Brookdale Scholarship Ball Raises $92,000

FARMINGDALE, NJ (June 4, 2015) – More than 250 community members and area dignitaries attended the Brookdale Community College Foundation’s 2015 Scholarship Ball, held May 29 at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale.

The event raised more than $92,000 for the foundation’s “Building Minds, Building Futures” Scholarship Fund, which supports students and working families who don’t qualify for financial aid.

“Sometimes, even a $500 or $1,000 award can mean the difference between staying in college and dropping out,” said Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy. “So many of our students have the opportunity to grow and learn because of our foundation and the generous support of so many in our community.”

The event featured dinner, dancing, live music from the Carl Gentry Band and live and silent auctions for hundreds of donated items.

Local activists Valerie Montecalvo and David Portman were also recognized by the foundation board for their work on behalf of the community.

Montecalvo, owner of Bayshore Recycling Corp and an avid environmentalist, and Portman, president of Triad Property Management and Developmental Corporation and a longtime Jewish community advocate, were honored by Monmouth County as well.

Deputy Freeholder Director Serena DiMaso and Freeholder Lillian Burry presented the honorees with certificates of recognition and declared May 29, 2015 “Valerie Montecalvo Day” and “David Portman Day” in Monmouth County.

The nonprofit foundation works with the college and community members to support scholarships and higher education programs for local students. This year the “Building Minds, Building Futures” scholarship fund provided nearly $400,000 in scholarships and grants to more than 500 students.

The 2015 scholarship ball was co-chaired by Carol Stillwell, of Stillwell-Hansen Inc., and foundation board members Candy Langan-Sattenspiel, of Sattenspiel Surgical Arts Pavilion, and Karen Escobedo of New Jersey Natural Gas.

For more information on the foundation and its scholarship programs, email Tim Zeiss at tzeiss@brookdalecc.edu or visit www.brookdalecc.edu/foundation.