JACKSON – The James Volpe Foundation will hold its annual Winter Dinner Dance from 7-11 p.m. on Feb. 29 at the Knights of Columbus, 401 Bartley Road, Jackson.
The foundation is named for James Volpe, who died in a motor vehicle accident during his senior year at Jackson Memorial High School in 2011. Volpe was a baseball player at Jackson Memorial and was planning to attend Kean University.
Money raised by the foundation funds scholarships that are presented to seniors at Jackson Memorial High School and at Jackson Liberty High School who emulate James Volpe’s character, according to John Mucia Jr., the foundation’s vice president.
“This is our first event of the year … and this is our fifth year doing this particular event,” Mucia said.
Admission to the Winter Dinner Dance is $40 per person and includes a buffet, beer and wine. There will be a DJ and raffles. Tickets are available on EventBrite.com
“The night is a chance for people to get together to enjoy themselves, maybe spend quality time with people from around Jackson and neighboring communities who may not get a chance to see each other all that much,” Mucia said.
Most importantly, he said, it is a night for attendees to remember their friend James Volpe.
“We will tell a couple of stories about him and continue to spread awareness throughout the community in terms of being safe on the roads and remembering that you need to be aware at all times about what is going on,” Mucia said.
A portion of the money the James Volpe Foundation raises is used for scholarships at Kean University.
“James was planning to attend Kean, but unfortunately never did,” Mucia said, noting the foundation makes donations throughout the year.
“If we hear of a scenario where someone who fits our mission needs financial assistance, we will try to contribute to their cause as well. It may be someone who is sick or in the hospital and needs help with their bills or it may be someone who tragically loses their house to a fire, things like that.
“All the money that comes in goes back out and is allocated to various people and organizations where we feel the funding is appropriate and necessary,” Mucia said.