On Wednesday, October 22, Main Street Vineland will host its annual “A Taste of Vineland &
Volunteer Recognition Event” to celebrate the community’s dedicated volunteers and partners.
This year, the organization is proud to present the prestigious Samuel Levy Lifetime
Achievement Award to Donata Dalesandro.
The event, held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Greenview Inn at Eastlyn Golf Course, will feature a
variety of delicious dishes from Vineland’s top restaurants and a silent auction.
A Lifetime of Service: Donata Dalesandro’s Community Impact
A lifelong resident of Vineland, Donata Dalesandro has been deeply involved with Main Street
Vineland since Landis Avenue was designated a Main Street District. She recently retired from
Newfield National Bank, where she served for 19 years as the Marketing Officer and the bank’s
community liaison. She is married to Larry Chiovari.
Dalesandro’s commitment to her community is extensive and spans many organizations. Her
current volunteer roles include:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties: Board of Directors
member and a “Big Sister” mentor, recognized as Big Sister of the Year.
Vineland Development Corporation Board: Serves as a resident liaison, a position she
has held under four mayoral administrations.
Vineland Historical & Antiquarian Society: Volunteers as a tour guide and serves on
the Events Committee.
Vineland Main Street: Holds key roles as Organization and Design Chairs and is
responsible for the window displays at the VDID office.
Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP): Actively works to revitalize
neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area. Serves on the NPP Stakeholder Team.
She has also previously served as the Promotions Chair for the Vineland Downtown
Improvement District/Main Street, where she led the city’s first street festivals, including
“Dancing in the Streets,” featuring headliners like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
Additionally, she was instrumental in organizing other popular downtown events like the Rib ‘n
Chili Festival, Seafood Festival, and the annual parades. Donata also previously served on the
Main Street Board.
Beyond these roles, Donata has dedicated her time to many other causes, including:
Vineland Rotary Club member
Vineland Elks 1422 (Trustee for 13 years)
Friends of Historic Vineland board member
Petway School (student mentor for 10 years)
Her decades of service have earned her several awards, including the Liberty Bell Award
(2015), the Charles A. Loyle Award (2020), Volunteer of the Year by Main Street Vineland
(2022), and Big Sister of the Year (2025).
The Samuel Levy Lifetime Achievement Award
The Samuel Levy Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2022 to honor the spirit of
community and volunteerism embodied by the late Samuel Levy, an original and dedicated
member of Main Street Vineland.
“Sam was an incredibly dedicated member of our organization from the very beginning,” says
Russell Swanson, Executive Director of Main Street Vineland. “We created this award to honor
that spirit. Sam was our first recipient, posthumously, and Sandy Forosisky received it in 2023.
Donata is a truly deserving third recipient of this prestigious award.”
Event and Ticket Information
Join us to celebrate Donata Dalesandro’s achievements! Tickets for “A Taste of Vineland” are
available at www.theave.biz.
Restaurant owners interested in participating, or anyone wishing to contribute sponsorships, ad
book sales, or silent auction items, can contact Main Street Vineland at (856) 794-8653 or email
MainStreet@VinelandCity.org.
Upcoming Main Street Vineland Events:
Pumpkin Patch Party: Saturday, October 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the mini-parks
on Landis Avenue.
Christmas Parade: Registration is now open for the parade on November 29.
Old Fashioned Christmas: Join us on December 5-6.
For more information, visit the official website at www.theave.biz, follow them on Facebook, or
call the office at (856) 794-8653. -30-
