FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry was recently selected as the winner of the 2017 New Jersey Women of Achievement Award by the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC) of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC).

The New Jersey Women of Achievement Award, which is jointly sponsored by NJSFWC and Douglass Residential College of Rutgers University, is awarded to a distinguished woman with significant accomplishments in the state, who has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, humanitarianism, philanthropy, community service, the arts and public service. Past honorees of the award include Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Althea Gibson and Mary Higgins Clark.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected to receive this prestigious award,” said Burry. “It is so rewarding to see my work as freeholder and public servant recognized in this way. I would like to thank the NJSFWC, my fellow freeholders for their support, and most importantly, the people of Monmouth County who have trusted me to serve their interests.”

Burry, who is currently serving a fourth term as freeholder director, began her public service as a councilwoman in Matawan Borough. After moving to Colts Neck, she served as committeewoman, deputy mayor and mayor, making her mark in historic preservation and open space conservation. First elected to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in November 2005, she served as the first woman director in 2008 and again in 2010, 2014 and 2017.

Burry has received many awards over her career, including the Marine Corps League Distinguished Citizen, the Sheriff’s Officers Fraternal Order of Police Person of the Year, the Historical Association’s Person of the Year, the Latino American Association’s Outstanding Community Member, the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Spinnaker Award for Public Service, the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore’s Women of Distinction, and the first Vanguard Award for lifetime devotion to the arts given by the Count Basie Theatre. Working in a collaborative effort with the Soldier On organization, Burry found a home for homeless veterans of Monmouth County.

The 36^th Annual Awards Ceremony will take place at the Golden Nugget-Atlantic City on Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event are $50, with proceeds benefitting the Douglass College Continuing Education Scholarship for non-traditional students.

For additional information about Monmouth County and the Board of Chosen Freeholders, visit the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com.

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