Honorees of the Jersey Shore Protection Foundation

SANDY HOOK — Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi received the prestigious “Elected Leadership Award” from the Jersey Shore Partnership Foundation during the organization’s 2009 Summer Celebration on June 8.

“I am very grateful to the Jersey Shore Partnership for extending this award,” Pagliughi said.

“This award is truly for the entire community of Avalon. Avalon includes thousands of people who genuinely understand, and care about, the beaches and dunes in our Borough, and beyond.”

The Jersey Shore Partnership Foundation hosted its 13th annual dinner celebration in Sandy Hook that included several hundred elected and appointed officials from seashore communities along the entire state coastline.

The Jersey Shore Partnership Inc. is a public/private, non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to shore protection, beach restoration, tourism, economic development, and quality of life issues in New Jersey’s coastal counties.

Shore municipalities, businesses, educational institutions, environmental groups and individuals have joined in its advocacy efforts.

The Partnership’s lobbying efforts were instrumental in the New Jersey Legislature adopting a dedicated Shore Protection Fund, the first such legislation to be passed in the nation.

The $25 million fund has attracted a $2 federal investment for every $1 of New Jersey’s investment, providing the financial resources to replenish and restore seriously eroded beaches.

In late April, Pagliughi hosted a town meeting at Avalon Community Hall to lobby support from local elected officials and tourism leaders to fight Gov. Jon Corzine’s plan to cut millions of dollars out of the Shore Protection Fund in order to balance the new state budget.

Additionally, Avalon also successfully sued the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection over the State Aid Agreement as it related to public access rules and regulations.

Pagliughi serves on the Board of Directors for the Jersey Shore Partnership.