
Thursday, May 29 | 5 to 8 pm
Open bar and buffet open at 5:00 pm
Program begins promptly at 6:45 pm
Business attire | Kosher catering
Crestmont Country Club
2 Laurel Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052


An inspiring evening celebrating people who have triumphed over employment challenges and champions who supported their journeys

Jim Abbott
Former Professional Baseball Pitcher

Neil Greenstein
Former Owner, ShopRite Brookdale and Newark
Rebecca Shulman MA
CRC Senior Program Director

Born without a right hand, Jim Abbott as a boy dreamed of being a great athlete. Raised in Flint, Michigan, by parents who saw in his condition not a disability but an extraordinary opportunity, Jim became a two-sport standout in high school, then an ace pitcher for the University of Michigan. But his journey was only beginning. As a 19-year-old, Jim beat the vaunted Cuban National Team. By 21, he’d won the gold medal game at the 1988 Olympics and - without spending a day in the minor leagues - cracked the starting rotation of the California Angels. In 1991, he would finish third in the voting for the Cy Young Award. Two years later, he would don Yankee pinstripes and deliver a one-of-a-kind no-hitter.

Helping others is a lifelong commitment for Neil. A third-generation grocer, Neil carried on the family tradition and prioritized creating opportunities for everyone in the community, regardless of ability. During his tenure as owner of ShopRiteNewark and ShopRite Brookdale, the stores hired more than 40 individuals with disabilities through JVS.

Throughout her illustrious career, Rebecca has had a tremendous impact on people with disabilities, helping them build self-confidence and achieve independence. Her passion for the fields of vocational rehabilitation and disability services has left a lasting mark throughout New Jersey