THU, JUN 12 at 7PM
Tickets
$125 – $300
A Celebration where Art, Community & Love Take Center Stage
Join us for an evening of fundraising to honor SOPAC’s role as the cultural heart of SOMA—bringing world-class performances, transformative arts education, and meaningful community connections to our region.
Featuring an unforgettable performance by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend, Darlene Love, and an exclusive VIP reception, this event celebrates the power of the arts to inspire, unite, and uplift.
Your support helps SOPAC continue to provide access to artistic excellence, arts education for all ages, and a space where creativity and community thrive.
VIP Experience Tickets start at $300.
To show even more love for SOPAC, please join us for a premium VIP experience recognizing and uplifting the people and organizations that have made remarkable contributions to the arts, public service, and community development – the people and places who impact art in the community!
- VIP Pre-Show Reception: 6:00 PM
An exclusive cocktail hour with live music, networking opportunities, and a chance to connect with SOPAC leadership and program beneficiaries. - Mainstage Presentation: 7:00 PM
Awards Ceremony honoring the individuals and organizations who are shaping the cultural fabric of our community
Performance by Darlene Love - VIP Afterparty Celebration: 9:00 PM
Close out the evening with more festivities featuring music, open bar, gourmet noshes, and plenty of fun!
Mainstage Presentation Tickets start at $125 (include the Mainstage Presentation only)
Special Opportunity
Meet the Legendary Darlene Love – Exclusive Pre-Show Photo Op
Get up close and personal with Darlene Love before her unforgettable performance! Snap the perfect photo and create a memory that will last a lifetime.
Purchase of photo op does not include admission to the performance.
Limited availability – don’t miss out!
Darlene Love
Rolling Stone Magazine proclaims Darlene Love to be “one of the greatest singers of all time.” Says Paul Shaffer, “Darlene Love is Rock N’ Roll!” — a declaration made official when Bette Midler inducted Love into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. During the celebration, the two artists performed “He’s A Rebel,” and Love sang “He’s A Fine, Fine Boy” backed by Bruce Springsteen. At the 2014 Academy Awards, Love sang her powerful acceptance speech on behalf of all of the performers in the winning film 20 Feet From Stardom — for whose soundtrack she later won a Grammy Award. As she raised the Oscar, the entire house stood cheering, an ovation led by Bill Murray — another special moment in a great career. Love’s Billboard hits include “He’s A Rebel,” “The Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” “Wait ‘Til My Bobby Gets Home,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” and the number-one holiday classic “Christmas Baby (Please Come Home),” a song that she performed annually with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Symphony Orchestra on The Late Show With David Letterman for some 29 years until Letterman retired. Love continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her warm, gracious stage presence and superb performances. In addition to her Grammy Award, Academy Award, and Rock & Roll Fall of Fame induction, her accolades include Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award winner, nearly 300,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and more than 5 million views on YouTube.
Your participation will help sustain SOPAC’s role as a cultural hub, fostering creativity, inclusion, and community engagement.
HONOREES
Pollock Properties Group
Vanessa and Charlie Pollock
Vanessa and Charlie Pollock are partners in business, in service, and in life. Over the past two decades, Vanessa has led Pollock Properties Group with a values-driven approach that has helped over 1,270 families find a home and resulted in more than $808 million in real estate sales. But beyond success in real estate, the Pollocks have built a legacy of giving.
Through their team’s support of local charities, events and nonprofits, as well as their own nonprofit, the Pollock Arts Initiative (in partnership with the Achieve Foundation), they’ve raised and donated over $500,000 to local causes, supported arts education, and empowered countless students and teachers. Vanessa is also a national voice for her #CareServeGive business model, which champions community-centered entrepreneurship.
Charlie, a celebrated Broadway performer currently starring in The Great Gatsby on Broadway, brings his passion for service to both stage and sanctuary—as a worship leader at Renaissance Church and an arts advocate in South Orange/Maplewood. Together, the Pollocks use their platform to uplift others, showing that love, leadership, and generosity are at the heart of influence.
PSEG is committed to improving the lives of its customers, its employees and the diverse communities they serve throughout New Jersey and Long Island, New York. PSEG is proud to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Throughout our region, they drive economic growth, contribute to successful and sustainable communities, and provide support for organizations that help make our world a better place to live and work.
David Stone
David Stone (1957–2024) was the co-owner of Nancy and David Fine Jewels in Millburn, New Jersey, and a respected figure in the jewelry industry since founding the business with his wife in 1980. He served for several years on the Board of Governors at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), supporting the local arts community.
David was also the longtime business manager for Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay, producing multiple sold-out Furay concerts at SOPAC, managing the 2021 CD/DVD “Richie Furay – 50th Anniversary Return To The Troubadour,” and executive producing the upcoming documentary Through It All – The Life and Influence of Richie Furay in collaboration with Cameron Crowe.
David’s passion for both fine jewelry and music left a lasting mark on New Jersey’s cultural landscape.
Obenewaa Frimpomaa
Obenewaa Frimpomaa is an exceptionally talented senior at Millburn High School and artist of Ghanaian descent whose work focuses on themes of identity, history, and the empowerment of underrepresented voices, particularly Black women. Her art practice is deeply rooted in portraiture, aiming to foster intimate conversations about history, culture, and community.
She incorporates various materials and techniques, including charcoal, ink, gouache, and digital tools, to create pieces that are both visually striking and socially meaningful. She was awarded two Scholastic National Gold Art Medals and has been recognized as one of the top young artists in the nation.
Beyond her artwork, Obenewaa is a poet and leader. As an active member of the Black Student Union, she is passionate about using her creativity to inspire and uplift others.
HOW ELSE YOU CAN SUPPORT
Become a Sponsor
Align your brand with the SOPAC mission and gain visibility as a leader in community and cultural engagement. Sponsorship packages include exclusive benefits like prominent marketing placements, onstage acknowledgments, and VIP access.
Donate
Can’t attend but want to support SOPAC’s mission? Donate and help us provide transformative arts programs for underserved communities.
Provide In-Kind Support
From silent auction items to event services, your contributions make a difference.
Contact us at membership@sopacnow.org
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous sponsors who make SOPAC Celebrates possible.
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Promotional Sponsor
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If you or a member of your party needs assistance, please notify SOPAC at the time your tickets are purchased. Lauren Neuman, Director of Marketing & Audience Services can be reached at (973) 382-1032.