The Junior Board of the Ronald McDonald House of New Bruns-wick will host its second annual “Spring Chic” fashion show next month. The event will be held on March 1 at Freehold Gardens, Route 537, Freehold Township, at 6:30 p.m.
The Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
The house provides a comfortable, supportive residence near the medical facility in which family members can eat, sleep, relax and find support from other families in similar situations. In return, the families are asked to make a donation, ranging between $5 and $20 per day. If a family is not able to make a donation, their stay is free.
The Junior Board of the Ronald McDonald House was founded in 2005 by Marlboro High School student Bryan Lisser.
The board is a dedicated group of high school students who have come together to support the Ronald McDonald House by raising funds and volunteering.
The board currently has 36 members from throughout Monmouth County and has raised more than $35,000 through events and other fundraising activities.
“I’m just really pleased with everything we’ve done. It’s an amazing amount of money we have raised,” Lisser said.
Lisser, 16, said he started the junior board because he believed it was a worthy charity to get involved with.
“It’s a great experience for everyone involved,” he said.
The members of the junior board volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick and visit with the families who are staying there. Lisser said it is rewarding to see how the money that is raised helps the families.
The fashion show will feature more than 50 models ranging in age from 7 to 17. The youngsters will model the spring season’s hottest fashions from local retailers including Zabayon, of Manal-apan, Lola’s, of Manalapan, and So Cool, of Marlboro.
Guests of the show will be treated to dinner, dancing and a silent auction. MC Morgan Pure Energy Entertainment, of Marlboro, will provide hip music for the show.
Every member of the board was asked to fill a gift basket with products valued at $100 for the silent auction. Lisser said many of the items in the gift baskets, including pocketbooks, lottery tickets and salon products, were donated to the board.
Lisser said musician Jon Bon Jovi has donated a signed guitar to be included in the silent auction.
Tickets for the fashion show on March 1 are $35 for regular admission and $25 for students. Tickets can be purchased by sending a check made payable to: The Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick, c/o Bryan Lisser, 435 Fawns Run, Morganville 07751.
Please indicate in the memo line of the check, the number and type of tickets requested and the desired dinner selection (pasta primavera or the student selection, stuffed capon-chicken fingers).
The junior board’s upcoming fundraising event is a “Kids Helping Kids” walk-a-thon at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, on May 1.