RED BANK — Aslan Youth Ministries, a nonprofit that provides leadership programs for disadvantaged youths in Asbury Park, Long Branch and Red Bank, will host its largest fundraiser of the year 5:30-11 p.m. July 23.
Aslan’s 12th annual “Island Nights,” to be held at 41 Breezy Point Road in Little Silver, will feature Caribbean cuisine, sailboat and powerboat rides on the Shrewsbury River courtesy of the Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club, and live entertainment by the Beth Ann Clayton Band. Members of the Aslan Choir will perform.
Live and silent auctions and a vacation raffle for a trip to St. Lucia will raise additional funds for Aslan’s youth development activities.
Tickets to “Island Nights” are $125 each and include hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and a Caribbean feast. Corporate sponsorships range from $750 to $5,000. Gifts may be donated to the live and silent auctions, and advertising opportunities are available in an ad journal.
Founded in 1975 by CEO Craig Bogard and International Program Director Lynn Ann Bogard, Aslan Youth Ministries is based in Red Bank and empowers impoverished youths to overcome difficult circumstances in the service of others. Aslan’s programs incorporate mentors, tutors, scholarships, camping, cycling, culture, music, service and a Right Choices program — leading young people into making responsible decisions based on Christian values.
Since 1996, Aslan volunteers have expanded their service to Ouanaminthe, Haiti, where 90,000 people live in extreme poverty and are still recovering from the catastrophic earthquake of 2010. In Ouanaminthe, Aslan owns 5 acres of land, employs local residents, constructs homes, runs children’s activities and distributes eyeglasses, medical supplies and toiletries. Aslan is in the final stages of building a comprehensive medical clinic in Ouanaminthe; the building has been prepared in the United States and is being shipped to Haiti this month.
A unique aspect of Aslan is the opportunity for Monmouth County youths to travel to Haiti and conduct community service alongside adult mentors.
Efforts like these are made possible with community support for “Island Nights.”
For details on tickets, sponsorships, auction items and advertisements, call 732-741-7824 or visit aslanyouth.org.
The mission of Aslan Youth Ministries is to provide relationship-based programs that permanently impact the bodies, minds and spirits of disadvantaged urban children and empower them to overcome their negative environments and circumstances.