Grounds For Sculpture Receives Recognition for Community Work

Princeton, NJ—The Father Center, (formerly UIH Family Partners) is excited to announce 2021’s Community Service Award recipient for this year’s Platinum Dads event. Because of their deep commitment to working with and alongside many nonprofit partners, and making sure experiences and activities in the cultural arts are intentionally made accessible to all local residents, the Grounds For Sculpture was unanimously selected by The Father Center’s Platinum Dads committee. Julio Badel, Manager of Experiential Programs will accept the award on behalf of the Museum, Sculpture Garden and Arboretum.

Karen Andrade-Mims, Executive Director of The Father Center, and her team want to make sure our community knows the importance of fathers both for families and in our society-at-large through an annual Platinum Dads Awards event, and in so doing, also recognize one community partner annually who goes above and beyond in their public-spirited offerings. “Every year we get the distinct honor of illuminating the positive stories about an organization doing remarkable work in our region, and we love to give them the acknowledgement they deserve. The Father Center has a long history of working with the Grounds For Sculpture and we plan to continue building on our established and cherished partnership.”

Platinum Dads will take place safely and virtually as a web broadcast and will stream live from The Father Center’s new headquarters located at 1 West Street in Trenton on Saturday morning, June 19th from 10AM to 11AM EST. In addition to the Grounds For Sculpture, the following men will be honored at the 2021 Platinum Dads event: Christopher R. Kinkade, Mayor Hemant Marathe, Dr. Jay Edward Purnsley, Kevin Leahy, William (Bill) Davis, Bilal Floyd, and Frank Lucchesi. Phillip J. Roundtree, the CEO and Founder of Quadefy LLC will provide an insightful presentation on fatherhood. More event elements will be announced in the coming weeks as they develop. Sponsorships are available for individuals and companies wanting to support and get exposure through one of New Jersey’s “feel good” events of the year. You may reach out to Karen Andrade-Mims, Executive Director to request a sponsor packet at kandrade-mims@thefathercenter.org.

About The Father Center of New Jersey

The Father Center of New Jersey’s name reflects the strength of a continued mission: to support men in gaining the skills and meeting the responsibilities of fatherhood. The agency’s career counseling and workforce development programs create opportunities for fathers to gain skills and show up for their families. The Father Center, the oldest child welfare organization in New Jersey, was founded in 1859 as an orphanage for children who were abandoned, neglected and/or abused. Over the years the agency has evolved to meet the needs of the community by fostering family and child-wellbeing, and has transitioned gradually to an award-winning organization serving over 800 men per year.

About Grounds For Sculpture

Grounds For Sculpture was founded by artist and philanthropist Seward Johnson. It opened in 1992 on the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds and was a natural extension of its predecessor, The Johnson Atelier. Hundreds of artists studied and produced work at the Atelier, and Johnson saw the potential of the neighboring bygone fairgrounds as a place where artwork could be sited within the landscape, and visitors could delight in discovering contemporary sculpture. Grounds For Sculpture is a museum, sculpture garden, and arboretum where art and nature are always at play. Outdoors, nearly 300 contemporary sculptures are sited across 42 landscaped acres. Indoors, temporary exhibitions from established and emerging artists are featured in six galleries. Engaging and educational programs for all ages are offered year-round, and may include lectures from top minds, hands-on workshops, tours, concerts, and performances. Grounds For Sculpture is located at 80 Sculptors Way in Hamilton, NJ.

To purchase tickets to the June 19th Platinum Dads event, visit The Father Center of NJ's website or click here.