From the Morris Educational Foundation:
MORRISTOWN ONSTAGE RAISES RECORD DOLLARS FOR MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT!
The Morris Educational Foundation is thrilled to announce that the 11th Annual Morristown ONSTAGE raised a record $143,000 for the Morris School District. The annual talent show held at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Feb. 28, 2018, spotlighted the best amateur talent from Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township.
The Morris Educational Foundation surpassed last year’s record of $126,000 for Morristown Onstage by raising $143,000 for the 10 schools in the Morris School District to celebrate the 11th year of this “must-see” community event. Sponsors, playbill advertisers and ticket buyers supported Morristown ONSTAGE and the Morris School District in an unprecedented way.
“We are incredibly grateful to our entire community for its overwhelming support of this annual event. We are thrilled to have raised the most ever in our talent show’s 11 year history and to highlight the incredible talent in our area,” said Molly Servais, chair of the Morristown ONSTAGE event and member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris Educational Foundation.
“The Morris Educational Foundation is an integral part of the Morris School District. We believe strong schools make strong communities. This event allows the MEF to raise funds to support excellence in the the Morris School District,” she added.
The show was again lead by Master of Ceremonies Tara Bernie, an Emmy-nominated senior television producer, Morristown resident and parent in the Morris School District. Fifteen amazing finalists performed for a sold-out crowd at the 1,300-seat Mayo Performing Arts Center.
First place in the 18 & Under Category went to We Need Love with Ally Are. An inspiring poem written and performed by Ally Are was paired with compelling choreography performed by dancers from Dance Innovations. The result was breathtaking and the group was awarded a first place prize of $1,000.
The first place $1,000 award in the 19 & Over Category went to Morristown resident and favorite waitress at The Committed Pig, Liv Zito. Liv’s unique and powerful vocal performance captured the attention of the judges.
The $500 Audience Choice Winner was CJ Ryan who sang a soulful rendition of Demi Lovato’s Tell Me You Love Me and garnered the most audience text votes.
The Rossoff Rising Star Award, a $250 prize, was awarded to June Soriano, an employee at the Morris Township Wells Fargo, whose passion is singing. The award, created in honor of former MEF Board Member and Morristown ONSTAGE chair, Fran Rossoff, is for the pursuit of professional training.
Morristown Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, served as the Education Champion Headline Sponsor of the eleventh annual talent show. Mill Creek Residential, Beyer Automotive Group, The Crawford Home Selling Team/Keller Williams and George and Michele Becker were the event’s Show Sponsors.
Century 21 and Seiko Corporation partnered this year as the show’s Designer Sponsors. In addition to sponsoring the event, Century 21 gave a $1,000 shopping spree to one lucky audience member and the Seiko Corporation gave watches to all of the event award winners. Provident Bank continued this year as the Prize Sponsor. Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes sponsored the Red Carpet Video, and Mark Livingston of Merrill Lynch and Bressler Amery Ross sponsored the Audience Choice Award.
The Croonquist Group of Janney Montgomery Scott sponsored the Morristown High School Theatre Department’s performance from their spring musical, “Anything Goes”. Morristown Animal Hospital and Wiley, Malehorn, Sirota and Raynes joined as Partner Sponsors. Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen sponsored the dessert reception following the show.
BMW of Morristown; FirstEnergy Foundation; Fox Rothschild; Susmitha & Kumar Kantheti; Match Non-Profit Consulting; Mayo Performing Arts Center; Nusbaum, Stein, Goldstein, Bronstein & Kron; Kim & John Pistner; Porzio, Bromberg and Newman; PSEG; Randolph Dental; Regal Tax Advisers; David Singer, DDS, Melissa & Marc Spiotta; Sang & Fred Sporer; Toyota of Morristown; and Marcie & Glenn Yarnis all committed as Talent Sponsors.
“The Morris Educational Foundation is grateful to the many generous sponsors and playbill advertisers who made the evening possible, along with our wonderful community who came out to see the show,” said Patty Haralampoudis, chair of the MEF Board “A special thank you to the tireless efforts of our MEF volunteers!”
In addition to having a record breaking year for fundraising, Morristown ONSTAGE recently received statewide recognition for excellence. The New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership (NJEFP) honored the Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) with the award for “Outstanding Achievement in Fundraising” for Morristown ONSTAGE. NJEFP is a statewide organization dedicated to enhancing public education in New Jersey by growing and strengthening local education foundations.
“We are privileged to see all of the exceptional work being done by education foundations throughout the state,” notes NJEFP President Randy Davis.
“These awards provide an opportunity for more people to understand the tremendous impact education foundations are making in New Jersey each and every day. NJEFP is especially proud to provide this award to the MEF for their noteworthy efforts to advance public education in the Morris School District.”
The MEF thanks all its generous sponsors, playbill advertisers, and everyone who bought a ticket. Each and every dollar raised by the Morris Educational Foundation’s Morristown ONSTAGE show goes back to Morris School District schools and the students.
The strength of the Morris School District paves the way for the strength of our community. The annual MEF Friends Campaign is currently in full swing. Please visit morrisedfoundation.org to find out how you can get involved.
