PARSIPPANY — Assistant Minority Leader/Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce received the Humanitarian and Presidents Award from the Columbian Foundation on Saturday, October 13.
“The Columbian Foundation is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3), charitable organization founded in 1941 by business and professional men of Italian descent. Our primary objectives are to promote the culture and heritage of Italian ethnicity, to enhance the image of people of Italian descent, and to improve the cultural, educational, economic and social welfare of people of our community.
Over the past 75 years, The Columbian Foundation has participated in many works of philanthropy, and we are proud to have donated over a million dollars to various worthy causes during that time. Such efforts include primarily scholarship grants to needy medical students, law school students and college undergrads; contributions to various medical institutions such as hospitals and qualified medical charities; and the establishment of the Italian Institute and the Italian Studies Chair at Seton Hall University to promote teaching of the Italian language, literature and Italian culture and history.
Historically, The Foundation was one of the first organizations in the area to make a substantial donation to the Greater Newark Hospital Development Fund and continues that dedication to the medical profession to this day by being a principal donor to Rutgers Medical School. It has also made generous contributions to many other well-known causes outside the United States including the Italian Earthquake Relief Fund.
The cultural endeavors of The Foundation also include those in the musical arts, such as local symphony and opera groups. Financial aid and leadership are given to these organizations and others by The Foundation and by its members. In this regard, we are fortunate to number among our membership prominent businessman and leaders who recognize their civic responsibility and take leadership positions on Boards of Directors and in Management of various groups.
As a primary means of raising funds, the Annual Awards Dinner honors individuals who have achieved prominence in working toward our objectives in various fields. In past years, thousands of individuals have attended these dinners to honor men and women of outstanding achievement while supporting the goals of The Foundation.”
BettyLou DeCroce is a distinguished legislator with extensive local and state government knowledge, an unparalleled behind-the-scenes perspective, and a spirit of bipartisanship.
DeCroce serves on several legislative committees and commissions including: Transportation & Independent Authorities, the Joint Committee on Public Schools, Banking and Insurance, Science & Technology, Pre-trial Services Review Commission, the Intergovernmental Relations Commission, and the Manufacturing Caucus.
She has received numerous awards, including the NJ Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Legislator of the Year; Defender of the Taxpayer Award, for her advocacy of common-sense measures to reduce taxes and create jobs; two time finalist Leading Women Entrepreneur Award; and was recognized by the Displaced Homemakers Network of New Jersey.
Prior to serving in the New Jersey State Legislature, DeCroce served as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in Governor Chris Christie’s Administration, where she authored the Best Practices for Municipalities, which became a statewide model for identifying efficiencies in local government for reducing property taxes, and recognized nationwide.
DeCroce began her government service career as a Councilwoman in Mine Hill. She then went on to from there to serve as Municipal Clerk, Deputy Township Manager and Planning Board Member in Roxbury, and served eleven years on the Board of Adjustment in Parsippany.
DeCroce also served as the first Chair-Woman of the Morris County Joint Insurance Fund, comprised of forty municipalities, where she achieved savings through shared services and negotiated healthcare.
DeCroce brings business-savvy and a small business perspective to the Legislature as President and Owner of ERA Gallo & DeCroce Realtors, a real estate firm in Morris County for over forty-six years; and as Vice President of AD Holdings, a home construction company. She has been declared one of the 50 Best Women in Business by NJBIZ and an NJ Monthly finalist for Leading Woman Entrepreneur and Business Owner.
In addition, DeCroce was selected to participate in The Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Administration.
DeCroce resides in Parsippany and enjoys spending time with her two sons and four grandchildren.
DeCroce’s Legislative Office is located at 90 East Halsey Road, Suite 380, Parsippany.
