30th Annual Wilbur Ray Dinner Set for March 13

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ (Feb. 23, 2015) – Eight Monmouth County community leaders and volunteers will be honored on March 13 during the 30^th annual Wilbur Ray Scholarship Dinner at Branches in West Long Branch.

The event, hosted by Brookdale Community College, recognizes significant contributions by county residents and organizations that, while substantial, do not always result in public recognition.

Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Wilbur Ray Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to students of color. The awards are named for the late Wilbur Ray, former Brookdale police chief and an active volunteer in the Long Branch community.

This year’s honorees include volunteers, activists, professionals and community outreach workers in communities such as Asbury Park, Long Branch and Red Bank

They are: Craig Bogard, cofounder of Aslan Youth Ministries; Phyllis Ledbetter, retired director of THE SPOT youth services program; Tyrone Laws, founder of Kwest for Truth; Olivia Sparks, member of the Old Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Englishtown; Franklyn Rother, dean of social sciences at Brookdale; Pauline Smith, member of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Red Bank; Daniel Harris III, member of Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park; and Dr. Webster Trammell, retired vice president of development, community and government relations at Brookdale.

The awards dinner begins with a cash bar at 6 p.m. Tickets are $55 for community members and $30 for students. For more information or to make a reservation, call 732-224-2705.