The Eastwick Foundation will honor Jim Kirkos, the President and CEO of the Meadowlands Chamber and Meadowlands Live! Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Anthony Russo, president of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, at its 2026 Power Luncheon.
“The spirit of the Eastwick Foundation’s Inaugural Power Luncheon is connection, purpose, and giving back — and few embody those values more than James Kirkos and Anthony Russo,” said Marie Caliendo, Eastwick College Executive Director.
“As we honor their extraordinary leadership and commitment to New Jersey’s business community, we are also coming together for a purpose that matters deeply: helping ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. Their example reminds us that when we bring people together with purpose, we have the power to create meaningful change and build a stronger, more connected New Jersey,” she added.
The Foundation’s Inaugural Power Luncheon is its major benefit gala and celebration this season. It takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Venetian in Garfield, New Jersey. Proceeds from the fundraising event benefit the foundation’s Feed the Hungry Program.
“I was touched to be honored, and I’m honored to be sharing the stage with Jim,” said Russo. “It’s a good cause, and it’s laudable what the foundation does for the community.”
“The Eastwick College Foundation has made a very important impact on helping to solve food insecurity by raising tens of thousands of dollars for food banks and those in need. I am honored and privileged to be recognized by this distinguished organization,” said Kirkos. “I am committed to continue helping promote awareness of food insecurity in our region and to help the Eastwick Foundation to meet its fundraising goals each year. Their work is incredibly meaningful!”
About the Power Luncheon
- Purpose: The event directly benefits the foundation’s Feed the Hungry Program and supports regional families facing food insecurity.
- Honorees: Hosted by Eastwick College President Thomas M. Eastwick, the luncheon honors two prominent New Jersey business leaders: Anthony Russo and James Kirkos.
- Experience: Attendees will receive a three-course luncheon and open bar while networking with community executives, philanthropists, and changemakers.
For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, click here. To purchase tickets, click here.
About Jim Kirkos
Jim Kirkos is the President and CEO of the Meadowlands Chamber and Meadowlands Live! Convention & Visitors Bureau.
He has been with the Meadowlands Chamber (MC) since June 2002 and has become one of North Jersey’s most visible advocates for business growth, tourism, and regional economic development. Before joining the MC, Kirkos spent 23 years as an entrepreneur in the food-service and hospitality industries, experience that helped shape his understanding of the challenges facing business owners.
Under his leadership, the Chamber expanded its role beyond traditional business networking to become an influential voice on economic development, transportation, tourism, workforce development, and public policy. In 2004, Kirkos led the establishment of Meadowlands Live! Convention & Visitors Bureau to promote the region as a destination and capitalize on the economic potential of tourism and hospitality.
Kirkos has also championed some of the region’s most ambitious initiatives, including the campaign for a convention center at the Meadowlands Sports Complex and efforts to help area businesses benefit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His leadership has earned recognition from business, tourism, and community organizations across New Jersey. In 2025, the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association presented Kirkos with the Senator Jim Whelan Memorial Award, the organization’s highest individual honor, recognizing his contributions to the state’s tourism industry. The Bergen County Historical Society also named him a 2024 New Jersey History Maker.
Kirkos has appeared repeatedly on the NJBIZ Power 100 list, rising to No. 7 statewide in 2026, and has been recognized by ROI-NJ among New Jersey’s leading figures in associations and organizations.
The Meadowlands Chamber’s mission is to accelerate economic, community, and business development by providing its membership with:
- Networking and relationship-building opportunities
- Business education and leadership training
- Destination and tourism marketing services
- Legislative and public affairs advocacy
- Workforce development initiatives
The Meadowlands Chamber welcomes businesses of all sizes across all industry sectors throughout the Meadowlands region and across the Garden State.
About Anthony Russo
Anthony Russo is president of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ), a business association representing the interests of more than 900 companies. In this role, Mr. Russo oversees all aspects of the association. Russo is also the CEO and publisher of the business-to-business publication COMMERCE Magazine, which has a reported readership of more than 40,000 professionals.
Before his current role, Russo served as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications for CIANJ and as Deputy Executive Director of the National Lime Association in Washington, DC, representing the interests of mining companies producing calcium oxide (aka lime) at the federal level.
Russo started his career at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a senior engineer issuing water quality permits. He then spent 5 years as an environmental consultant working for two firms, GES and ERM. He began his government affairs career as Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for the Chemistry Council of NJ, representing chemical and pharmaceutical companies in Trenton on legislative and environmental matters.
Russo is a graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with a degree in mechanical engineering.
CIANJ is a business advocacy organization and trade association that supports about 950 member companies across the Garden State. Dedicated to advancing free enterprise, its members span diverse industries, including finance, healthcare, human resources, and manufacturing.
Headquartered in Cranford, CIANJ monitors state legislation and regulations that affect local businesses and advocates for free-market principles and economic growth. It also organizes events, seminars, and conversations with public officials and newsmakers.
About Eastwick Foundation’s Feed the Hungry Program
The Eastwick Foundation’s Feed the Hungry program began in 2014 when President Thomas Eastwick sounded the alarm about food insecurity threatening our community. He pledged not only to lead a much-needed fundraising effort to support local food banks struggling to keep up with demand, but also to ‘put his money where his mouth is’ and match all donations.
In the first year, the Foundation raised $25,000 and supported five food banks. Since 2022, food insecurity has continued to rise nearly 10% in New Jersey, affecting 1.1 million of our most vulnerable neighbors, including 13.5% of children and nearly 9% of our senior citizens.
“Last year, we were able to support ten food banks with a total of $50,000 thanks to our generous funding partners, including individual donors, community supporters, corporate partners such as EarthCam, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, Inserra ShopRite, Visions Federal Credit Union, and M&T Bank, plus Eastwick College staff and students who fundraised throughout the year,” according to its website.