South Jersey Magazine - Cherry Hill / Haddonfield / Voorhees

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SJM_MenOfTheYear_1123FINAL.qxp_SJM Feature 11 / 16 / 23 5 : 13 PM Page 2 MAN OF THE YEAR T R O Y G R E E N n November 15 , 2009 Green was involved in an accident and was not expected to make it . OIncredibly , a group of strangers saved him — including Willingboro police officer Eddie Foga . From that point on Green had a new perspective on life and he knew he had to pay it forward . He wanted to continue to help people and started by going to local supermarkets and paying for others ’ groceries . When many people turned around in grateful shock and asked what they should do in return , Green simply replied that they should “ Return Kindness ” and pay it forward to someone else . In 2017 , following the Hurricane in Puerto Rico , Green sat with a friend at breakfast and found himself increasingly frustrated over how little was getting done in response to the emergency . His friend , Harry Devine , looked across the table and told him to do something about it himself and so he did . Green and a group of friends raised over $ 500,000 worth of supplies to send including food , clothing , generators and many other items of need . Green also worked alongside Al Nasr Mosque Green now works hand in hand with current automotive In addition , they were able to cover the logistics , of Willingboro to assist with their food pantry and technology instructors at BCIT . personnel — including doctors — and ground help is currently working on a housing project that will Green’s continued goal is to spread random needed to receive the items . provide emergency housing facilities to the local acts of kindness throughout the community . He In2022 he started the nonprofit “ Return Kindness ” community . gives many thanks to all of the people that not only inan effort to give back to the community . His non - Green is a member of the advisory board of the inspire and support him , but also show compassion profit has hosted toy drives resulting in over 1,500 Burlington County Institute of Technology ( BCIT ) where and kindness in the world . toys being distributed throughout the community he graduated in 2000 . The school provided him with “ In this day and age we need to realize that alongsidethe Burlington County Sheriff’s office and great leadership skills — taught to him by one of his everyone is silently fighting a battle , so we must manyother local police organizations . His kindness , mentors Tom Molnar — and as part of giving back , practice kindness daily . ” however , did not stop there . D R . A L I A . H O U S H M A N D r . Ali A . Houshmand became Rowan University’s sev - education more affordable and accessible to others , Denth president in 2012 . Under his leadership , Rowan establishing programs to help students and forging new has evolved from a well - regarded state school to a rising “ 3 + 1 ” degree pathways through partnerships with com - Carnegie - classified national research university with two munitycolleges . medical schools and , soon , New Jersey’s first veterinary the university presi - Passionate about gardening , school . Enrollment has grown from 11,000 students in dentcreated Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauce , with all 2012 to 23,000 students in fall 2021 , making Rowan the proceeds benefiting Rowan University students . The fourth fastest - growing public research university in the effort also produces tens of thousands of pounds of fresh United States . fruit and vegetables annually for local food pantries , as One of 10 children raised by hardworking but illit - well as Philabundance and the South Jersey Food Bank . erate parents in Iran , Houshmand embraced education as Recently , Houshmand was honored with the Saint John a way to a better life . A disruptive thinker inspired by his NeumannAward for Leadership by the Catholic Charities own rise from extreme poverty , he has worked to make ofSouth Jersey . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 20 issue 8 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 33

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SJM_MenOfTheYear_1123FINAL.qxp_SJM Feature 11 / 16 / 23 5 : 13 PM Page 3 THE of YEAR O D E D K R A U S raus is the executive director of the Katz Medfordhad a record - breaking year of 1,600 campers this KJewish Community Center ( JCC ) in Cherry Hill , a pastsummer.Under Kraus’s leadership , fitness and wellness pillar organization in the Southern New Jersey Commu - offerings continue to grow , adult education classes have nity since the 1940s . been expanded and the JCC’s award - winning early child - Kraus has held this post since April 2021 and during hood and after - school care programs continue to enroll his tenure , he has navigated the membership - based social studentsinto these vital offerings for young families . and recreational organization through unprecedented chal - Anative of Israel , Kraus has been living in the United lenges presented during and in the aftermath of the pan - and has since gained citizenship . He States since 2002 demic . Of note , the Katz JCC has grown membership by began his U.S . career in the hospitality industry and over 1,000 units in the past year and its JCC Camps at collegeadmissions in New England . P E T E R K A P R I E L Y A N hroughout his four - decade health care career , Ka - The same motivation also energized Kaprielyan in his Tprielyan has always understood that building relationships government relations role . He advocated tirelessly on behalf is crucial to , not only achieving his professional goals , but ofunder - served communities ; built relationships with elected helping others achieve their goals as well . While serving in officials and other stakeholders ; in support of legislation that multiple high level roles , including vice president of marketing wouldimprove the health of their constituents . and communications , vice president of government relations Heconsiders the role he played in the hard - fought battle and currently chief development officer , it has been the rela - toexpand access to elective angioplasty for more communities tionships that make the work the most satisfying and successful . in South Jersey to be among his most impactful advocacy . Those relationships have also given Kaprielyan the chance to Thanks to his efforts , and those of colleagues from other be a voice for the under - represented and for communities at health care organizations , residents of Cumberland and risk — a role he is most proud of and grateful to carry out . Gloucester counties in need of a non - emergent coronary in - In his current role as senior vice president and chief de - tervention can receive the treatment close to home and velopment officer for Inspira Health , Kaprielyan is committed eliminatethe need for a second trip to a cardiac catheterization to listening to donors , understanding what’s most meaningful lab or a transfer to another hospital . to them and helping them make an impact or realize their Ina fitting twist , as Kaprielyan transitioned from govern - dream — regardless of the size of their gift . He acknowledges ment relations to philanthropy at Inspira during the early that many people can’t imagine doing what he does — asking 2020s , he went from advocating for the expansion of elective people to support their local health system . For Kaprielyan , it angioplasty to raising dollars for the expansion of the cardiac is another opportunity to build relationships , match the donor catheterizationlabs on Inspira’s Vineland and Mullica Hill Cam - with the need and , as a result , help facilitate the joy and sat - puses.The expansion became necessary to accommodate the isfaction he sees when people achieve their goals when localresidents who , thanks to Kaprielyan ’ s advocacy , can now making a philanthropic gift . have elective angioplasty procedures at their local hospitals . M I T C H L A R N E R D arnerd is the president of Checking For Charity a coaching teams for over 20 years . Flyers Youth is L ( CFC ) , a nonprofit corporation changing the world nonprofitorganization that provides a fun environment through competitive hockey events . CFC was founded for players to develop — physically , mentally , and by a passionate group of players with a shared love for socially — and advance to the highest playing level the game and a desire to make the world a better place . of amateur hockey . Flyers Youth has developed thou - Since its beginning , CFC has been committed to not sands of young hockey players over its 20 - plus years only raising as much money as possible for worthy and is an integral part of its players ’ lives both on causes , but also to putting on competitive and professional and off the ice . In addition to mentoring youth tournaments and events . CFC has raised over $ 600,000 players , the organization has a scholarship program for over 100 different charities since 2009 . Within their for high school seniors moving on to college or trade leagues are everyone from NHL players to lifelong hockey schools to help them achieve even beyond their players , all of whom love meeting all the children and hockey abilities . There’s also has a special program people that some of the charities support . for players with disabilities which provides the op - In addition to his work with CFC , Larnerd is the portunity to participate in the sport while in a caring executive vice president of Flyers Youth and has been positive environment . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 20 issue 8 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 34 |

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