Prep school honored for service to children

School got Cherish the Children Organization Award in recognition of a decade of hosting December holiday party for the homeless.

   The Pennington School was honored for its service to children of Mercer County on April 28.
   The Cherish the Children Foundation and the Mercer County Commission on Abused, Neglected and Missing Children presented a Cherish the Children Organization Award to school students and staff in recognition of a decade of hosting an annual December holiday party for the homeless.
   The school was nominated by Connie Mercer, director of HomeFront of Mercer County, which collaborates with the school on the annual event.
   Dean of Students Thomas E. Liwosz, Associate Dean of Students Andrea Wald, and Richard R. Ritter, co-advisor of Peer Leadership, accepted the award at the dinner at the Baldassari Regency in Trenton.
   The homeless party includes a dinner, entertainment, Santa visits and gifts for the children. In addition to helping with the event itself, Pennington students and staff conduct a yearly coat drive to benefit HomeFront. Senior Peer Leaders coordinate the gift drive each year.