By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
The day may have been filled with rock and roll but military service men and women’s needs took center stage during the Rockin’ The Park Concert in Village Park on Saturday.
The benefit concert raised $23,500 for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, according to Al Stefanowicz, a Cranbury resident who helped organize the event with a five-member committee including Charles Valente, Phylissanne Stehn, Ron Witt and George Conley.
“Overall we feel that more people are now aware of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the great work they do in providing medical support to our brave military men and women,” Mr. Stefanowicz said. “Since the fund uses most of its public donations for the cause, and not for advertising, our event helped to further spread the word. All in all, it was a very successful fundraiser.”
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund’s mission is to build Intrepid Spirit Centers at major military airbases around the country. A private foundation, the fund designs, pays for, and builds the centers, turning them over to the armed forces, which operates them according to a standard of care protocols that the fund designed. The centers are returning 92 percent of traumatic brain injury-suffering patients to active duty, according to Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund spokesperson Elizabeth Held.
“Being a Vietnam veteran, I wanted to provide a vehicle to help raise much needed funds for our new generation of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Mr. Stefanowicz said. “I want these veterans to know they are fully supported for the sacrifice they make to ensure our freedom.”
The concert, which took place from 4-10 p.m., featured an opening ceremony with the Princeton University ROTC color guard presenting the colors, Cranbury resident Allison Spann singing the National Anthem and Bob Rotundo performing a patriotic song. Throughout the remainder of the day six bands played — School of Rock East Brunswick, The Newborn Kings, Honey Spot Boulevard, Quincy Mumford and The Reason Why, Casino Sundae and Barbara Harley Band.
Denise Biondi, general manager and owner of the School of Rock East Brunswick, said, “We were honored to perform at this fundraising event knowing that the proceeds were going to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, an organization that provides the necessary medical support for men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD and brain injuries.”
The food vendors for the evening were Gil and Bert’s, Zinna’s Bistro, Cranbury Bagel Barn, Girardi’s Kabobs, Texas Roadhouse, Maglione’s Italian Ices, Double D Smoothies and Northeast Kettle Corn.
All proceeds from the concert — everything raised from admissions and the sale of concert T-shirts — as well as 10 percent of sales from the eight food vendors and any residuals will be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
“To date, the current total is $23,500,” Mr. Stefanowicz said. “We are still in the process of selling our beautifully designed concert T-shirts, which were left over after the event. This will allow us an opportunity to raise additional funds.”
He thanked the sponsors, performers, vendors, Cranbury Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and volunteers.
“I appreciate all of them stepping up to the plate to help me present such a successful event,” Mr. Stefanowicz said. “Lastly, a special shout out goes to all the concert-goers who took time out of their Saturday to give back to this worthwhile cause.”
During the event, Mr. Stefanowicz, who came up with the idea for the benefit concert and started planning it in October 2014, received the Community Service Visionary Award Medal from Ana Chitnis of the International Lions Association 16J. This award is given to an individual who works to foster community relations.
“These days many people take for granted the freedoms we enjoy,” Mr. Stefanowicz said. “Let us never forget that this freedom comes with a price. Each and every day a soldier’s life is on the line in some far distant place. We must never forget them or their families, who patiently await their return. I believe the motto of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund sums it up best, ‘They put their lives on the line for us in battle, we care for them at home.’”
