Princeton's Mark Freda to be honored for Community Service

Mark Freda of Princeton has been awarded the 17th Annual Leslie "Bud" Vivian Award for Community Service and a public celebration will be hosted by the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro on sunday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m., according the Princeton Area Community Foundation has announced the seventeenth annual Leslie “Bud” Vivian Award for Community Service. 

The celebration will take place in the Education Center/Conference Center. Guests should enter the lobby at the East Entrance, and follow signs to the celebration.

Freda is a life-long resident of Princeton. He served on Borough Council for 13 years- five as Council president- during which time he was also the Council representative to the Princeton Housing Authority and to the Borough Affordable Housing Board. He was also police commissioner and chairman of the public safety committee. 

Freda a long-standing commitment to both the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad (where he has been president) and the Hook and Ladder Company where he has been a volunteer firefighter. 

He is a founding member of the Spirit of Princeton Committee which raises funds for and organizes the annual Memorial Day parade and July 4 fireworks. 

Throughout his life Freda has remained true to his roots, always seeking to extend opportunities to all Princeton residents. He considers himself an elected official and volunteer, never a politician. His friends, supporters, and nominators all say the same thing about Mark: “He’s just a terrific person.”

The award, established by members of the Princeton University Class of 1942, recognizes a person who exemplifies the late Bud Vivian’s commitment to serve the whole of the Princeton community. Past winners include Marcy Crimmins, Reeves Hicks, Hank Pannell, Jocelyn Helm, Harry Levine, Ted Vial, Harriet Bryan, Pat Van Ness, Claire Jacobus, Anne Reeves, William Johnson, Karl Light, Sarah Hirschman, Shirley Satterfield, James Floyd, Jack Roberts, Ray Wadsworth, and Herb Hobler.

The award for is made possible through the Vivian Memorial Fund, an endowment fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation.