The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey (AAHMSNJ) is proud to announce a generous $100,000 donation that will allow the museum to hire its first Executive Director since its founding in 2002. Anthony Mack, husband of the late Rita Mack, presented the museum with a check at the August 11th Board Meeting, which took place at AAHMSNJ’s Newtonville location.  

The museum has collected, preserved, and shared important Atlantic City, regional, and national history since 2002 — all under the staunch leadership of Founder Ralph E. Hunter, Sr.  Hunter, who is 88-years-old, has driven the museum’s success with the support of devoted volunteers and interns. He welcomes the opportunity to begin building a professional team that will ensure the museum’s promising future. 

“Rita Mack has been a tremendous supporter of the museum’s efforts,” Hunter shared.  “She sponsored and was featured in the museum’s popular ‘Talking About HerStory’ Traveling Museum exhibit.  It highlighted the outstanding contributions she and other local women have made to shaping our region and our country.  We are truly grateful for the generosity her partner and husband, Anthony Mack, has shown by investing in the growth and expansion of AAHMSNJ.”

Rita and Anthony were the owners of two McDonald’s franchises in Atlantic City. Through their foundation, they have donated to countless organizations, including Stockton University, Atlantic Cape Community College, Faith Baptist Church and now the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey. The city of Atlantic City honored the Mack’s enormous impact and generosity by renaming the streets of Arkansas and Atlantic Avenues ‘Rita and Anthony Mack Avenue.’

“Rita was very excited about the steps the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey is taking to expand its impact,” Anthony Mack told the Board. “Before her passing, she herself had joined the board and was committed to supporting these efforts.  I am grateful to make her wishes a reality with this donation.”