37th YMCA Annual Dr. King Commemorative Breakfast
The community event will take place at the Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club in Farmingdale and will feature keynote speaker Carmen Rubin, an acclaimed children’s author, historian and playwright. The Manalapan resident co-founded One Blue Village, a nonprofit organization that supports youth in obtaining higher education. She also serves on the National Advisory Board for Reading is Fundamental.
Several local community leaders will be honored at the event in recognition of their commitment to the principles of social justice, hope and unity, as embodied by Dr. King:
YMCA Human Dignity Award - Beatriz Oesterheld, executive director and chief executive officer of the Community Affairs Resource Center (CARC). The Tinton Falls resident is also a board member of the VNA Community Health Center and the Latino American Association, a member of the Governor’s Council for Disability and chairs the Interagency Lead Task Force at the state level.
YMCA Community Champion Award - Teena Lomack, director of operations of The Feast. After a long career as a psychiatric nurse, she worked as a nurse auditor for The Arc of Monmouth. She was also a foster care mom and oversaw numerous programs at the Pilgrim Baptist Church, where she remains an active member. She resides in Asbury Park.
YMCA Social Responsibility Award – The Grunin Foundation, which provides holistic support to organizations with a shared vision of an equitable, just and vibrant Central Jersey Shore. Since its inception in 2013, the foundation has invested over $58 million in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Located in Toms River, it was co-founded by Jay and the late Linda Grunin. Their son Jeremy currently serves as president.
Youth Changemaker Award - Annika Raj, a Holmdel resident and senior at Biotechnology High School. She leads the New Jersey Youth and Government program as a state officer and was selected to represent the Garden State YMCAs in Washington, D.C. The winner of a National Outstanding Statesman title, she is a member of several civic organizations, including YMCA of the Jersey Shore Model United Nations and Civic Leaders of America.
Additionally, two grand prize winners of the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest will present their winning essays at the breakfast.
Top sponsors of the commemorative breakfast are:
Youth Champion Sponsor - Lyon’s and Associates
Future Leaders Sponsor - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Civic Engagement Sponsors - CARC (Community Affairs & Resource Center), VNA Health Group, NJ Leaf, Causeway Cares, PNC Wealth Management, and Sue and Jim Harbison and family
Essay Sponsors - Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey Natural Gas and PorterPlus Realty.
The commemorative event will begin with registration at 7 a.m., followed by a breakfast buffet at 7:30 a.m., and the MLK program will start at 8 a.m. Event tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for youth 16 and under, and $600 for a table of 12.
Tickets and sponsorships for the annual celebration may be purchased online at https://ymcanj.org/mlk.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3391038-0
