A Taste for Education in South Brunswick

In a time of school budget crunches throughout the nation, the Education Foundation of South Brunswick continues to seek ways to provide educational support for students and teachers through programs and projects that fall outside of the district's operational budget.

The foundation, which includes several former South Brunswick Board of Education members on its Board of Trustees, last year awarded two $2,500 scholarships to seniors at South Brunswick High School and awarded $5,200 in grants to district staff members for innovative programming, according to Vice President Martin Abschutz.

"I think with the awarding of scholarships and grants for the fall of 2011 and spring of 2012, we're starting to fulfill the vision that we had when we started this foundation," Abshcutz said. "We want to provide innovative opportunities for members of the faculty and scholarship opportunities for deserving South Brunswick High School seniors. We're still in the early stages of what we will become and we're moving in the direction we foresaw, which is to enhance opportunities for students in South Brunswick."

The Foundation awarded more than $5,200 in grants to members of the South Brunswick High School (“SBHS”), Constable Elementary School (“CES”), and Indian Fields Elementary School (“IFES”) faculties this year.

Among the ideas and programs awarded grants were “Google Jockeying,” Justin Negraval (SBHS), “Flip for Technology,” Lisa Manganello (SBHS), “Afterschool Peer Support,” Kelly Boyer (SBHS), “Healthy Living Program,” Patricia Bramson and Donna Sichta (SBHS), “Sensory Kits,” Rachel Atzert, Amy Bertelsen Robles, Allison Dubois and Jennifer Leach (IFES), “Mountain Math & Mountain Language,” Debra Bevan (CES), and “Ryan’s Story Assembly Program,” Gina Welsh (SBHS).

"We award grants to staff for a number of ideas, it could be an innovative program or a really important professional development program, so it could be any number of things," Abschutz said.

To raise money for the mission of the foundation, the group will be hosting the second annual "A Taste for Education" fundraiser on Oct. 24 at the Doubletree Hotel on Route 1.

The event will feature a wide variety of offerings from local restaurants, caterers and wineries, and will include a raffle and silent auction.

"We've gotten tremendous support from the community and had a stellar year last year," Abschutz said. "The 'Taste for Education' event last year was very well received and we raised about $20,000 as a result."

This year's gala will feature food from businesses such as Eno Terra, On the Bone, Central Jersey Catering, Chartwells, Lorenzo's, Clydz of New Brunswick, and Business Bistro, in addition to desserts from Dove Chocolate, Creative Cupcakes, Thomas Sweets, and Serial Baker. There will also be wine from the Grape Escape, and Buy Rite has also lined up the participation of several wine distributors, Abschutz said.

"There are some fantastic restaurants, opportunities for different desserts and some wonderful wine," he added. "It'll be a great evening. Last year was very well received and I think this year will be even better than last year."

The event is limited to 200 people, with a minimum $50 donation per person. There are several different donation levels available that come with recognition on the event flyer and foundation web site. Click here for more information.

The Education Foundation of South Brunswick Township Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization (Tax I.D. #32-0258888)

Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Contact Mariann Long at 732-422-4819, Dawn Chromey at 732-274-9134 or via email at taste4ed@edfoundationsb.org for more information. Click here for ticket information.