May 17, 2013
Release credit: Borough of Bay Head, New Jersey.
On Tuesday, April 30th, middle school students from the Kent Place School of Summit, New Jersey gathered at a special school assembly and presented a $5000 check to Mayor Bill Curtis of Bay Head and to Nancy Hamilton of the Community Foundation of New Jersey for the Bay Head/Mantoloking Relief Fund. The Kent Place students had raised the money as a school project to assist shore communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The school project was spearheaded by faculty community service advisor and English teacher, Amanda Berry.
Inspired by stories about super storm Sandy victims and encouraged by their school advisors, the middle school student leaders organized and planned a special event – an evening fundraiser that included volleyball competitions and team games. Several members of the class whose families owned homes in Bay Head and Normandy Beach, towns severely impacted by the storm, were instrumental in planning the event.
Kent Place student and summer Bay Head resident, Brooke Naylor, represented the many students with ties to shore towns when she said the funds would “help to rebuild the places that mean the most to us.”
The students also presented Mayor Curtis with two volleyballs, autographed by Kent Place School students to be delivered to the Bay Head School as a token of their support for the community and especially to the Bay Head School students impacted by Sandy.
Moved by the presentation, Mayor Curtis responded, “The girls were awesome and you could tell the fund raising event came from a deep sense of community service and a desire to do something for those so devastated by the storm. My heart goes out to Kent Place – the administration, the teachers, the parents and most of all to the students – especially those who thought to do this and to all who participated. Representing Bay Head and on behalf of Mantoloking, I am truly thankful and appreciative.”