South Brunswick Unites for Sandy Victims

Over 150 volunteers, scores of residents and businesses converged on Family Karate in Monmouth Junction donating enough supplies to fill 900 boxes for victims of Hurricane Sandy in Middlesex County and the Jersey Shore.

South Brunswick suffered mass damage and widespread power outages from Hurricane Sandy, but the hardships of our own community didn't distract residents from helping areas that suffered more substantial losses. Monmouth Junction resident Lisa Rodgers, co-owner of Central Jersey Catering, decided on Monday that she wanted to take action after seeing the images of destruction throughout the state. She enlisted the help of LocalChatbox.com owner Suzanne O’Rourke for a quick donation drive, that soon morphed into so much more. The duo put out a call for action on Facebook, Patch and Nixle, to launch a supply drive in South Brunswick to aid those suffering from the storm. "When I orginally thought of this, I said to my husband maybe we can use …

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South Brunswick Businesses Team Up to Aid Sandy Victims

Donate needed items to Hurricane Sandy victims at the Jersey Shore.

A group of South Brunswick businesses are joining together to aid residents of the Jersey Shore affected by Hurricane Sandy. Family Karate Super Center, LocalChatBox.com and Central Jersey Catering are collecting items to bring to several Jersey Shore towns that were devastated by the storm. There are specific items that first responders and shelters said are in desperate need. Please help by sending this message to everyone you know. Many teachers will be sending this out to the parents of their students to ask for the items and for student volunteers.  Adult volunteers will be also needed. So please spare a few hours to help sort and also to help deliver to the Jersey Shore areas. Cardboard boxes are also needed to help with the delivery…

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LMR

11:11 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012

beachszq...thanks for the note. We are looking at some options as to how we can adopt a few schools in the shore area... Right now, we can only go as far as Toms River to donate supplies as they then take it and distribute south. Toms River is now a distribution point. But we are going to look at the schools as a separate effort...more info to come!!   more ›

Famous Family Helps Family Karate Raise Money for Hearing Impaired

Members of the Osmond family joined with Monmouth Junction's Family Karate Super Center last week at a Kick-a-Thon to help the hearing impaired.

Most people know of the Osmond family from Donny and Marie or the "Osmond Brothers Band," but the famed entertainers are also closely involved with a cause that struck close to home throughout their lives. Last week, Merrill Osmond of the "Osmond Brothers Band" and his son Justin stopped by the Family Karate Super Center's Kick-a-Thon in support of the school's annual event to raise money for the hearing impaired. Family Karate for the past two years has donated money to the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund, which raises hearing health awareness and provides for the needs of those living with hearing loss. "We're just honored and touched by Family Karate's generosity," said Justin Osmond, who was born with a 90 percent hearing loss. "This is the …

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Carnival and Kicks at Family Karate Thursday

Public invited to family festival featuring the Osmond Family and Linda the Librarian from "Sesame Street" to raise money for the hearing impaired.

Monmouth Junction's Family Karate Super Center will open its doors to the public with a special event for a great cause on Thursday with the second annual “Kick-a-Thon.” Last year the center's first "Kick-a-Thon" raised money for the Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund, which supports new research and innovation to improve the quality of life for the hearing impaired. The charity also provides hearing aids for children who can't afford them. This year the money will go to the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Trenton. "As a small business owner people come through with community events and we try to help in whatever way we can," said center owner Donnalynn Patakos. "Last year a woman in our karate school approached me with the idea…

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Karate Center Team to Help Kids with Cancer

Family Karate Super Center in Monmouth Junction participating in Central Jersey CureSearch Walk to raise money for kids with cancer.

As the tragic reality of kids afflicted with cancer hit home in South Brunswick this week with the death of 9-year-old Brandon Dominguez, Monmouth Junction's Family Karate Super Center is doing their part to help raise money for the fight.  The center will be participating in the 2012 Central Jersey CureSearch Walk on June 10 in Edison, with about 100 volunteers signed up for the event. "As part of the Family Karate Leadership Team, we want to help build a better community by taking part in this walk on Sunday," said Mike Lagunovich, 16, an assistant instructor and student at South Brunswick High School. "A lot of us are thinking about Brandon Dominguez and we just want to do something that connects with the community. It's important for …

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Family Karate Summer Camp isn't Just Kicking and Punching

Family Karate Super Center in South Brunswick offers lessons in values and character during their summer camp program

Last year, the Family Karate Super Center of South and North Brunswick created a 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. summer program for kids, to keep them fit and entertained, all while teaching important life values.  This week marks the end of the second summer program, which started July 18 at the North Brunswick center. The first two weeks were designed for an older set of campers, while the last two weeks, held at the South Brunswick location, were designed for the younger campers. Fronted by Allisia Corl, a Rutgers University junior and seasoned instructor at the karate center, the camp entertains students with martial arts activities, as well as typical summer camp games. “She’s very systematic and she’s got a great way with the kids,” Family Karate …

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South Brunswick Business Spotlight

Karate Center Teaches More than Martial Arts

Students learn discipline, confidence and how to be a leader through martial arts training.

At the Family Karate Super Center in Monmouth Junction, lessons in martial arts often go hand-in-hand with important lessons about life and what it takes to succeed, no matter what your goal is.  The center, which was established in 1987, employs a multi-facted approach to have the greatest impact on the lives of students with each and every lesson, according to owner Donnalynn Patakos. "Martial Arts is the single best way for children to gain confidence, respect, honor tradition, self discipline, focus, and good eating habits," she said.  "(Kids) learn how to listen to mom and dad, learn coordination, temper control, self-defense, how to deal with bullies, have a sense of family, community and honesty.  I believe, in our school in …

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