Shirael Pollack HPEF #AimHigher Award
Shirael Pollack, HPEF Co-founder and past President
“To have known Shirael is to have been blessed. She had a courageous soul. She loved life. She was a fighter. She was the living embodiment of a strong and beautiful human being.
-Ravi Bhalla, Mayor of Hoboken
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Shirael Pollack was a driving force in realizing our community’s ambition for the best public education possible for our children in Hoboken. She was a passionate and relentless leader who always strove to aim higher while inspiring others in the community to want the highest vision for our public schools.
To honor Shirael's legacy, HPEF presents the Shirael Pollack HPEF #Aim Higher Award annually to recognize visionaries committed to advancing HPEF’s mission of public school excellence and exemplary leadership.
Honorees are presented the award as part of HPEF's annual spring gala event.
2024 AWARD WINNER: DAN COCOZIELLO
Dan Cocoziello and Advance Realty are dedicated and long-term supporters of HPEF. In 2017, when HPEF was a fledgling non-profit striving to secure initial funding, Advance Realty’s sponsorship of HPEF’s Annual Gala provided a pivotal endorsement.
That partnership has endured and strengthened over the years. To date, through Dan’s leadership, Advance Realty has supported HPEF as a five-time Summa Cum Laude sponsor of the Annual Gala.
In addition to providing vital financial support, Dan and the extended Cocoziello family have been continuous and enthusiastic supporters of HPEF, frequently attending HPEF events and speaking in support of the Foundation.
2023 Award Winners:
Alice and Jim Kocis
The Kocis were early supporters of HPEF’s mission as a result of Jim and Alice’s deep-seated belief that a democratic society requires an educated electorate. The Kocis’ generous and steady support through the years has directly enabled HPEF to bring numerous meaningful and innovative programming initiatives to Hoboken Public Schools.
2022 Award Winners: Dennis and Betty Martin
Steadfast HPEF supporters from the very beginning Betty and Dennis were the first to line up when the pandemic hit to lead the charge with chromebook support. A constant presence at our events, their sponsorship, support and confidence in our mission has been critical to HPEF’s success and our ability to grow into the organization we are today.
2021 Award Winner: Dr. Christine Johnson
The inaugural award winner, Dr. Johnson truly exemplifies the qualities Shirael admired: a passionate and dedicated leader whose unwavering support and vision has helped to advance and elevate the Hoboken Public Schools and the Hoboken community.
Her collaborative spirit enabled the district to weather the storm of COVID and provided the unique opportunity for onsite or remote learning, giving HPS students and families the gift of choosing the educational path that fit their needs during unprecedented and challenging times.