Gala 20

Join us in raising a glass to three steadfast partners who have been with SOPAC since the beginning!

Seton Hall University

Seton Hall is one of SOPAC’s earliest and most steadfast partners. One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been inspiring great minds to greater purpose since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous majors, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, US News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek. Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and caring global citizens. Its attractive main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, only 14 miles to New York City, offering a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. A new independent economic analysis of the University found that Seton Hall provides a significant impact on New Jersey’s economy, totaling over $1.6 billion annually and creating and sustaining nearly 10,000 jobs. The University’s nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark. The University’s Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Clifton and Nutley, New Jersey, houses Seton Hall’s College of Nursing, its School of Health and Medical Sciences as well as the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Our outstanding faculty and values-centered curricula prepare students to grow into well-rounded professionals who lead with purpose by engaging the mind, heart and spirit. For more information, visit www.shu.edu.

South Orange Village

South Orange Village is a vibrant, diverse, and historic New Jersey community where “City Sense, Village Vibe” comes to life every day. With its walkable downtown, iconic gas-lit streets, distinctive housing stock, and deeply engaged residents, South Orange offers a welcoming, compassionate, and culturally rich environment just minutes from New York City.

Governed by an elected Mayor and Village Council, the Village is fully committed to fostering community connection, embracing innovation, and celebrating the arts as a cornerstone of civic life. That spirit is reflected in its enduring partnership with the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), which opened in 2006 as part of a transformative redevelopment effort. Today, SOPAC stands as both a cultural anchor and a powerful economic engine—bringing energy, creativity, and vitality to the heart of the community.