Carol Albanese, Executive Director of Opportunity Project presented the 2011 Millburn High School Football Team with a community service award for their “PLAY SMART” project at the 2011 Awards Dinner Program held at the Short Hills Club on December 2, 2011.

The team partnered with Opportunity Project and the United Way of Millburn Short Hills to support brain injury awareness by collecting sports helmets.  The team collected 124 helmets which will be refurbished and distributed to children and teens.  The players created collection boxes and placed them in drop off locations throughout Millburn.   Special thanks go out to High Gear Cyclery and The Garage for serving as collection locations.

“It was a pleasure to work on this project with the Millburn High School Football Team and the Fifth Quarter Club.  This project was such a tremendous success.  These young men played a key role in bringing the community together to raise awareness about brain injury.  We are thrilled to announce that we anticipate continuing this campaign throughout the year” said Carol Albanese.

 Our Friend, Our Colleague

In the years that Bob was involved with OP, he became interwoven into the tapestry of our daily lives – there is a space that will not be filled because he brought an outlook and attitude toward life that was uniquely his own.  These characteristics had strong impact on us all, but mostly our members who so closely identified with him. Upon hearing of his passing, many of our members said “there will never be anyone like him – we will always miss him.”

We were all honored and blessed to know him.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Registration:  10:00am – 11:00am

Brunch:  11:00am – 12:30pm

Shotgun Start: 12:30pm

Cocktail Hour:  6:00pm

Dinner/Awards:  7:00pm

We invite you to join us for a great event!  Sponsorship packages and individual tickets are still available.    Individual tickets, which include brunch, golf and dinner are $450.  Dinner only tickets are $150.

For more information, please  click here  for the 2011 golf classic brochure and registration form or email  golfclassic@opportunityproject.org.

EVENT SPONSORS

The Fidelco Group – Marc & Randi Berson

Fidelity Land Development Corp. – Fran and Sal Davino

The Freidus Family

Anonymous

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Industrial Properties, Inc

KRE Group -  Murray Kushner,  Jonathan Kushner,  Jeremy Kaplan

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey, affiliates of Barnabas Health

Prudential Financial, Inc

The Sobel Family Foundation

Sudler Family Foundation

GOLD SPONSORS

Genova, Burns & Giantomasi

INSTAR

Lucky VIII Films

Valley National Bank

Wells Fargo

SILVER SPONSORS

Berkenkamp Realty Group

Cappelli Enterprises Inc.

FEDWAY…where you come first

Hanini Group – Samer & Thafer Hanini

Hollister Construction Services

Investors Bank

The MCJ Amelior Foundation

WB Engineers │ Consultants

The Golf Classic is this year’s only event.  Please join us for golf, cocktails and dining in support of Opportunity Project – a national model for providing programs and services for people with brain injury.

• EVENT SPONSOR $10,000
• PLATINUM SPONSOR $5,000
• GOLD SPONSOR $3,600
• SILVER SPONSOR $1,800
• DRIVING RANGE SPONSOR $2,500
• PUTTING GREEN SPONSOR $1,500
• PRIZE SPONSOR $1,500
• HOLE SPONSOR $500
• DINNER SPONSOR $3,500
• LUNCH SPONSOR $2,500
• COCKTAIL HOUR SPONSOR $1,500

For sponsorship information, contact Kerri Berson 973.467.4300, x3113 or email golfclassic@opportunityproject.org.

Teaching Kids Bicycle Safety and Helmet Awareness

Several months ago, Brandon Hamilton, a 17 year old Millburn teen was looking for a community service project to fulfill the requirements for his Eagle Badge. He approached Carol Albanese, Executive Director of Opportunity Project,Inc. in Millburn to ask how he could volunteer.  Ms. Albanese told him “we have the perfect project for you”.

Carol Albanese suggested to Brandon that he join Opportunity Project in helping raise awareness in the community about brain injury prevention and helmet safety.  Brandon did this by enlisting the aid of his Eagle Scout Troop 17 of Saint Rose of Lima Church, and raised $500 to purchase new helmets for the children served by the Kids Division of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and the Morristown Neighborhood House.  The Neighborhood House provides a variety of services to children including pre-school, before/after school childcare, summer camps and more.  The Community Food Bank Kids Divison provides children classroom supplies, new clothing, and nutritious, kid-friendly meals.  When asked why he decided to do this project, Brandon said “this was an important activity because I know how important it is to wear a helmet.  I play in many sports activities and my parents have always insisted that I wear my helmet.”

Joining forces with High Gear Cyclery of Millburn and AAA of Florham Park, Opportunity Project held a helmet and brain injury awareness day for children who attend the summer program of the Morristown Neighborhood House.  Nick Burton, Manager of High Gear Cyclery welcomed the children to their store in Millburn where the children were fitted appropriately with helmets.   “We couldn’t have thought of a better way to get the word out about the importance of riding bicycles safely by wearing a bicycle helmet” said Nick.  The helmets were purchased at cost for the children with the funds raised by Brandon to go along with gently used bicycles they will be receiving from the Good Goes Around program in Short Hills.

A pizza luncheon and awareness talk by Chief Barber of the Millburn Police Department took place afterwards at Opportunity Project, where the children were also provided with goody bags supplied by Ed Baginski, Traffic Safety Officer of AAA.  The children who eagerly participated in the activities were so excited about their helmets that they didn’t take them off.  Sandra Mintor of the Morristown Neighborhood House said “This is a day that truly impacts our children, the heart of Opportunity Project and the heart of our program together can do great
things to make a difference in the community”.

Raffle tickets are $100 each.  The winner will receive tickets for 14 people in a luxury suite at Yankee Stadium, a VIP parking pass, and dinner and refreshments throughout the evening.  Game Day is September 20, 2011 at 7:05 when the Yankee’s will play the Tampa Bay Rays.

The raffle drawing will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2011 at the Clubhouse.  Proceeds from the raffle will provide scholarships for people with brain injury to attend Opportunity Project’s Clubhouse. 

For more information about purchasing a raffle ticket, please contact the Opportunity Project Development Office at 973-921-1000 x 105.

This year, BlueJean Day focused on the Helmet Law in New Jersey for children and teens under the age of 17. Despite aggressive Public Health efforts, bicycle accidents remain a significant percent of all traffic fatalities in the US. Traumatic brain injury accounts for two thirds of all bicycle-related deaths. Data compiled and reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note that helmets are 85-88% effective in preventing head and brain injuries. Thus it remains alarming that only 20-25% of all bicyclists wear bicycle helmets.

Blue Jean Day is simple and fun.  Several companies and agencies committed to sponsor or participate.  Each company designated a day when employees could wear jeans to work or dress “casual for our cause.” In addition, members from the OP Speaker’s Bureau visited several of the sponsors and participants to speak first hand about brain injury.

This year, focusing on the helmet law, BlueJean Day became a community wide activity.    Opportunity Project invited local teens and other area businesses join in our efforts to raise awareness about helmet safety.  Helmet collection boxes were placed around Millburn  at local businesses including:  New Eyes for the Needy; Investors Savings Bank; Starbucks and even at the Millburn Street Fair on April 10.  Eagle Scout, Brandon Hamilton raised $500 to purchase new helmets for children served by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.  Due to the tremendous success of this year’s BlueJean Day, Opportunity Project will be extending this fundraising and awareness campaign to take place through December 2011.

We congratulate this year’s BlueJean Day raffle winners!  Elliot Warm won the use of a VIP luxury box at a future New Jersey Devils Game.  Jean Cook won the PaperMill Playhouse tickets.  Paul Schottland and Peter Klein won gift certificates to restaurants, Martini Bistro and La Strada Pizzeria.

All of this was made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors, participants and the community at large.  With their incredible support, Opportunity Project raised over $18,000 to support the Clubhouses brain injury programs and services.

Main Event Sponsors

Feil Family Foundation

The Fidelco Group

Fidelity Land Development

Denim Sponsors

G.S. Wilcox

Kirker Enterprises

Judith and Lester Lieberman

Nagel Rice LRP

NJPAC

Dr. Clement Alexander Price

Wasserman, Jurista & Stolz

Participants

Audible

Law Firm of Genova, Burns & Giantomasi

Lincoln Financial Group

Micros Retail Systems

Millburn Police Chief Barber

NeuroRestorative

Short Hills Millburn Chamber of Commerce

Sports Training Physical Therpay

Washington Park Fidelco

This year, BlueJean Day is focused on the Helmet Law in New Jersey for children and teens under the age of 17. Despite aggressive Public Health efforts, bicycle accidents are a significant percent of all traffic fatalities in the US. Traumatic brain injury accounts for two thirds of all bicycle-related deaths. Data compiled and reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note that helmets are 85-88% effective in preventing head and brain injuries. Thus it remains alarming that only 20-25% of all bicyclists wear bicycle helmets.

Please join us as a SPONSOR in 2011 and help us educate the community about the importance of wearing helmets! As a SPONSOR, you will receive:

• Sponsorship recognition on all BlueJean Day print and electronic materials
• Company recognition in the OP Date newsletter, our website and all media materials
• Main Event and Star Sponsors are automatically entered into a Super Raffle for a chance to win a VIP catered luxury box for a NJ Devils Hockey Game valued at $8,000
• A presentation about brain injury and prevention from the Opportunity Project Speakers Bureau

Blue Jean Day is simple and fun. Companies designate a day when your employees can wear jeans to work. This is a great team building opportunity for your organization. Employees, who donate $5 will receive a brain injury awareness bracelet and raffle tickets to win great prizes.

The funds raised from this event support the Opportunity Project Clubhouse. Our mission is to empower persons with brain injuries to achieve self esteem, self determination, personal growth, independence and the attainment of their full potential

SIGN UP TODAY! Please return the attached form by fax 973-921-2007 or by mail.

When you register as a Sponsor or Company Participant, we will send everything to make your event a success, including flyers, donation envelopes, wristbands, raffle tickets and car magnets.

For more information, please contact Amy Sigona at 973-921-1000 ext 105 or by e-mail at asigona@opportunityproject.org.

Thank you in advance for your participation. Your support will make a difference in the lives Opportunity Projects Members and their families.