For Tim Glenn, giving back is family tradition.

Going back generations, the Glenn family, of Glenn Insurance, has made charitable giving a priority not only in their business, but in their personal lives — a commitment that has earned them AtlantiCare’s Edward R. Knight Community Award. The Glenn family, along with Alan Simpson, M.D., the second recipient of the prestigious award, will be honored at the AtlantiCare Foundation’s 58th Annual Century Club Gala 6:45 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

“I was researching my family after receiving this award, and one thing I realized is that our family has been in Atlantic County for over 200 years,†Glenn says. “That dates back to sea captains and baymen and working on the trains.â€

In learning how deep his family’s roots are in South Jersey, Glenn also traced back his family’s legacy of giving.

“My great grandfather was president of the Board of Education in Atlantic City for many, many years. My grandfather started Glenn Insurance, and he and my grandmother have been going to the (AtlantiCare) galas since they began,†he explains. “We have articles from the newsletters that were sent out in 1966 — my dad was chairman of the gala at that time. We have pictures of him shaking Ed Knight’s hand, who this honor is named after.â€

Now, AtlantiCare aims to honor not just Glenn, but his father, the late Thomas L. Glenn Jr., and the family at large.

“I think an important point is that we’ve always had strong women in our family who have given back, as well. I think a lot of credit has been going to me, but there’s more to it,†Glenn says.

Though a bit out of the norm to award an entire family, it seems only appropriate for the Glenns, who have truly weaved charitable giving into the fabric of their family, supporting worthy organizations including Court Appointed Special Advocates of Atlantic and Cape May Counties, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, the Linwood Education Foundation, Toys for Tots and the South Jersey Field of Dreams.

“My dad would pull me aside from time to time and say we do this because we have the privilege to help, and we should help because that’s what makes a strong community,†Glenn recalls.

“Working with AtlantiCare, getting involved with some of the committee work, you actually see the results of what everyone’s doing.â€

Taking a moment to celebrate the good works they do throughout the year, the AtlantiCare Foundation’s Gala will feature a Moulin Rouge theme this year. Dancing with music courtesy of the Steve Delisi Band will begin at 8 p.m., after the reception and dinner. Looking forward to a “selfie†station with fans berets and other Moulin Rough-style props. As for eats, the menu features pastrami cured salmon, pistachio crusted lamb loin and citrus marinated seabass, plus so much more.

Glenn looks forward to the event as both a way to chat with his AtlantiCare friends outside of a board meeting and show his kids the rewards of giving back.

“It’s always a great time to see family and friends. It’s a time for everyone to kick back a little and have some fun, because most of the time we’re together it’s pretty serious,†he says. “We are bringing our kids to the gala this year. We normally don’t, but they’re honoring the Glenn family, and they do help me. We think that’s pretty awesome for them to see the things that we do.  We’re not just doing it for us. We’re doing it for the community.â€

Source | Rebecca King, AC Weekly | April 5, 2017