something that I have always believed in. I wanted experiences for my students, and different ways for them to be successful. I wanted them to enjoy learning and coming to school. I saw YA make that happen. Serving on YA’s board is a tiny way to give back, to learn, and to be a part of the future of education that I truly believe in and I am grateful for the opportunity!”

Steve Runk

Runk, a resident of Langhorne, PA, is the Director of Communications for the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. Prior to his time at Princeton, he worked in arts marketing and academic administration at Rutgers University and spent 20 years on the staff of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. His many roles at the Arts Council included Assistant Director of Information Services, Grants Coordinator, Director of Programs and Services and eventually Executive Director. He was the founding board president of the Arts & Cultural Council of Bucks County and a former board member and officer of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

“I believe strongly in YA’s mission to assure every child has access to the arts and in the power of arts education to build a skilled future workforce, caring and empathetic citizens and leaders, strong communities and to bridge differences,” Runk shared. “I hope to be able to help build partnerships that enable YA to grow and extend its reach”

Belinda Roll, Young Audiences’ new Board Chair shared, “Our four new trustees have all made considerable contributions to their local communities and by joining Young Audiences, they now have the opportunity to positively impact arts education on a regional and national level.”

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About Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania

Founded in 1973, Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania is the premier arts-in-education resource in the region, providing high-quality performances and artist-in-residence programs to nearly 700 schools each year. Young Audiences’ extensive professional artist roster represents all art forms—from dance and theater to music, language and visual arts. The organization annually reaches nearly 500,000 children pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

A not-for-profit organization, Young Audiences’ programs are accessible to all socio-economic, ethnic, cultural, and geographic communities, and are designed to strengthen the arts in schools, meet local and state curriculum standards, involve families in arts activities, and enrich cultural life in New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities.

Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania is the first arts education organization designated as a major service organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and, as part of the national network of Young Audiences, Inc., was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton. Young Audiences programs are made possible in part through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State and Pennsylvania Council of the Arts. Additional funding comes from foundations, corporations and generous individuals. To learn more, visit www.yanjep.org. To be “social” with us, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @YANJEPA and on Instagram @young_audiences_njepa.