ORANGE, NJ – Two community leaders were honored by The First Occupational Center of New Jersey (OCNJ) at its Annual Awards Dinner May 10. Newspaper publisher David Worrall and John S. Grywalski, Jr., Executive Vice President and CFO of Catholic Health and Human Services, received the distinction for their work in assisting non-profit organizations, and in particular, OCNJ.

Each year OCNJ, a statewide non-profit agency, honors individuals and corporations who have been advocates for the developmentally disabled, have assisted other non-profits in their mission of helping the less fortunate, or have in some way directly helped OCNJ in fulfilling its mission of transitioning disabled and disadvantaged residents towards independence and self-sufficiency.

The dinner was held at Il Tulipano, Cedar Grove, and was attended by several hundred friends and supporters of the agency. The theme of the night's event was “Focus on the Future.”

David Worrall is the publisher of one of the largest group of weekly newspapers in New Jersey. Presently, Worrall's newspaper chain comprises 14 newspapers serving 25 towns in Essex and Union counties.

OCNJ credits Worrall Publications with helping the agency in its mission to educate and inform the public about the many services and programs available to help individuals with disabilities.

Worrall Community Newspapers began with the purchase of the News-Record in 1968, and was one of the first community newspaper chains to start a website. Worrall also started the Town Planner Calendar as a way to keep residents apprised of local events.

Mr. Worrall has served as President and Chairman of the New Jersey Press Association and also on the local Chamber of Commerce of Suburban Essex, Nutley, East Orange, Orange, South Orange, Maplewood and Irvington. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, The Hospital Center at Orange and East Orange General Hospital.

Mr. Grywalski joined Catholic Health and Human Services Corporation (CHHS) in 2005 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He oversees the financial operations of CHHS and its health-care and social service affiliates, which include Cathedral Healthcare System, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, and Mount Carmel Guild Behavioral Health System.

A former senior national health-care partner at Deloitte & Touche, an international accounting and consulting firm, John came to CHHS after serving as chairman of the Life Sciences Division of Aon Corporation, a multi-national provider of risk-management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting . He has been working with hospitals and health-care organizations for more than 30 years in various consulting capacities, with extensive experience in dealing with complex state and federal regulatory, financial, insurance, and business-management issues.

“Through their efforts in enlightening the local communities about the plight of those in need, we are compelled to honor the achievements of our honorees and hope that others will join us in doing so,” said Rocco J. Meola, President and CEO of OCNJ.

The First Occupational Center of New Jersey is the state's oldest and largest vocational assessment and job placement agency, providing services to the developmentally and physically challenged, elderly and economically disadvantaged New Jersey residents and their families since 1954. OCNJ uses an entrepreneurial approach to training and securing jobs with the goal of helping workers transition from dependence to independence.