BookMates honors volunteers

BookMates recently held its annual Appreciation Evening. The early childhood literacy program provides volunteer reading mentors for disadvantaged children in 29 South Jersey elementary schools. It is co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Catholic-Jewish Commission. Gathered at the event were (front, from left), Appreciation Evening Committee Chair Jane Belli and BookMates Program Coordinator Julie Silver with (rear, from left), BookMates Co-Chair Chris Torello, honoree Dr. Judy Nadell, Jewish Community Relations Council President Vicki Zell, and Bart Leff of the Camden City School District. Not available for the photo were BookMates Co-Chair Marcy Toub and Catholic-Jewish Commission Co-Director Father Joseph Wallace.