Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit supporting the community as the food bank for Mercer County and through comprehensive family and education programs, will host its fifth annual Leadership Awards Celebration on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at its food bank warehouse in Ewing.

 

The special event will honor the individuals and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to Mercer Street Friends’ mission have nourished minds, strengthened bodies and empowered families and communities. The 2025 honorees are:

 

A longstanding partner and steadfast supporter of Mercer Street Friends, Bank of America exemplifies corporate leadership and a deep commitment to strengthening communities by investing in local initiatives and creating pathways for New Jersey residents to thrive. Since 2019, the bank’s employees have contributed over 502,000 volunteer hours to support New Jersey nonprofits.

The leader of the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank for 30 years, Phyllis Stoolmacher fostered the Food Bank as it grew to the primary provider of food to anti-hunger programs in Mercer County. She oversaw all areas of the Food Bank, including operations, procurement, fundraising, marketing and advocacy; launched child hunger programs including Send Hunger Packing (SHUP) and summer feeding; and joyfully yet firmly cultivated Mercer Street Friends’ volunteer corps.

 

Dan Rodgers is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History Emeritus at Princeton University, where he taught the history of America ideas and culture for over 30 years. He joined the Mercer Street Friends Board of Trustees in 2000 and served for 18 years, including four years as Board Chair. 

 

“We are proud to recognize these remarkable award recipients, each of whom has profoundly impacted the lives of the people of Mercer County,” said Bernie Flynn, CEO, Mercer Street Friends. “Access to nutritious food, quality education and a strong support system is critical for success. Thanks to our honorees, we’re building a better tomorrow for the greater Trenton community.”

 

As the Food Bank of Mercer County, Mercer Street Friends provides over 6 million meals annually to families and individuals through its network of more than 100 distribution partners. Mercer Street Friends is the lead agency for the Community Schools initiative in the Trenton School District, supporting three partner schools, and also runs the Mercer Street Friends Preschool in West Trenton, providing free education to the city’s youngest learners. Family engagement programs round out Mercer Street Friends’ support services for the community, from continuing adult education to home visiting services.

 

The Leadership Awards Celebration will take place on June 10 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy live music and delicious local food during the celebration. For more information, or to purchase tickets or secure a sponsorship for the event, visit https://mercerstreetfriends.org/leadership-awards-2025/.

 

 

About Mercer Street Friends
As a Quaker-affiliated, nonsectarian 501(c)(3) organization, Mercer Street Friends is dedicated to nourishing minds and bodies, empowering families and communities by providing comprehensive programs to address poverty and the physical and emotional trauma it creates for children, families and the community. Their work is focused on three critical areas: food, families and education. To learn more about Mercer Street Friends, visit www.mercerstreetfriends.org.