Board Members & Family of Supporters:

2014 was the NJHOF’s most productive year yet, and we are very excited as we look forward to 2015 and beyond.

The Mobile Museum reached an important milestone in 2014 by attracting more than 100,000 visitors since its launch.

In the process, the mobile has generated extensive positive publicity for our home state and has instilled a sense of pride in all four corners of New Jersey.

We are keeping our expenses low, and at $3 per visitor, we are operating one of the most cost-effective museums in the state.

The first state hall of fame mobile in the nation is also regarded now by industry professionals as one of the more successful mobile museums of any kind in the country, as defined by total visitor count.

Just about every one of our corporate sponsors has renewed their sponsorship for 2015, and $350,000 has been raised in donations and commitments in the last six months of the year.

The 2014 NJHOF Induction Ceremony was a success.

Bruce Springsteen made his third appearance at a NJHOF Induction Ceremony, and several noteworthy personalities participated in this year’s event including many of the Soprano cast members who paid tribute to the late James Gandolfini.

The NJHOF salutes the other  amazing men and women who were inducted this past year whose storied lives earned them a place in our 2014 Class, and we look forward to inducting another stellar class in 2015.

The NJHOF professional team continues to expand with the addition of a new media relations and social media consultant.

Princeton Strategic Communications, one of the more prominent media consultants in the state of New Jersey, has already helped the NJHOF to create a first-rate website in 2014.

The NJHOF’s social media presence and engagement is also growing by the day, thanks in large measure to the talented team at PSC.

The NJHOF is also pleased to announce the addition of Lisa Fielding, one of Johnson & Johnson’s lead communication consultants.

Lisa will be collaborating with the NJHOF’s corporate sponsors and will help to organize their respective mobile tours.

Lisa will also be working closely with the staff at PSC on everything social media and media relations centric, and will continue to publish the NJHOF newsletter. Lisa is already making her mark!

The NJHOF welcomes New Jersey Manufacturers as the most recent prestigious organization to join our growing roster of sponsors.

NJM will join the Regional Council of Carpenters, CCT and PSEG as a title sponsor of the mobile museum.

The NJHOF will continue to secure corporate sponsors and one of our main areas of focus in 2015 will be to make sure the NJHOF is on sound financial footing for the foreseeable future.

The NJHOF will also be collaborating  closely with world renowned architect Michael Graves, designer Ralph Appelbaum and Lynch Associates to retrofit and create the next generation mobile museum.

A capital campaign will commence in 2015 and once the necessary funds are secured, the mobile will undergo a transformation that will result in a mobile experience that is more interactive and immersive, and one that will appeal to children and adults of all ages.

The NJHOF/NJEA Educational Plan is gaining momentum and has several elements that will help to educate our children and remind them they should strive for excellence in any walk of life of their choosing.

Our annual NJEA sponsored Essay Program is entering its 8th year, and thousands of essays have been written to date.

The one hundred page NJEA-authored Curriculum Plan will be redistributed to every public school teacher in NJ, and testimonial letters from educators and students that are being received continue to reassure the NJHOF leadership that our efforts are making a difference in the lives of countless students.

The Legacy Project interviews of all living inductees will continue in earnest in 2015.

The inspiring Governor Kean interview will be available soon on the newly-created NJHOF website screening room, and many more will follow in the years to come.

The NJHOF and NJEA will also unveil soon an annual Scholarship Program that will recognize two deserving seniors every year who exemplify the best of the best.

NJHOF Inductee Hometown Celebrations, a Student Voting Campaign, and a formalized docent program will also round our exciting and high impact educational plan in 2015.

The NJHOF continues to make best efforts to bring the concept of a permanent  museum to reality.

We are exploring with state officials the long-term viability of siting the permanent museum at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, and the NJHOF leadership continues to look for other suitable host sites throughout the state, as well as funding.

The Rock and Roll HOF held 10 induction ceremonies before their state-of- the-art museum was built, and we will certainly strive to do all we can to create a permanent museum in less time.

Perhaps the best accomplishment of all in 2014 was that the NJHOF continues to be a  bipartisan team effort attracting volunteers from all over our great state.

We have a lot yet to accomplish, but we sincerely thank everyone who has brought the NJHOF to this point.

Our supporters are an elite group of New Jerseyans who believe in New Jersey’s future, and believe that it’s a worthwhile mission to preserve our state’s rich heritage and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Together we are going to build an institution that will last for the ages, and one that will have an immeasurable impact on the pride of New Jerseyans.

We look forward to collaborating with you for many years to come as we further the NJHOF mission.

Best,

Steve Edwards
John Keegan
Bart Oates
Wayne Hasenbalg