Friendship Circle plans special walk

More than 500 people are expected to join the first Walk4friends on May 3. The event is sponsored by the Friendship Circle of Manalapan, a nonprofit organization which provides programming for children with special needs and their families.

The Walk4Friends is an annual vehicle for volunteers, families and friends of the Friendship Circle to show their appreciation and support through a fundraising opportunity.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. with the opening ceremony and pep rally, followed by a 3K walk at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. A variety of family activities, refreshments and entertainment will be available until 4 p.m.

Parking will be at Brookdale Community College, parking lots No. 2 and No. 3. Registration for the walk is free and every registered walker will receive a free Walk4Friends T-shirt.

The Friendship Circle’s goal is to raise $80,000, which will be used to expand the services and activities that the Friendship Circle offers to more than 75 families in New Jersey. The Web site is www.walk4friends.com. Walkers can register as individuals or join a team on the Web site and send out e-mails to potential supporters. Walkers can track their personal progress, as well as their team’s progress in regard to money raised and team members recruited.

Corporate sponsorships are available. There are six corporate sponsorship levels, starting at $250 and increasing to $36,000. Businesses can choose to make the contribution or create a corporate team to raise the funds.

The Friendship Circle, a nonprofit organization founded in Michigan in 1994, has a refreshing approach to helping families of children with special needs. More than 100 teenage volunteers bring the spirit of true friendship and unconditional acceptance to the hundreds of children who participate in more than a dozen weekly recreational, social and educational programs, as well as recreational camps.

For information about the walk, visit www.walk4friends.com or call Chanale Wolosow at 732-685-8650. To learn more about The Friendship Circle, visit www.friendsnj.com.