Fundraiser benefits Marlboro Educational Foundation
The Marlboro Educational Foundation held its third annual restaurant tasting evening on May 5 at The Excelsior, Manalapan. Excelsior Caterers donated the facilities for this event.

According to a press release, more than 500 people attended the event which raised close to $60,000 for the foundation. Barbara Spilken, the event committee chair, and Lisa Naboulsi, the foundation chair, said they were extremely pleased at the outcome of the event.

The foundation acknowledged its corporate sponsors; Diamond Sponsor, The Investor Savings Bank. Platinum sponsorship included LDP Consulting Group Inc., DCH Auto Group, CME Associates, LaRocca and Associates, P.C., Law Offices of Goldzweig, Green, Eiger and Biedzynski, L.L.C., Spilken Family and Friends, and Marlboro Matters magazine.

Gold Sponsors included Design Ideas Group Architecture + Planning, LLC, Epic Management Inc., Fogarty and Hara, Counselors at Law, Urbano and Assoc. Insurance Agency Inc., Applebee's, and Allied Brothers Intermodal Inc.

The event hosted more than 40 local exhibitors who showcased food, desserts, liquors, wines and other beverages. The attendees enjoyed the food, drinks and merchandise provided by the restaurants, exhibitors and vendors. The catering hall was decorated by It's Your Party. Music provided by Java Strings gave a festive air to the evening along with the children from the Royal Ringers, a foundation grant recipient.

This year's silent auction drew a lot of interest including the bidding for one child to be principal for a day in each of the Marlboro schools. Additionally, more than 100 raffle items were presented and distributed to the lucky winners. Ludis B. Jewelers of Marlboro donated several jewelry pieces that one lucky person won.

All attendees received a bag which included the event journal which detailed all sponsors, vendors and advertisers. The bag also included coupons for local stores and services. The journal was compiled by Bennett Gewirtz of Gewirtz Graphics Inc., a New York firm. Matt Gore, a Marlboro Memorial Middle School sixth-grader, designed the illustrations for the journal cover.

Marlboro Superintendent of Schools David C. Abbott acknowledged the foundation's efforts saying, "the third annual restaurant tasting event is one of the most successful fundraisers that the Marlboro Educational Foundation sponsors to support the Marlboro school district's staff and students."

Other attendees included state Sen. Jennifer Beck, Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik and Marlboro Township Council members Frank LaRocca and Randi Marder.

The foundation acknowledged all of the trustees and volunteers who helped before and during the event, as well as middle school and high school students. This year's event committee included Barbara Spilken (chair), Lisa Naboulsi, Teja Anderson, Erinn Como, Veronica Dwyer, Lynn Franco, Bennett Gewirtz, Selika Josiah, Beth Moore, Thea Pace and Gail Puleo. This year's volunteers included Denise Budveit, Marielaina LaRosa, Sarah Spilken, Joanne Nuestater and Lisa Payne.

The Marlboro Educational Foundation, formed in 2000, is a group of Marlboro residents and area business people dedicated to enriching the educational experience of the township's K-8 school children. All money raised by the foundation is used to fund new programs and grants. The foundation is a not-for-profit organization that is independent of the Marlboro K-8 School District and provides the grants to supplement the children's education. For more information call 732-817-1482 or visit www.marl boroeducationalfoundation.org.