On Saturday, July 14, Weather NJ & Friends threw a party with help from The MakeShift Union at The Union Market & Gallery for David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF). The party featured live music, great food, craft brew, award-winning wine, fine artwork and generous donations from the community—all sourced locally. An $8,052.21 profit was generated from the event and is already being distributed to families battling a cancer diagnosis by DDBCF.
I wish to give the largest thank you possible to the local event sponsors, eateries, businesses, artists, volunteers and event guests that helped make this event such a success. It brings warm feelings to my heart to see such a massive collaboration of friends, family and community for such a good cause. Before I get into the detailed thank you list which this event deserves, here are some awesome photographs courtesy of event sponsor Within the Frame Photography:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
And now for the many thanks that we (on behalf of all Weather NJ & Friends) wish to give:
Event Guests
About 100 people sat down to dine with us this year. Thank you so much to everyone who attended as a guest! We hope you’ve enjoyed all that Fun(d) the Dream had to offer. We want you to know that you’ve directly made a difference for people’s hardships surrounding a cancer diagnosis. You’ve made the world a better place for some who have lost all hope!
The Gorgeous Venue
Thank you MakeShift Union! We are extremely grateful for the Union Market & Gallery’s collaborative support and venue donation for Fun(d) the Dream!
The Union Market & Gallery was conceived through a collusion of local female entrepreneurs with a passion for the creative and a devotion to the community. Being avid arts advocates, we promote working with your hands as a lifestyle, and are fully committed to the establishment of a makers-driven, patron-focused destination. At The Union Market, our guests can expect an exceptional cup of coffee, all day breakfast & lunch, small bites from a few of the area’s local kitchens, an ever-changing collection of work from talented artisans, and an inviting space in which to enjoy it all.
Gold Event Sponsors
A huge thank you to the gold level sponsors of Fun(d) the Dream!
The Law Office of William Wright helps residents all over the State of New Jersey in a broad variety of different legal specialties. Much of the Office’s practice is devoted to civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury, consumer protection, construction accidents and worker’s compensation. The Wright Law Firm also handles real estate transactions, traffic tickets and more.
Greg Molyneux Photography presents New Jersey landscape and nature photography featuring plenty of sunsets and the best of our Mid-Atlantic beaches and marshland. You’ll see Greg’s work shared on Weather NJ whenever he captures a stellar sunrise, sunset or storm shot in New Jersey, which is quite often.
Randall Woolley Private Wealth Advisor is an Ameriprise Private Wealth Advisory Practice which offers a full range of financial, wealth and retirement services. In addition to Randall’s Pennsylvania and Florida client-bases, he has recently opened a practice in West Creek, New Jersey. I highly recommend at least a discussion with Randall about how he can increase your financial well-being. He has personally helped myself, family and friends and I cannot recommend Randall enough!
Many real estate agents say they love your neighborhood, but how many can say that they live in it? Meet Alisa Molbert, a long time Long Beach Island resident, who has experienced the community first hand. Alisa is a dedicated, energetic and trustworthy agent that uses her experience to assure the process of buying or selling a home is as stress free as possible. Alisa is here for you every step of the way and will work relentlessly to provide the value you deserve. Are you ready to Buy, Sell or Rent in LBI? Just contact Alisa.
Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM would like to express our sincere gratitude for visiting our website. Our relationship with you and commitment to helping you enjoy the new 2017-2019 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM or used car of your dreams every mile you travel. Both my wife and I have recently purchased Jeeps from this dealership and we cannot recommend them enough!
The Barrel Mobile Bar is a custom built, full service cocktail bar on wheels, meaning we bring our bartending expertise and unique mobile bar setup to you! Fully insured and TIPS certified staff gives you peace of mind and takes your party to the next level! The Barrel Mobile Bar offers a personalized experience, perfect for any event, from intimate gatherings to large parties. This setup looks cooler than the other side of the pillow. We were happy to serve quality craft brew from it at Fun(d) the Dream!
Bring your family and explore the world of the Jersey Shore. Come explore one of the largest grass roots maritime museums in the United States. Located in the heart of historic Tuckerton with charming shops and restaurants, this one-of-a-kind attraction showcases the Jersey Shore’s maritime traditions of the past and present which are brought to life through people, exhibits and hands-on activities. Stroll the boardwalk and experience life on the Tuckerton “Crik.” Decoy carvers, boat builders, basket makers and baymen entertain, educate and delight visitors of all ages. Identify birds and plants on our nature trail through our Maritime forest. Discover the Jersey Shore’s unique maritime heritage and the interaction between culture and nature on the Barnegat Bay. Experience the rich traditions of the Jersey Shore and its baymen through the Seaport’s recreated and historic buildings, demonstrations, interpretive exhibits, events, festivals, live aquatic displays and more.
18 Mile Productions is an Event Videography Service in Manahawkin, NJ. We offer videography, a photo booth, drone services, and more. Their Photobooth setup at Fun(d) the Dream this year was a smash hit! Their setup takes still images and animated gifs. A great way to capture all the fun(d)! Check out the video in the link for more information…
A huge thanks to Within the Frame Photography for shooting and editing all the event photographs you see in this article! Curious about having within the frame shoot your next event, party, occasion, or boudoir? well, let us know with the contact page or the information below.
Telephone: 908.798.8226
Email: withintheframeNJ@gmail.com
Silver Event Sponsors
A huge thank you to the silver level sponsors of Fun(d) the Dream!
Delicious Food
A huge thank you to Viking Village for jumbo sea scallops, The Local for Chicken Francese, Eggplant Parmesan, and Roasted Summer Vegetables, Happy Habits for Trottole Alla Rosa with sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, & fresh basil and Mystic Meat and Seafood Market. Also thanks to Sweet Melissa for the dessert bites. These discounts and donations went a long way in keeping event costs down so that more profit could be put to the cause.
Craft Brew
A huge thank you to Pinelands Brewing Company for a discounted rate on 08087 and Pinelands Pils craft brews.
Award-Winning Wine
A huge thank you to Valenzano Family Winery for a discounted rate on Cabernet Merlot (red) and Vidal Blanc (white) wines.
Generous Local Artists and Businesses
A huge thanks to the local artists and businesses who generously donated to our silent auction including Greg Molyneux Photography, Reclaimed, Jeff Ruemeli, Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, Things Adrift, Jessika Morgan, Corey Hudson Art Works, Dawn Simon, Lesha Studios, Maritime Marina, Regal Manahawkin Cinema and Sun Dog.
Marketing Help
A huge thanks to all that helped market this event on social media and by word of mouth! This includes family, friends and larger organizations such as Eastern PA Weather Authority, Jersey Shore Hurricane News, The Press of Atlantic City, New York Metro Weather, Stockton University and many other generous outlets.
The Volunteers
A very heartfelt thank you to our team of volunteers. From general management to day of service, our talented group of friends generously give their time, talent and resources. They support every step of the way to help make these events a success! Thank you to our seasoned pros: Jennifer Carr, Kyle Hoffman, Jessika Morgan, Katherine Carr, Jack Gamble, Greg Molyneux, Jeff Ruemeli, Kathy Nowicki, John Nowicki, Deanna Nowicki, Ben Wurst, Sandy Collier, Joe Bilotta, Jackie Lindeborn and Chris Hutch. And, thank you to our new additional crew: John Homenuk, Patrick Morgan, Connor Morgan, Dani Corso, Jonathan Giglio and our friends at the Union Market.
An additional encore thank you to my lovely wife, Jennifer Carr, for the event detail, design and decor, the event direction and delegation, and the many more hours she spent working on this event than I or any other volunteer did.
Here’s a shot of Fun(d) the Dream’s volunteer staff. A few did not make this photograph such as Katherine Carr and several others. Please let me know if anyone else is missing or forgotten and I will add immediately! Again, thank you for everything team! This event simply would not have happened without you!
The Great Cause
This last thank you is the biggest! Thank you to David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation for providing such an amazing service in New Jersey! David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non profit that raises funds to provide financial assistance, wellness services and HOPE to families primarily in New Jersey affected by a cancer diagnosis.
Weather NJ & Friends cannot wait to do this again in the future. We’ve met so many cool and interesting people who share our same love for local community and helping those in need. So one last time, THANK YOU! Be safe! ♥ JC
Jonathan Carr (JC) is the founder and sole operator of Weather NJ, New Jersey’s largest independent weather reporting agency. Since 2010, Jonathan has provided weather safety and forecasting services for New Jersey and immediate surrounding areas through the web and social media. Originally branded as Severe NJ Weather (before 2014), Weather NJ is proud to bring you accurate and responsible discussions ahead of high-stakes weather scenarios that impact the garden state. All Weather. All New Jersey.™