Millstone TOWNSHIP, NJ, October 24, 2012 – Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence (MTFEE) raised more than $3,400 from its Second Annual “Family Movie Day” held on October 14 at the Millstone Township Performing Arts Center (MPAC). Proceeds will help provide grant funding for innovative classroom programs, educational opportunities for students, staff development, and state-of-the-art teaching materials that are beyond the scope of the general school budget to enrich education for the district's public school students.

The event opened with an hour and a half of kid’s activities, including Halloween-themed crafts and games (including “Guess the Giant Pumpkin’s Weight”), face painting, carnival games and tattoos. The activities were followed by “Dolphin Tale”—a movie that Millstone Township primary and elementary school students chose. MTFEE also took up a separate collection during the event and raised $125—all to be donated to Clearwater Marine Aquarium in the name of “Millstone Township Students.” The aquarium is where the dolphin in the movie, Winter, currently resides. The facility relies on generous tax-deductible donations to meet its daily operating and animal care needs.

The foundation also ran a 50/50 raffle, which totaled $310. The winner was the Noto Family. The winner of “Guess the Number of Cheese balls” was Kathy Heller. Grace Kenny won the 53 pound giant pumpkin.
 

Blue Waters Boutique (Millstone Twp.) donated mini pumpkins. The Cotler and Schloss families (Millstone Twp.) donated larger pumpkins for decorating. Dave Berlin of Video Corporation of America (Somerset) donated the projector rental. Vesuvio’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant (Millstone Twp.) donated $1.00 per pizza and also matched the total amount raised from the pizza donations that day.   

The following served as sponsors:

·      Event Sponsors – Saker ShopRites, The Saker Family (Millstone Twp.), South Brunswick Animal Hospital and Supreme Tutoring (Freehold)

·      Movie Sponsors - MetLife Solutions Group (Lawrenceville)

·      Concession Sponsors – Caravaglio Self Defense & Fitness Training Center (Millstone Twp.), The Dorfman & Stillwell Families (Millstone Twp.)

·      General Sponsors – The Cotler Family (Millstone Twp.), The Heller Family (Millstone Twp.), The Pyhel Family (Millstone Twp.), Joseph R. Raccuglia, MD – Family Practice (Freehold), The Stillwell Family (Millstone Twp.)

MTFEE operates independently from the school district and replenishes its grant fund exclusively through private donations and its fundraising efforts. The foundation has awarded more than $432,000 in grants to Millstone Township schools since 2002. MTFEE grants, which have been awarded at every grade level and in every discipline, have included SMARTBoards ^® , mobile computer and iPad ^™ labs, and a rock climbing wall. MTFEE was the first organization in the district to put iPads ^™ into the classroom in the spring of 2011.

There are currently more than 60 MTFEE-funded grant programs running. Every child that matriculates through the school district will in some way benefit from an MTFEE-funded grant. MTFEE is a member of New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership and The National Consortium of State and Local Education Foundations (NCEFS). 

For more information about MTFEE, visit www.mtfee.org and become a fan on Facebook.

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About MTFEE

From its initial conception in 1995 to its designation as a 501©3 charitable organization in 2002, the Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence (MTFEE) has remained steadfast in its goal to fund grants for items that nurture extraordinary educational experiences for every student in the Millstone Township School District and are beyond the scope of the general school budget. Items include innovative classroom programs, educational opportunities for students, staff development, and state-of-the-art teaching materials. Through the creativity of the teaching staff’s grant applications and the fundraising efforts of MTFEE, the foundation is proud to have awarded more than $432,000 in grants to Millstone Township schools. MTFEE grants, which have been awarded at every grade level and in every discipline, have included SMARTBoards ^® , mobile computer and iPad ^™ labs, and a rock climbing wall. MTFEE was the first organization in the district to put iPads ^™ into the classroom in the spring of 2011.There are currently more than 60 MTFEE-funded grant programs running. Every child that matriculates through the school district will in some way benefit from an MTFEE-funded grant. MTFEE is a member of New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership and The National Consortium of State and Local Education Foundations (NCEFS).