By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
A Vietnam veteran gave himself a mission to give back to fallen heroes.
Al Stefanowicz, a Cranbury resident who served in the Air Force from 1964-68, including one year in Vietnam, had an idea to do something to help veterans in October 2014.
He vetted the top 10 military veterans organizations that serve those coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with “invisible injuries,” such as traumatic brain injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, chose one and decided to organize a benefit concert.
“The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund’s mission is to build Intrepid Spirit Centers around the country located at major airbases,” Mr. Stefanowicz said.
The work being done at the Intrepid Spirit Centers is highlighting advances in nueroplasticity and showing the brain has the capacity to heal itself. The Intrepid Spirit Centers are returning 92 percent of traumatic brain injury-suffering patients to active duty.
A private foundation, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund designs, pays for, and builds the centers, turning them over to the armed forces, which operates them according to standard of care protocols that the foundation caused to be designed. The fund now is raising funds to build four more Intrepid Spirit Centers, according to Elizabeth Held, spokeswoman for the fund.
“All of the funding from the centers comes from the public and other charitable nonprofit organizations,” Mr. Stefanowicz said. “They get no government support.”
After coming up with the idea of a concert to raise money for the fund, he created a five-member committee, including Charles Valente, Phylissanne Stehn, Ron Witt and George Conley to start asking for donations to support concert costs.
“The concert itself — 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 fund,” he said.
The concert, which will take place on Sept. 19 from 3:30 to 10 p.m. at Village Park on Maplewood Avenue, will feature an opening ceremony, six bands, kids activities and eight food vendors.
The opening ceremony starts at 4 p.m. and will feature the Princeton ROTC cadets, a vocal performance by Cranbury’s Allison Spann, who attends Princeton High School, and a patriotic song by soloist Bob Rotundo.
“East Brunswick School of Rock starts the flow of bands,” Mr. Stefanowicz said. “They are all seasoned bands.”
The other New Jersey bands performing at the concert are Newborn Kings, Honey Spot Boulevard, Quincy Mumford and The Reason Why, Casino Sundae and Barbara Harley Band.
Food vendors for the evening are Gil & Bert’s, Zinna’s Bistro, Cranbury Bagel Barn, Girardi’s Kabobs, Texas Roadhouse, Maglione’s Italian Ices, Double D Smoothies and Northeast Kettle Corn.
The first 50 adults (21 and over) will be eligible for a wine tasting party drawing courtesy of Hopewell Valley Vineyard.
Mr. Stefanowicz thanked George Conley for donating sound and lighting for the stage and the Girl Scouts for handling the kids’ activities.
David Winter, the president of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, may stop by that night and Mr. Stefanowicz reached out to four Gold Star mothers to attend. Cranbury EMT, the Fire Department and police will be onsite.
The cost for admission is $15 per adult, $5 per child ages 6-17, $10 for seniors over 65 and free for children 6 and under
For more information, visit rockintheparkconcert.com.
