Teachers Receive Grants at Annual Gala

It was a night of honoring teachers going above and beyond as the Education Foundation of Bridgewater-Raritan held its annual gala to hand out grants Thursday.

With a 50s theme bringing out the poodle skirts and Cadillac cars, teachers and administrators participated in a tricky tray, enjoyed desserts, listened to the music of the Glee Club and honored teachers.

The foundation gives out grants to teachers who apply, and it is specifically designed for creative and innovative projects for which the district cannot provide the funds. The funds are raised by the staff themselves.

The prizes for the tricky tray were donated by both staff members and outside businesses, as was the food.

And the Leonard and Adele Blumberg Award for Volunteerism was presented to Pierce Frauenheim, who works for the Somerset County Park Commission, and started Jack's Kids, which raises money to help kids with special needs. He also started the Vaughn Stapleton Youth March Madness Basketball Tournament, which gives scholarships to seniors who play basketball at the high school.

"I am honored to accept this, and will try to continue in their footsteps, providing for the kids," Frauenheim said.

Those awarded with grants were:

• Roots and Shoots Community Connection, Katrina Macht, , $1,500
• See the Difference One Container Can Make, Leonard Herman and Mark Dubyna, Bridgewater-Raritan High School, $1,500
• Adamsville Family Music Night, Kimberly Luyben, , $1,500
• Anti-Bullying Assembly Programs, Lori Macsata, , $1,500
• Completing the Wellness Triangle, Valerie Bonnet, Bridgewater-Raritan High School, $450
• Hamilton Families, Debra Ianniciello, Lauren Schwartz, , $690
• Seeing is Believing, Michael Russell, Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, $1,200
• Hillside Market and Cafe, Nicole Lewinski, Hillside Intermediate School,  $1,480
• New Jersey Beyond the Curriculum, Jessica Marchand, Ashlen Udell, Dianne Kolovitch, Maren Vitali, Joseph King, Kyle Newell, Jennifer Balucha, Phoebe Hastings, Crista Fenton, Kajal Katariwala, Craig Robol, Jamie Vinciguerra, Erica Wagner, , $1,500
• Aquascaping, Bruce Turnbul, Chester King, , $1,500
• Stop the Bullying, Jodi Pondiscio, Bridgewater-Raritan High School, $1,500
• Explore Learning Gizmos, Amy Snider, Susan Dowe, Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, $1,500
• Community of Caring at Milltown School, Donna Zaborowski, Debbie Shah-Patel, Jeannette Martinez, Annemarie Mattia, Patty Fisher, Amy Stires, Milltown Primary School, $1,500