A fundraiser held by businesses in Red Bank to provide aid to those affected by hurricanes this year has raised more than $15,000.
From Oct. 5-7, businesses in the borough participated in Red Bank Gives Back to collect, donate and raise funds for the survivors of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Irma in Florida and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The Red Bank RiverCenter hosted the event.
All funds raised were donated to Direct Relief, a non-profit humanitarian aid organization.
“The entire Red Bank business community has been heartbroken by the devastation of the recent hurricanes and is looking for a way to help,” said James Scavone, executive director of the Red Bank RiverCenter. “Knowing there’s power in numbers, the business community decided to unite its efforts and we launched Red Bank Gives Back, an event that gives all Red Bank businesses the opportunity to collect funds and make a donation over the course of the same three-day period.
“We hope the local community supports our efforts by shopping and dining local on Oct. 5, 6 and 7 to help us help those in need,” he said.
According to event organizers, Red Bank Gives Back raised more than $15,000 and over 50 businesses participated in the event.
Participating businesses, according to event organizers, included:
- Local Smoke BBQ, which donated $2 for every pulled pork sandwich sold at the restaurant.
- The Two River Theater, which held donation collections after each performance of its production of “Raisin in the Sun.”
- Leonardo Jewelers, which donated a portion of all of its sales.
- Carbone’s, which donated all proceeds raised during a raffle for a $30 gift card, $3 for a raffle ticket, and offered 10 percent off of a store purchase for a $5 donation.
- Pirates and Unicorns, which donated $1 of every purchase made at the store.
- Del Negro & Senft Eye Associates, which donated 20 percent of net sales from purchases at the Eyewear Boutique.
- Sweetest Sin Boutique, which donated a portion of sales made at the store.
- Front St. Trattoria, which donated a percentage of sales made at the restaurant.
- Cabana 19, which donated 10 percent of sales made at the store.
- The Count Basie Theatre, which donated $1 from every ticket sold.
- Resources Real Estate, which donated $1 for every new “Like” received on its Facebook page.
- Teak Restaurant, which donated a portion of its proceeds.
- The Bistro, which donated a portion of its sales.
- Angels Gowns, which donated 10 percent of sales made at the store.
- Toast, which donated $1 for each cup of coffee sold.
- Cupcake Magician, which gave a free cupcake to those who made a donation.
- Madison Boutique, which gave a 10 percent discount to those made a donation.
- Red Ginger Home, which donated a portion of profits made at the store.
“We are very proud of all the businesses in town that participated in Red Bank Gives Back,” Scavone said. “We were thrilled that the local community supported our efforts by shopping and dining local on October 5, 6 and 7 to help us help those in need.”