2026 Evening of Hope Honoree – Legacy of Service Award
“The fire in her belly” is how Gina Plotino describes ending violence as a part of family life. Gina first learned about the impact of domestic abuse working as a VISTA volunteer for 9 to 5, the National Association of Working Women in Boston. Returning to New Jersey in 1980, she was named Director of the Bergen County agency Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV).
Gina led ADV for 10 years, during what was a period of significant advancements in the field. When New Jersey’s first protective legislation became law in 1984, Gina began training police officers at the invitation of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. She was thrust into the national spotlight in 1987 when the law enforcement training model she developed was endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
In 1989, Gina was elected to a two-year term as President of the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women (now the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV)). Under her leadership—and in partnership with NJCEDV member Elaine Meyerson, who at the time was Center for Hope & Safety’s Executive Director—the Coalition secured the balance of state funding needed to open a shelter in every county. It was one of countless efforts Gina and Elaine collaborated on to expand services for domestic violence survivors in Bergen County, and their steadfast advocacy led to systemic changes statewide.
Perhaps Gina’s most significant contribution was an innovative project she spearheaded that served as an agent of change towards justice for survivors of domestic violence. Called Court Watch, the groundbreaking study of enforcement of New Jersey’s Prevention of Domestic Violence law by the courts exposed serious faults—resulting in vital amendments that made protections under New Jersey’s law some of the strongest in the nation.
It was the culmination of an outstanding record of accomplishments at ADV that led to Gina’s appointment as Director of Human Services for the County of Bergen in 1991. She headed the department for 10 years, funding programs for senior citizens, children and adolescents, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and victims of domestic violence.
Gina launched GMP Consulting Inc. after retiring in 2000, and she continues to make significant contributions in the field of health and human services. She currently chairs Center for Hope & Safety’s Advisory Council, working alongside a group of equally passionate advocates to support domestic violence survivors. Gina’s career success is a testament to her belief in the importance of “working through the system” to create change to address domestic violence. In presenting her with a 2026 Legacy of Service Award, we are honoring not only her achievements—but also the passion that fuels her commitment to helping survivors turning fear into safety, helplessness into strength, and isolation into hope.