Restaurant tasting event a success for foundation

MARLBORO — The Marlboro Educational Foundation's fourth annual restaurant tasting evening was held May 4 at The Excelsior catering hall in Manalapan and attracted more than 400 guests. The event raised close to $40,000 for the foundation, according to a press release.

Excelsior Caterers donated the facilities for the event.

Barbara Spilken, the event committee chairwoman, and Lisa Naboulsi, the foundation chairwoman, said they were extremely pleased with the outcome of this event.

The foundation acknowledged all of this year's corporate sponsors: Diamond Sponsor, Birdsall Services Group, Engineers and Consultants. Platinum sponsorship included CME Associates; the Reform Democratic Club of Marlboro; the Marlboro Republican Club; Law Offices of Goldzweig, Green, Eiger and Biedzynski, LLC; Investor Savings Bank; and Spilken Family and Friends.

Gold Sponsors included Allied Brothers Intermodal Inc.; Allstate - Urbano and Assoc. Insurance Agency Inc.; Applebee's of Manalapan; Fogarty and Hara, Counselors at Law; LDP Consulting Group Inc.; and Premier Pain Centers, Metzger-Staats.

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.

The children from the Royal Ringers, a foundation grant recipient from the MarlboroMemorialMiddle School, added to the evening's entertainment as they rang their bells in the center hall of the Excelsior.

The event included a professionally run silent auction of items such as framed art and sports memorabilia. Additionally, and back by popular demand "Principal for the Day" and a new bid item "Marlboro's Mayor for a Day" were two interesting silent items. More than 50 raffle items were presented and distributed to the lucky winners. One lucky person who purchased the winning key went home with a designer 18- karat gold, fresh water pearl necklace by Slane and Slane donated by Ludis B. Jewelers in Marlboro.

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., New York.

Angelise Esposito, a Marlboro Middle School eighth-grade student from John Lach's class, designed the illustrations for the journal cover.

David C. Abbott, superintendent of Marlboro's K-8 schools, attended the event and recognized that "the foundation has become a most important partner in maintaining a culture of continual improvement in our school district."

Other attendees included state Sen. Jennifer Beck, state Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, state Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik, Marlboro Councilman Frank LaRocca and Marlboro Councilwoman Randi Marder.

The foundation acknowledged all 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), Erinn Como, Veronica Dwyer, Lynn Franco, Bennett Gewirtz, Selika Josiah Gore, Lori Belasco (new trustee), Marielaina La Rosa (new trustee), Beth Moore, Lisa Naboulsi, Thea Pace, Gail Puleo and Sarah Spilken.

This year's volunteers included Beth Grossman, Joanne Neustater, Lisa Payne, Shari Plotka and Rachel Strohl.

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, according to the press release.