Actress Awarded Third Frank DeLorenzo Memorial Scholarship

The Northern NJ Community Foundation’s The Frank DeLorenzo Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded Omara Morales its third annual $2,000 scholarship. The aspiring actress graduated from the Leonia High School class of 2021 in Leonia, New Jersey. She plans to attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and major in musical theatre in New York City.

The NNJCF donor advised fund memorializes Leonia High School 1964 classmate Frank DeLorenzo. A $2,000 scholarship award is given to a student, who demonstrates talent and ambition as an artist, musician, or writer, to further his or her education.

Aspiring Actress

“I am beyond grateful and am so excited to have had this opportunity. Performance has truly always been my passion, and I will make sure to take advantage of these four years of college, with the help that you have given me, to work at being better in the arts. I will work on singing, dancing, and acting at AMDA in the hopes of making it on Broadway,” explained Morales.

Aspiring actress Omara Morales, shown performing in 'Bye Bye Birdie', received The Frank DeLorenzo Memorial Scholarship Fund's 2021 award. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Limelighters

Aspiring actress Omara Morales, shown performing in ‘Bye Bye Birdie’, received The Frank DeLorenzo Memorial Scholarship Fund’s 2021 award. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Limelighters

 

During high school, this aspiring actress performed lead roles in several productions. For four years, she acted and sang with the Leonia High School’s Limelighters performing various roles.  These roles included Margie in ‘Bye Bye Birdie’, Sampson in ‘Romeo and Juliette’, and Celia in ‘Blown Youth’.  She also performed as Reporter and Officer Reggie Flutie in ‘Laramie Project’ and Cinderella in ‘Cinderella’. Furthermore, Morales performed Snoopy in Broadway Arts Company’s ‘You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown’.

Among her other activities, she served as president of the Leonia High School Women’s Choir.  She also sang with the Leonia High School Chamber Choir and Leonia High School Concert Choir. Morales joined the Gay-Straight Alliance and Butterfly Club and worked as a lifeguard at the Leonia Swim Club.

“Throughout high school, Omara Morales participated in numerous musical and dramatic productions, attended Broadway shows, and fell in love with the magic of the stage. The Northern NJ Community Foundation’s Frank DeLorenzo Memorial Scholarship Fund will help her obtain the training she seeks, in order to some day appear on Broadway in a leading role,” said Paul Coopersmith, a classmate of the late Frank DeLorenzo and the fund’s creator and advisor.

Philanthropic Opportunities

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation offers the region a comprehensive menu of philanthropic opportunities. The NNJCF focuses primarily on the arts, civic engagement, and education.  The foundation also covers the environment, philanthropy, and public health. The community foundation provides donors with flexible, efficient, and tax-effective ways to maximize the impact of their charitable giving.  This includes providing donor-advised funds, tax-saving annuities, and trust options.

“The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation helps donors define and realize their philanthropic goals.  Establishing a donor advised fund in honor or in memory of a loved one or a field of interest fund to support an issue is gratifying personally and results in real impacts made locally and regionally,” said Danielle De Laurentis, Associate Director, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.

For further information about the NNJCF, The Frank DeLorenzo Memorial Scholarship Fund, or to set up a charitable fund, call 201-568-5608 or send an e-mail.

 

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