HILLSBOROUGH: Couple’s party to aid Arc … and maybe help their wedding

By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
   For Gina Marie Mattei and her fiancée, Matt Kleinhans, “happily ever after” came soon after they met.
   Now, the couple has a chance at having Roman Jewelers, of Flemington, pay for their wedding, if they raise enough funds and awareness for the Arc of Hunterdon County.
   Ms. Mattei and Mr. Kleinhans are one of 10 finalists in the jewelers’ wedding contest, which pairs the contestants with 10 local charities. Each couple must raise as much money and awareness for their charity in an eight-week period — which Ms. Mattei and Mr. Kleinhans intend to do by having a charity fundraiser in Duke Island Park Sept. 26.
   ”I’m not the type of person who enjoys the spotlight whatsoever,” Ms. Mattei said. “I definitely don’t want to be on one of those ‘Bridezilla’ shows. When I heard the charity aspect, I was on board.”
   The Party in the pArc, as the event has been tagged, will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 26, at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater. The event costs $10 for an adult wristband and $5 for a child’s wristband, allowing participants access to the activities and food at the event, Ms. Mattei said.
   In addition, there will be several contests, prizes, and several characters in costume at the event. Proceeds from the day, and from the fundraising Ms. Mattei and Mr. Kleinhans are doing in the weeks leading up to the event, will benefit the Arc.
   ”The goal of this event is we want to make sure we have an event that brings together our community and brings recognition to the Arc,” Ms. Mattei said.
   ”I’ve always been involved in volunteering,” she added. “My first foray into fundraising was a teddy bear drive in eighth grade … throughout the years, it’s been sort of things similar. This is really the first time that my fiancée and I are heading a charity event.”
   Ms. Mattei and Mr. Kleinhans heard about the contest since Ms. Mattei is on the Roman Jewelers’ email list, and decided to enter, she said. They first had an interview with a panel of judges where they presented their love story, and were selected as one of 20 semi-finalists. Two weeks after the first interview, Ms. Mattei and Mr. Kleinhans presented a good deed plan outlining how they would raise money for the charity. After being selected as one of 10 finalists, the couple has eight weeks to implement the plan, and raise the money for the charity.
   Ms. Mattei and Mr. Kleinhans hope to raise $10,000 through their efforts, including activities occurring in the weeks leading up to the Party in the pArc. Those activities include distributing Arc bracelets at various stores, and soliciting online donations from friends, families, and various corporations.
   Regardless of whether they win the dream wedding, Ms. Mattei and Mr. Kleinhans expect to continue their work with the Arc, and consider making the Party in the pArc an annual event, they said.
   And there’s one other thing they’ve learned — planning a charity event is much easier than planning a wedding, they said.
   ”I think this is more enjoyable,” Ms. Mattei said. “I’m not the sort of person who likes a fuss being made over them. I think we’re much more at ease with fundraising for a charity than planning a wedding. Knowing that you are planning something for charity is much more gratifying.”