Soccer Boosters plan art auction

EAST BRUNSWICK — The public is invited to bid on a wide range of artwork Friday, Oct. 20, at an auction sponsored by the East Brunswick Boys’ Soccer Boosters Association.

The auction is the booster club’s primary fund-raising activity. The proceeds last year were used in part to provide five $500 scholarships for graduating soccer players.

"Sports are important," said Bobby Sultana, the booster club’s president, "but this money is for their educations."

The auction will be held at the Knights of Columbus hall, 30 Crescent Ave., Spotswood. The art collection is being coordinated by Marlin Art Inc., Deer Park, N.Y. The auction preview is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., followed by bidding at 8 p.m.

Hors d’oeuvres and sweets will served and a cash bar will be available. Admission is $10 per person.

"We really need at least 125 people to show up and turn out our best profit," said Marge Patterson, chairman of the booster club’s auction committee. "We are hoping to get at least that. We hope people will come and look around and have some snacks. It’s a really a fun night."

While some of the booster club’s funds pay for the end-of-season banquet, practice shirts, and mid-season pasta parties, the largest portion goes to scholarships.

Four of the five scholarship recipients are chosen by their teammates, while one is chosen by varsity coach Dan Hayston.

The focus on scholarships reflects the community’s emphasis on education, Sultana said.

"The athletes in East Brunswick know they can’t play without the grades," she said.

Hayston expects his players to turn over their report cards for his inspection each term. Added Sultana, "And they know if their grades go down, the coach will scream at them. He doesn’t let them slip."