Manalapan Mayor's Charity Ball Donates $15K to Samaritan Center

The Manalapan Mayor’s Charity Ball, which was held at the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge on Oct. 20, raised funds for a variety of worthwhile foundations and the checks

Donations from the Charity Ball were distributed to the Samaritan Center, Brennan Stand’s Alone Foundation, 180 Turning Lives Around, Manalapan Arts Council and the Governor and Mary Pat Christie’s Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

After Hurricane Sandy hit the area, the members of the Manalapan Mayor’s Charity Ball Committee decided to take a little bit of money, originally being donated to each of the other charities, and donate it to the Governor’s Sandy Relief Fund.

Former Manalapan Mayor Anthony Morelli accepted a $15,000 check for The Samaritan Center, the local food pantry where he serves as President of the Board.

Joanne and Jim Brennan accepted a check on behalf of the Brennan Stands Alone Foundation, a charity they created in honor of their son Lt. Brian Brennan, who suffered traumatic injuries and double amputations of both legs after an IED exploded under the humvee he was traveling in while serving in Afghanistan in 2008. Their non-profit charity aids to ease the trauma of U.S. soldiers recovering from injuries and their families. 

Christina Morgan accepted the donation for 180 Turning Lives Around, a charity which helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Monmouth County.

The Manalapan Arts Council was also provided with a check from the Charity Ball. Donations such as this one help fund all of the events sponsored by the Manalapan Arts Council, including Manalapan Day.

Finally, $3,100 was provided to the Governor and Mary Pat Christie’s Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

Proclamations were also distributed at last week’s Township Committee meeting, officially thanking all of the members of the Manalapan Mayor’s Charity Ball Committee who worked throughout the year to organize the event.

The volunteer members are:

• Co-Chair Jennifer Sutera
• Co-Chair Diana Cochran
• Glenn Mendez
• Andrea McPherson
• Francine Cedano
• Barbara Miller
• Daria D’agostino
• Alana Nachmani
• Judy Drucker
• Andrew Pisani
• Mary Gelfond
• Sue Sutera
• Beatrice Trucelli
• Jennifer Cochran
• Mary Ann Gerahty