By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
EAST WINDSOR — When someone smiles, it can light up a room.
The Joshua Harr Shane Foundation, of East Windsor, is dedicated to bringing smiles to those in need, including children facing trauma and military families.
The foundation has donated hundreds of preferred seat tickets to popular events, such as Disney on Ice and Trenton Thunder baseball games, to children with special needs, their families, and to service men and women, and their families.
Now, the foundation is looking to the public to attend its first ever springtime fundraiser, the St. Patrick’s Day Bash, on March 17 at the Mercer Oaks Golf Course in West Windsor. The party, which has a dress code of business attire, begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the St. Patrick’s Day Bash are $75 per person.
Judy Shane, who runs the non-profit organization in honor of her late son, Joshua, said she hopes to see at least 100 people attend the St. Patrick’s Day Bash.
"It’s going to be a good time,” Ms. Shane said.
Brian Dzbenski, of MDJ Entertainment, will provide the evening’s music as a donation.
Prior to a four-course dinner, there will be an hour-long cocktail party.
The St. Patrick’s Day Bash will include Chinese and silent auctions.
Interested guests will have the opportunity to pose for candid pictures taken inside a photo booth.
For people considering attending the fundraiser, the price of admission goes directly to fund the charitable giving abilities of the foundation.
Ms. Shane said, “In a nutshell, you could help put a smile on someone’s face and brighten (his or her) day.”
For instance, the foundation donates school supplies to children enrolled at Better Beginnings Childhood Development Center in Hightstown.
Better Beginnings honored the foundation with its Shining Star award last year.
"We also delivered winter coats to Better Beginnings,” Ms. Shane said. The coats were donated in January.
Recently, the foundation donated approximately 70 tickets for Disney on Ice, held at the Trenton Sun National Bank Center, to Better Beginnings, the Hamilton-based Children Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center, and to New Jersey military families.
”We get tickets at a great price and we have great seats — the best,” Ms. Shane said. “I only take the best seats.”
The foundation is now selling, via its Website, $8 tickets for the May 22 Trenton Thunder baseball game.
Ms. Shane said that the foundation hopes to see at least 100 people attend the St. Patrick’s Day Bash.
"It should be great,” Ms. Shane said.
Jim Hines, owner of Mercer Oaks Catering, is working with the foundation to finalize the evening’s dinner menu.
Mr. Hines works with the foundation during its annual golf outing, Ms. Shane said.
The 11th annual Joshua Classic is scheduled for Aug. 14 at the Mercer Oaks Golf Course.
At last year’s event, which raised $35,000 after expenses, the Joshua Harr Shane Foundation was honored with a joint resolution from the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly recognizing “its superb endeavors” to benefit children in need and their families.
Within the past 24 months, the foundation said it has donated $30,000 to the Embrace Kid’s Foundation Palliative Care Program; $3,800 in phone cards, which have been distributed overseas to military personnel; $3,000 in scholarships to Hightstown High School, Beth El and St. Anthony’s of Padua students; and $500 toward providing camp activities for under-privileged children.
Uniquely, the Joshua Harr Shane Foundation spent $2,400 in gifts through its Help Put a Smile on a Child’s Face program.
"This program gives birthday and holiday gifts for children who would otherwise not receive them as well as gifts to help a child feel better when difficult situations arise,” the foundation stated in a press release. “They are intended to help children feel better about themselves and show them that someone cares.”
In conjunction with the Sun National Bank Center, the foundation arranged for youngsters at the Children’s Specialized Inpatient Hospital, in New Brunswick, to meet with the Harlem Globetrotters last March.
And already in 2012, the foundation has donated stuffed animals to the Embrace Kids Foundation and to the Children’s Hospital, of the St. Peter’s University Hospital, in New Brunswick.
The foundation asks that people register for its St. Patrick’s Day Bash by Feb. 28.
To learn more, visit www.joshuaharrshane.org.

