BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer
ALLENTOWN – Funding education will be made into a laughing matter on the night of June 1.
The Upper Freehold Regional Education Foundation (UFREF), a nonprofit that raises funding for programs in the Upper Freehold Regional School District, is preparing for its fall 2007 grant awards cycle with a Comedy Night.
“We wanted to get the word out as early as possible,” Cindy Bardwil, a foundation member, said. “There will be raffles, silent auctions, door prizes, a 50/50. Come on out and have some fun.”
The foundation’s trustees have invited the public to the Clarksburg Inn, 465 Stagecoach Road in Millstone, for a night of laughs, appetizers, prizes and a cash bar from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The cost is $25 per person and any money raised will help the Upper Freehold Regional schools.
The foundation’s mission is to provide leadership and support to the school district with initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for all students, teachers and administrators in the Upper Freehold Regional School District.
“We are excited about the prospects of providing enrichment programs for our students which might not be available through the normal budgeting process,” Barbara Nissinger, chair of the fundraising committee, said.
The foundation awarded its first grants this spring. The elementary/middle school received grants totaling $3,030 for programs such as “Hands on Measurement,” which provides hands-on science and math experiences for students. The grants also purchased tone chimes and classroom clickers, which are interactive remote-control devices that allow each student to participate in class.
Allentown High School received five grants totaling $5,470. The grants provided a television production teleprompter and tripod system for the student-run television studio. The funding will also allow students in the business program to plan and execute trips to businesses in the area in order to learn more about different businesses, their culture, and their operations. The grants also will allow the school’s parent academy to host a parent education night focusing on increasing parental involvement and will allow some students to attend a weekend retreat that will educate them on how to teach their peers to avoid drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
In its continuing efforts to provide educational excellence for children, the foundation is looking for more people to consider making a donation of goods, a gift or a monetary donation for the gift basket raffle on Comedy Night, according to Nissinger.
“By doing so, your generosity will allow us to continue to provide excellent enrichment programs for our schools,” Nissinger said.
The foundation can pick up any donation, or students can bring donations to school.
“Thank you in advance for any contribution you are willing to make to this event in order for it to be as successful as possible,” Nissinger said.
Contact Nissinger at UFREF