By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
More than 250 people attended a pancake breakfast Sunday, raising $6,161 for the Hugs for Brady Foundation to help children with cancer, according to Ellen Gambatese, who helped to organize the event.
The first Hugs for Brady Pancake Breakfast was held Sunday from 8 a.m. until noon at the Senior Center on Route 522 Sunday.
Ms. Gambatese said earlier that tickets were $10 for adults, $5 for children, and free for children under 5 years old.
The supplies to cook the food were supplied by the Confectionary Yours restaurant in Franklin Park, according to Sherrie Wells, who is one of the founders of the Hugs for Brady Foundation.
Ms. Wells said that she founded Hugs for Brady with her husband Mike in Oct. 2009 after their 13-month-old son Brady was diagnosed with a rare leukemia called non-differentiated acute leukemia. Brady lost his battle with leukemia in July 2010.
The short term goal of Hugs for Brady is to fund a pediatric oncology fellowship at Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick that will cost an estimated $300,000, and the long term goal of the foundation is curing pediatric cancer, Ms. Wells said.
Volunteers at the breakfast served pancakes, eggs, omelets, sausage and bacon to attendees.
Janice and Gary Sivco of Franklin Park, Brady’s grandparents, sold 50/50 tickets at the event.
”Everybody wants to help,” Ms. Sivco said. “In all respects (they are) generous people.”
Ms. Gambatese said she was pleased with the flow of people attending the event and grateful for the volunteers who helped out during the breakfast.
”(It was) almost like a family breakfast,” Ms. Gambatese said.
High school sophomore Tessa Trach volunteered at the event and is part of the New Jersey Association of Student Councils as the executive member of State Charity.
She said Hugs for Brady is one of three organizations that are in the running to be selected as the official charity of NJASC.
Ms. Trach said she picked 10 organizations, it was narrowed down by the board, and the other two are NephCure, which is looking to cure a Kidney disease called Nephrotic Syndrome, and Good Grief, Inc. that helps people cope with loss.
”Even though they’ve had a tragedy in the family they are still trying to help others with the same experience,” Ms. Trach said about Hugs for Brady. “(It) makes you feel like there’s still good people in the world.”
Most of the tickets were sold before hand, and some organizations sold tickets in advance, Ms. Gambatese said.
”That speaks well for the way South Brunswick people help one another,” Ms. Gambatese said.
Brandon Dominguez, 8, and his sister, Johanna, 12, helped Mike Wells pick the raffle winners at the event.
Mary Godek, who is one of the owners of Confectionately Yours, said Brandon was diagnosed with brain cancer.
The Dominguez family, who attended the event on Sunday, said they would like to thank the “whole community” for their support, Mary and Joe from Confectionately Yours, Brandon’s teacher Mrs. Woods, all the schools for their help, Brad Benson for his donation of a car, Hugs for Brady, and the South Brunswick Police Athletic League (P.A.L.).
”What made the day very special to me was the support of such a variety of citizens and seeing them in attendance further supporting the fund-raising effort was very uplifting,” Ms. Gambatese said.
The businesses and associations that donated to the event with money and their attendance were: Central Jersey Property Maintenance; Confectionately Yours ice Cream and Restaurant; Kendall Park First Aid Squad; Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad; Monmouth Mobile Homes Park; St. Augustine’s Columbiettes; South Brunswick Development Corporation; South Brunswick Fraternal Order of Police; South Brunswick Police Benevolent Association; South Brunswick Police Athletic League, and SBHS Coach Rick Mantz’ Winning Concepts, according to Ms. Gambatese.
Ms. Godek said she ran the first Hugs for Brady fundraiser last year and helps out at other Hugs for Brady fundraisers including Sunday’s pancake breakfast.
”(Hugs for Brady) has been a tremendous organization,” Mayor Frank Gambatese said.
Ms. Gambatese said she was with Hugs for Brady from the time Brady was diagnosed, and that Mike and Sherri Wells are pouring their energy into a good thing.
Ms. Wells said there is not enough awareness for pediatric cancer and that Hugs for Brady will do whatever it takes to make children with cancer’s lives easier.
Kendall Park resident Ginger Corwin, 45, who has worked at Confectionary Yours, said she helps out Hugs for Brady any way she can. She said she volunteered at a Hugs for Brady blood drive before she started to work at Confectionately Yours.
Jacqueline O’Sullivan, who attended with her husband Councilman John O’Sullivan, said, “It’s sad we haven’t made the advances in cancer treatment.”
The foundation previously held the first annual Hugs for Brady Gala in late January at the Grape Escape wine tasting school in Dayton to honor Dr. Randy Siegel, who was one of the Brady’s physicians.
That event raised more than $30,000 for the foundation.

