Samaritan’s annual Celebration of Life gala, presented by Holman Enterprises, will be held at champion sponsor Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m.
Plans will be spearheaded by honorary co-chairs Debra P. DiLorenzo and Kathleen A. Davis of DiLorenzo Davis Consulting.
The event will include food, music by Masquerade, dancing and more in celebration of Samaritan’s 45-plus years of providing life-enhancing services and care to more than 12,500 patients, clients and their families annually in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.
“Each year, the gala serves as Samaritan’s largest fundraising event – reaffirming our mission to provide life-enhancing services and care to all those we serve, while also honoring the generous individuals and organizations who make our work possible,” said Phillip W. Heath, president and CEO of Samaritan.
To further support fundraising efforts and broader community engagement, Samaritan’s gala will also feature:
The Premiere Culinary Passport Raffle is sponsored by Innovative Benefit Planning LLC and offers the chance to win a total of eight $200 restaurant gift certificates (valued at a total of $1,600) for just $20 per ticket. Two raffle winners will be announced during the gala.
An online auction will feature a variety of specialty items for bid and will open for bidding on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Event attendance is not required for participation in both the raffle and online auction. Tickets for the former are available to buy online via Samaritan’s website, in addition to access to the online auction. All proceeds from the evening will support above and beyond care for Samaritan patients and their families throughout South Jersey.
Each year the gala honors three individuals and organizations who are dedicated in their service to Samaritan, as well as the greater South Jersey community. The 2026 honorees include Dr. Nandini Natrajan, the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation and United Way of Gloucester County
“The impact that Dr. Natrajan, the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation and United Way of Gloucester County have had on our organization is immeasurable,” Heath explained. “The dedication and generosity exhibited by each of these honorees helps us continue to evolve to help more people in more ways throughout southern New Jersey.”
“If you look around the room on the night of the gala, there’s a pretty good chance that most of the people there have had a loved one in our care,” noted Chris Rollins, chief development officer at Samaritan. “And they are there, perhaps, to show gratitude and help pay it forward by ensuring we can do that for others, and we’re lifted up by them showing that support and helping us look to the next 45 years.”
For sponsorship information and deadlines, additional gala details or tickets, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala.
Samaritan’s annual Celebration of Life gala, presented by Holman Enterprises, will be held at champion sponsor Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m.
Plans will be spearheaded by honorary co-chairs Debra P. DiLorenzo and Kathleen A. Davis of DiLorenzo Davis Consulting.
The event will include food, music by Masquerade, dancing and more in celebration of Samaritan’s 45-plus years of providing life-enhancing services and care to more than 12,500 patients, clients and their families annually in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.
“Each year, the gala serves as Samaritan’s largest fundraising event – reaffirming our mission to provide life-enhancing services and care to all those we serve, while also honoring the generous individuals and organizations who make our work possible,” said Phillip W. Heath, president and CEO of Samaritan.
To further support fundraising efforts and broader community engagement, Samaritan’s gala will also feature:
The Premiere Culinary Passport Raffle is sponsored by Innovative Benefit Planning LLC and offers the chance to win a total of eight $200 restaurant gift certificates (valued at a total of $1,600) for just $20 per ticket. Two raffle winners will be announced during the gala.
An online auction will feature a variety of specialty items for bid and will open for bidding on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Event attendance is not required for participation in both the raffle and online auction. Tickets for the former are available to buy online via Samaritan’s website, in addition to access to the online auction. All proceeds from the evening will support above and beyond care for Samaritan patients and their families throughout South Jersey.
Each year the gala honors three individuals and organizations who are dedicated in their service to Samaritan, as well as the greater South Jersey community. The 2026 honorees include Dr. Nandini Natrajan, the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation and United Way of Gloucester County
“The impact that Dr. Natrajan, the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation and United Way of Gloucester County have had on our organization is immeasurable,” Heath explained. “The dedication and generosity exhibited by each of these honorees helps us continue to evolve to help more people in more ways throughout southern New Jersey.”
“If you look around the room on the night of the gala, there’s a pretty good chance that most of the people there have had a loved one in our care,” noted Chris Rollins, chief development officer at Samaritan. “And they are there, perhaps, to show gratitude and help pay it forward by ensuring we can do that for others, and we’re lifted up by them showing that support and helping us look to the next 45 years.”
For sponsorship information and deadlines, additional gala details or tickets, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala.
Special to The Sun Julien Nagarajan, public policy manager at TikTok (left to right), Meredith K. Lorrilliere, executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ), Skip Chapman, owner and founder of KAFX Body, Lance Wyllie, marketing director of Grungo Law, and content creator Lilliana Kuball at the CCSNJ and TikTok panel discussion.
The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) and TikTok hosted a panel discussion with 80 small business owners and content creators from South Jersey on Sept. 9.
The event highlighted TikTok’s economic impact in the state and featured a panel of local small businesses and creators discussing how they use TikTok to expand their business and reach new customers. New Jersey State Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (Majority Whip and District 7 Representative) opened the event with remarks on the importance of supporting small businesses in the region. Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (Deputy Speaker and District 29 Representative) and Assemblyman Balvir Singh (District 7) were also in attendance.
“TikTok is much more than an app,” Murphy said. “It allows businesses to succeed online and bring in new customers. For small business owners, it’s a platform worth exploring to advertise and grow.”
TikTok has become a powerful economic engine across New Jersey – driving growth, creating wealth-building opportunities and strengthening community connections for the 183,000 businesses actively using TikTok in the state. According to a report from Oxford Economics, small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) in New Jersey that use TikTok contributed $810 million to the state’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product); generated approximately $200 million in federal, state and local tax revenue; and supported 140,000 jobs in the state.
For small businesses in New Jersey, the platform’s impact is particularly substantial – 88% of SMBs in New Jersey say their sales increased after promoting their products and services on TikTok, and 70% say that the app has allowed them to scale their operations, including hiring more employees, increasing sales and expanding to new locations, the report stated.
“We were so thrilled to partner with TikTok on today’s event to share the success stories of small businesses using the platform to grow their businesses exponentially and connect with customers, clients and followers,” said Meredith K. Lorrilliere, executive vice president of the CCSNJ. “We had more than 80 of our small business members in attendance who were eager to learn how fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs are navigating the social media platform that has taken the world by storm.
“TikTok presents a unique and cost-effective way for any business to instantly increase their visibility, but especially small businesses that have limited time and resources.”
The panel included three small business owners who shared their experience on the platform and success stories. Skip Chapman is the owner and founder of KAFX Body, a coffee-infused natural deodorant business based in Manasquan, Monmouth County. Chapman, a father of three triplet teenage boys, was shocked to see the amount of chemicals on the label of his son’s deodorant. That inspired him to create a recipe for a natural deodorant that includes coffee infused oil, and the rest is history. KAFX Body went viral on TikTok after posting one video and has now built a family business that has generated over $500,000 in lifetime sales.
Special to The Sun Opening remarks from New Jersey State Assemblywoman Carol Murphy.
“This all happening was gratuitous; it was something I always wanted to happen, but I didn’t make this happen, it was really an accident by just trying to solve a problem,” Chapman acknowledged. “I think so many people go into – maybe a platform like this or they’re just trying to develop their businesses – and they go, ‘Well, how do I get traction?’ And the biggest thing I found is all I did was try and solve a problem. I was passionate about what I made, I was passionate about the solution, and I believed in what I did.
“Be authentic, be real, have passion, know what you’re talking about and then just talk about it … None of this works if you don’t just get in front of the camera and start doing it. You have to start there. Once you do that, you start to develop that as a skill set.”
Lilliana Kuball is a content creator who spotlights South Jersey’s vibrant restaurant scene – from hidden gems to hometown favorites – helping local businesses gain visibility and grow. Passionate about supporting her community, Kuball has collaborated with and brought in businesses like hers to share their stories and showcase the best places to eat in the region.
“My TikTok videos started gaining traction after about six months of consistent posting,” Kuball said. “People go to restaurants after watching my videos and order the same dishes I’ve tried – that brings real business to small restaurant owners in South New Jersey.”
Lance Wyllie, marketing director of Grungo Law, rounded out the event’s panelists. TikTok gives businesses a valuable platform to meet people where they are, he said. The law firm’s engaging video content has gained significant traction among South Jersey businesses, earning tens of thousands of views and establishing a fresh, relatable presence in the legal space.
“The world is a beautiful place and the community that we live in … What a better way to connect with people,” Wyllie said of using TikTok. “It’s mind-blowing sometimes. Engagement is high, our brand recognition has grown and we’re able to quickly get in front of people who are genuinely interested.
“It’s exciting to see our content consistently reach hundreds of thousands of viewers. TikTok allows us to showcase expertise, connect authentically, and grow in ways that wouldn’t be possible elsewhere.”
Special to The Sun Julien Nagarajan, public policy manager at TikTok (left to right), Meredith K. Lorrilliere, executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ), Skip Chapman, owner and founder of KAFX Body, Lance Wyllie, marketing director of Grungo Law, and content creator Lilliana Kuball at the CCSNJ and TikTok panel discussion.
The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) and TikTok hosted a panel discussion with 80 small business owners and content creators from South Jersey on Sept. 9.
The event highlighted TikTok’s economic impact in the state and featured a panel of local small businesses and creators discussing how they use TikTok to expand their business and reach new customers. New Jersey State Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (Majority Whip and District 7 Representative) opened the event with remarks on the importance of supporting small businesses in the region. Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (Deputy Speaker and District 29 Representative) and Assemblyman Balvir Singh (District 7) were also in attendance.
“TikTok is much more than an app,” Murphy said. “It allows businesses to succeed online and bring in new customers. For small business owners, it’s a platform worth exploring to advertise and grow.”
TikTok has become a powerful economic engine across New Jersey – driving growth, creating wealth-building opportunities and strengthening community connections for the 183,000 businesses actively using TikTok in the state. According to a report from Oxford Economics, small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) in New Jersey that use TikTok contributed $810 million to the state’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product); generated approximately $200 million in federal, state and local tax revenue; and supported 140,000 jobs in the state.
For small businesses in New Jersey, the platform’s impact is particularly substantial – 88% of SMBs in New Jersey say their sales increased after promoting their products and services on TikTok, and 70% say that the app has allowed them to scale their operations, including hiring more employees, increasing sales and expanding to new locations, the report stated.
“We were so thrilled to partner with TikTok on today’s event to share the success stories of small businesses using the platform to grow their businesses exponentially and connect with customers, clients and followers,” said Meredith K. Lorrilliere, executive vice president of the CCSNJ. “We had more than 80 of our small business members in attendance who were eager to learn how fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs are navigating the social media platform that has taken the world by storm.
“TikTok presents a unique and cost-effective way for any business to instantly increase their visibility, but especially small businesses that have limited time and resources.”
The panel included three small business owners who shared their experience on the platform and success stories. Skip Chapman is the owner and founder of KAFX Body, a coffee-infused natural deodorant business based in Manasquan, Monmouth County. Chapman, a father of three triplet teenage boys, was shocked to see the amount of chemicals on the label of his son’s deodorant. That inspired him to create a recipe for a natural deodorant that includes coffee infused oil, and the rest is history. KAFX Body went viral on TikTok after posting one video and has now built a family business that has generated over $500,000 in lifetime sales.
Special to The Sun Opening remarks from New Jersey State Assemblywoman Carol Murphy.
“This all happening was gratuitous; it was something I always wanted to happen, but I didn’t make this happen, it was really an accident by just trying to solve a problem,” Chapman acknowledged. “I think so many people go into – maybe a platform like this or they’re just trying to develop their businesses – and they go, ‘Well, how do I get traction?’ And the biggest thing I found is all I did was try and solve a problem. I was passionate about what I made, I was passionate about the solution, and I believed in what I did.
“Be authentic, be real, have passion, know what you’re talking about and then just talk about it … None of this works if you don’t just get in front of the camera and start doing it. You have to start there. Once you do that, you start to develop that as a skill set.”
Lilliana Kuball is a content creator who spotlights South Jersey’s vibrant restaurant scene – from hidden gems to hometown favorites – helping local businesses gain visibility and grow. Passionate about supporting her community, Kuball has collaborated with and brought in businesses like hers to share their stories and showcase the best places to eat in the region.
“My TikTok videos started gaining traction after about six months of consistent posting,” Kuball said. “People go to restaurants after watching my videos and order the same dishes I’ve tried – that brings real business to small restaurant owners in South New Jersey.”
Lance Wyllie, marketing director of Grungo Law, rounded out the event’s panelists. TikTok gives businesses a valuable platform to meet people where they are, he said. The law firm’s engaging video content has gained significant traction among South Jersey businesses, earning tens of thousands of views and establishing a fresh, relatable presence in the legal space.
“The world is a beautiful place and the community that we live in … What a better way to connect with people,” Wyllie said of using TikTok. “It’s mind-blowing sometimes. Engagement is high, our brand recognition has grown and we’re able to quickly get in front of people who are genuinely interested.
“It’s exciting to see our content consistently reach hundreds of thousands of viewers. TikTok allows us to showcase expertise, connect authentically, and grow in ways that wouldn’t be possible elsewhere.”
Adath Emanu-El in Mount Laurel will host an open house on Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m., an opportunity for local communities to explore aspects of the synagogue and discover its diverse programming.
“I’d like for (those who attend) to experience the warmth of our congregation,” said Adath member Orly Buday. “It’s wonderful to see the connections that the families can make with each other, so that you have a circle of friends to be able to.”
The synagogue was designed to create a feeling of warmth and openness, and inclusivity to all. From its inception more than 50 years ago, Adath Emanu-El has emphasized being an extended, congregational family that continually explores new ways to deepen spirituality, foster learning and embrace diversity.
The congregation supports a wide range of programs and activities for members of all ages.
“We say that it’s where community becomes family, and the people that you attend services with really do become your extended family,” Buday explained. “If you’re looking for a home, this is a great place to have one. Everyone that’s there is willing to help each other. It’s truly what a family is about. You go away from your nuclear family to your larger community family, and that’s what you find when you come to Adath.
“Our life is enriched and fulfilled.”
Adath conducts several types of Shabbat worship throughout the year, from traditional Friday night services to ones focused on music, a holiday or a particular group. Programs include sisterhood membership, a men’s club, a youth choir, Saturday Shabbat morning services and an adult choir. Also offered are classes and programs for adults and children, including an early childhood center and religious school.
“You look forward to going to services on Friday night,” Buday noted. “You look forward to attending events with fellow congregants, because they are truly your friends.”
Two more open houses will be held on Saturday Aug. 23, at 8:30 a.m., and on Friday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m. Each will offer a unique perspective of the congregation and synagogue.
“This gives people three different opportunities to check out the synagogue in three different styles to do it,” Buday said, “to find what’s the right fit for you.”
Adath Emanu-El in Mount Laurel will host an open house on Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m., an opportunity for local communities to explore aspects of the synagogue and discover its diverse programming.
“I’d like for (those who attend) to experience the warmth of our congregation,” said Adath member Orly Buday. “It’s wonderful to see the connections that the families can make with each other, so that you have a circle of friends to be able to.”
The synagogue was designed to create a feeling of warmth and openness, and inclusivity to all. From its inception more than 50 years ago, Adath Emanu-El has emphasized being an extended, congregational family that continually explores new ways to deepen spirituality, foster learning and embrace diversity.
The congregation supports a wide range of programs and activities for members of all ages.
“We say that it’s where community becomes family, and the people that you attend services with really do become your extended family,” Buday explained. “If you’re looking for a home, this is a great place to have one. Everyone that’s there is willing to help each other. It’s truly what a family is about. You go away from your nuclear family to your larger community family, and that’s what you find when you come to Adath.
“Our life is enriched and fulfilled.”
Adath conducts several types of Shabbat worship throughout the year, from traditional Friday night services to ones focused on music, a holiday or a particular group. Programs include sisterhood membership, a men’s club, a youth choir, Saturday Shabbat morning services and an adult choir. Also offered are classes and programs for adults and children, including an early childhood center and religious school.
“You look forward to going to services on Friday night,” Buday noted. “You look forward to attending events with fellow congregants, because they are truly your friends.”
Two more open houses will be held on Saturday Aug. 23, at 8:30 a.m., and on Friday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m. Each will offer a unique perspective of the congregation and synagogue.
“This gives people three different opportunities to check out the synagogue in three different styles to do it,” Buday said, “to find what’s the right fit for you.”
