5th Annual Island Gala

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5th Annual Island Gala

We are excited for the 5th Annual Island Gala to benefit: David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF) at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club on Friday August 4, 2017.

The beautiful Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club is once again the venue for this year’s Gala. The Hughes Family and staff go above and beyond each year. Please understand that the first weekend in August is the PEAK of the summer tourism season on Long Beach Island but that does not stop the Hughes Family from hosting this event year after year. We appreciate their unwavering support but most of all we are grateful for their friendship.

Our event this year is presented by our friends at Informed Mortgage. The Informed Mortgage Leadership Team, Staff and their clients are responsible for positively affecting the lives of so many families battling cancer. They have set the Gold standard for charitable donations through a creative planned giving initiative and the result has been a record-setting donation of $50,275.00 to DDBCF over the past 2.5 years! Please call the Informed Mortgage team for all your mortgage and refi needs. 609-597-0007.

We are also grateful to have the support from our friends, the Reynolds Family and their team at Reynolds Landscaping, Garden Shop & Floral Market in Manahawkin. The Reynolds Family support our events and numerous other wonderful causes throughout the year but they have a special place in their heart for our Island Gala. The decorations and floral arrangements will once again be donated by Reynolds. Please contact Reynolds for all your landscaping needs. 609-597-6099.

Our entertainment lineup is set for the 5th Annual Island Gala with some familiar faces. We met American Idol Alum Cara Samantha a few years ago because of her cousin Jamie’s cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, Jamie eventually lost her courageous battle with cancer. Cara will be performing during cocktail hour and under the stars in our outside “Hope Lounge.” A brief opening ceremony will take place with a “Surprise Performance.” Then everybody should get ready to dance the night away to Philadelphia’s High-Energy Seven Piece Band Love 77. The members of LOVE 77 are motivated by the mission of the Foundation and ready to bring the house down with some incredible Live Music!

Please join us on Friday August 4, 2017 at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. Individual tickets: for $250.00pp. Event will take place from 7pm-midnight. Live Music, Hors D’Oeurves, Buffet, Auction and 3 Hour Top Shelf Open Bar. (Cocktail Attire)

Invites are being mailed to last year’s guests and the easiest way to secure your ticket for the 5th Annual Island Gala is to reserve your sponsorship today. You can do so by visiting the shop tab on our website or downloading a form below. Please make checks payable to DDBCF, 364 North Main Street, Suite 10D, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Thank you!

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5th Annual Island Gala
Sponsorship
Sponsorship Proposal Page 1
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4th Annual Island Gala Wrap-Up | Hope Under The Stars

Susie, Dawn, Bill, Lauren & Tina
Susie, Dawn, Bill, Lauren & Tina

THANK YOU – 4th Annual Island Gala Wrap-Up! 

We held our 4th Annual Island Gala “Hope Under the Stars” on Friday August 5th at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. It was a beautiful night filled with HOPE Under the Stars!

The most critical information about David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF) was conveyed to the crowd by Co-Founder, David Caldarella during the opening ceremony. 634 Families battling cancer have been supported by DDBCF over the past 5.5 years. 312 families in the first 4 years of existence and 322 in the past 1.5 years. A group of friends set out to assist 1-2 patients affected by a cancer diagnosis per year. DDBCF is currently on pace to offer solely financial assistance to a patient/family every 1.46 days in 2016 and if you add in the emotional support and hope – that number rapidly drops to 1 patient/family per day! Truly an incredible milestone for the DDBCF Family and the supporters that make this “Generosity of Spirit” possible throughout the year! THANK YOU!

The highlight of the evening was hearing from Co-Founder of David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF); Tim Hall, Co-Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Dr. David Cognetti and 3 of the new Directors Patient of Advocacy for David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation: Dawn Aversa, Susie Buzby and Tina Angers. Tim spoke about the origin of DDBCF and in particular a story of Hope when his friend of 40 years David Caldarella was at his darkest point during his battle with stage IV head and neck cancer and one of his best friends Carmen Malatino created a CD of recorded voicemail’s from family, friends and Dr. David Cognetti encouraging David to Dream & Believe. Dr. Cognetti talked about his personal relationship with his patient David Caldarella and his recollection of the early stages of DDBCF all the way through today. Dawn, Susie and Tina spoke about their personal experiences with cancer as a caregiver in Dawn’s case and survivor’s in Susie and Tina’s and the positive impact DDBCF has had in their lives.

We want to start by thanking our partner and Platinum sponsors for the 4th Annual Island Gala: Informed Mortgage. Everybody in attendance heard David explain the planned giving initiative created by Informed Mortgage in collaboration with Dani Corso from Volatile Media Management and Communications Director for DDBCF. Informed Mortgage donates $25.00 per every closed loan out of their Manahawkin office to DDBCF. This partnership has resulted in planned giving donations of $27,500.00 to DDBCF from the Informed Mortgage team in Manahawkin, NJ. Please give them a call today for any of your mortgage or refi needs especially with all-time low interest rates!

Thank you to the Reynolds Family and Reynolds Garden Shop, Nursery, Floral Market and Landscaping for their continued support of DDBCF and their Gold Sponsorship of the 4th Annual Island Gala. The absolutely breathtaking “VIP” floral arrangements and stunning landscapes surrounding the “Hope Tiki Garden” were simply Amazing!

A special thank you to Tom Hughes, Jaimee Boyle and Brittany Solon from the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. This incredible family and their staff continue to care for this event as if it were an event for a family member and we cannot thank them enough.

The artwork and graphics for the event including flyers, posters and invites were all beautifully done by Dawn and Peter from Swing Graphics. We want to thank Typestries and Copyrite for all of our printing needs. Thank you to LeAnna Gerety from LeAnna Theresa Photography and Tony Coon from Darn Swell Media for the photography and video.

Thank you to our our auction donors who consistently support DDBCF: Ann Coen Photography, Black-eyed Susan’s, Mario’s Italian Market, Brighton Beach Surf Shop, Martinelli Family, Mario Dicesare, Beirne Family, Shore Brake Cyclery, It’s a Good Life Gift Boutique, Tierno Family, Tula the Boutique, Reynolds Family, Panzone’s Pizza & Pasta, Crisalli Family, Dawn Simon, Bunkerfish Design, The Wandering Gypsea, Project Erin, The Makers Festival, Jetty, SwellColors Glass Studio & Gallery, Oliver Anne Boutique, Living Acupuncture & Healing Arts Center, Biester Family, Jhon Jhon Institute, Simply Hair & Nails, IQ Nails, Unique Embroidery & Designs, Here’s Hough, Bay Magazine, Conforti Family, Brooke Mesanko, Artifacts & Company, Body In Mind Massage Institute, Golf Event Management Company.

Our Board of Directors and volunteers are second to none and this event puts their selfless giving for our families battling cancer on center stage. Their generosity of spirit for the families of DDBCF battling a cancer diagnosis goes far beyond, “Paying it Forward” and for that we love them!

Thank you to our guests and sponsors. You are “Vehicles of Hope” to so many!

Platinum Sponsors:
Informed Mortgage & Bill & Kirsten Jordan

Gold Sponsors:
Reynolds Landscaping, D. Finelli Construction & Southern Ocean Medical Center

Silver Sponsors:
Thomas V. Massa DMD & Associates, Paul Jr. Designs, Ocean First Bank/Ocean First Foundation & Dan & Karen Raugh

Bronze Sponsors:
Panzone’s Pizza, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Lou’s Electric, Anderson Insurance Agency, G. Anderson Agency, Walt McCollum Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, SOMC Foundation, The Van Dyk Group, Lumby Family, Bruce & Beth Fisher, Invisalign, Perry & Barbara Kaplan, Phillip & Christine Kaputa, John & Dee Vanderslice, Brandon Systems, Zelus Consulting Group & Rue Insurance.

Mark your calendars now for the 5th Annual Island Gala on Friday August 4th 2017! 

4th Annual Island Gala | Hope Under The Stars

Island Gala - "Hope Under The Stars"
Island Gala – “Hope Under The Stars”

We are beyond excited for the 4th Annual Island Gala to benefit: David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club on Friday August 5th, 2016. This year’s theme is “Hope Under The Stars!” Our patients and families affected by a cancer diagnosis inspire us on a daily basis. This year’s Gala will be very special as we introduce some of our brand new Directors of Patient Advocacy. This is a group of individuals directly affected by a cancer diagnosis and positively impacted by the support from David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation.

The beautiful Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club is once again the venue for this year’s Gala. The Hughes Family and staff treat this event as if it were a special event for a family member. We appreciate their continued support and friendship.

Our entertainment lineup for the 4th Annual Island Gala is second to none! We met American Idol Alum Cara Samantha a few years ago as a result of her cousin Jamie being diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, Jamie eventually lost her courageous battle with cancer. Cara will be performing during cocktail hour and under the stars in our outside “Hope Tiki Garden” too. A brief opening ceremony will take place after cocktail hour. Then everybody should get ready to dance the night away to Philadelphia’s High-Energy Seven Piece Band: Love 77. The members of LOVE 77 are motivated by the mission of the Foundation and ready to bring the house down with some incredible Live Music! Our favorite Emcee, Live Auctioneer and Friend: James Donahower is back to host the entire evening for us this year.

We want to thank our friends at Reynolds Landscaping for their continued support and efforts supporting this special event.

Please join us on Friday August 5th, 2016 at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. Individual tickets will go on sale shortly for $250.00pp. Event will take place from 7pm-midnight. Live Music, Hors D’Ourves, Dinner and 3 Hour Top Shelf Open Bar. (Cocktail Attire)

Invites have been mailed to last year’s guests and the easiest way to secure your ticket for the 4th Annual Island Gala is to reserve your sponsorship today. You can do so by visiting our website at www.davidsdreamandbelieve.org, click the Donate tab, under donation type click (enter your own donation amount)(enter sponsorship level amount), under donation events click Island Gala in the drop down. You can also download form attached below. Make checks payable to DDBCF, 364 North Main Street, Suite 10D, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Thank you!

Sponsorship Form_Page1_Mega Sponsorship Form_Page2_Mega

Sponsorship Form

Reynolds Garden Shop, Nursery, Floral Market & Landscaping | Sponsor Spotlight | David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation

Reynolds

We want to continue our “Shop Local” theme this weekend and use this Sunday Sponsor Spotlight to feature our dear friends at Reynolds Garden Shop, Nursery, Floral Market & Landscaping. We are putting the spotlight on businesses that have donated in excess of $10,000.00 in 2015 and have made a long-term commitment to support David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation!

The Reynolds family have been ardent supporters of the Foundation since the early stages of DDBCF. In 2014, we were informed about a local patient battling cancer in Little Egg Harbor that was about to become homeless. The Reynolds family used all of their available resources including manpower, moving trucks and apartment to work with DDBCF to assist this patient.

In 2015, the Reynolds family, business and staff focused their primary attention on our Island Gala event at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club in Beach Haven, NJ on Friday August 14th. Our Directors Kim McCabe Manzella and Dani Corso worked together with the entire Reynolds team to make the 3rd Annual Island Gala the most succesful event in DDBCF history nearly doubling the donations from 2014! This was an incredible team effort including the Reynolds family (Peg, Mark, Katie, Tanek, Ashley, Luke, Ashley), Reynolds Staff, Jacquelyn Zeichner, John & Sophia Steber, Kim McCabe Manzella and Dani Corso. We would not be able to offer financial assistance, services and HOPE to almost 500 families without the support of families like the Reynolds, their business and amazing staff!

Please support the sponsors we spotlight that make giving to the families of DDBCF a priority of their business!

Thank you!

Island Gala Wrap-Up | Thank You | David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation

Thank You!
Thank You!

THANK YOU!

We held our 3rd Annual Island Gala “A Night on the Boardwalk” on Friday August 14th and it proved to be our most successful fundraiser to date with a NET of $94,577.43! Our Mega 50/50 Raffle Winners were Angela Monafo and Taryn Parascand (Congratulations!) but there’s no doubt that the real winners of the night were our patients and families affected by a cancer diagnosis! Thank you.

We do need to thank a few people that were instrumental in making our 3rd Annual Island Gala possible. That starts with our executive committee in charge of planning and sponsoring various aspects of this year’s event. The Reynolds Family, Reynolds Landscaping & Garden Shop, Steber Family, McCabe Family, Catherine Deely and Board of Director Members Kim Manzella & Dani Corso. This group started its’ planning/management efforts in January 2015 and continued right up until the last item was packed up around 2:00am Saturday morning! It takes a monumental effort from a dedicated team to pull off an event like this one and this group was simply amazing!

Our Host Venue for the 3rd year in a row was our friends at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club! Tom Hughes, Jaimee Boyle and Brittany Solon treat the entire planning process, meetings and night of the event as if it was a special party for a family member and for that we are eternally grateful.  The resort is absolutely beautiful and the incredible staff make all of our guests feel like VIP’s!

Our sponsors play a critical role in the overall success of the Foundation being able to answer the increased number of patient requests. Thank you to our Cyclone $5,000.00 Sponsors: Reynolds Landscaping, Steber Family, McCabe Family, Informed Mortgage and Allied World Assurance Company. Reynolds Landscaping and the Steber family were also responsible for sponsoring this year’s amazing band Monte Carlo from Philadelphia. Thank you to our Himalayan $2,500.00 Sponsor: D. Finelli Construction and Congratulations to Dave and Laurie on the birth of their baby girl Lyla Marie. Thank you to our Carousel $1,000.00 Sponsors: Anderson Insurance Agency, G. Anderson Agency, Brandon Systems, Cosimano Family, Shannon Keyes DMD and Zelus Consulting Group LLC.

Our Auctions are always top notch thanks to the efforts of Cathy Deely, Kim Manzella, Dani Corso, Sophia Steber, the Reynolds Family (Peg, Katie & Ashley) and our extremely generous local businesses that want to participate in our events. A special thanks to Kyle Baddorf Executive Chef at Garces Trading Co. for not only producing one very successful auction dinner but accepting to do 3 of them!!!

We would not be able to hold our events were it not for the tremendous support from our volunteers throughout the year especially at this Goliath of an event. A special thanks to Tony Coon, Ryan Johnson, John Manzella, Nick Staub, Lisa Anderson and James Donahower.

Our guests (former and new) and everybody listed above demonstrated a genuine commitment to the mission of the Foundation and generosity of spirit that could only be described as inspirational! Our team from DDBCF walked away from this year’s Island Gala knowing that our Beacon of Hope will shine a little brighter for our patients/families affected by a cancer diagnosis thanks to all of you!

Mark your calendars now for the 4th Annual Island Gala on Friday August 5th 2016! 

Island Gala | A Night On The Boardwalk | David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation | Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club | Live Music with Monte Carlo

Island Gala

We could not be more excited to finally unveil the details for the can’t miss event of summer! The 2015 Island Gala to benefit David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation will take place on Friday August 14th. Our friends at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club will again be our amazing host for the evening with generous support from our friends at Reynolds Landscaping.  We made a couple of changes to our Island Gala for this summer’s Blockbuster event including:  exchanging casino action for “A Night On The Boardwalk” theme and have added VIP Tickets, a Mega 50/50 Raffle (winner need not be present) and Live Music from Philadelphia’s premier nine-piece band Monte Carlo!

The event will take place on Friday August 14th from 7 pm until midnight at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club in Beach Haven, NJ. Tickets are $175.00 per person and $250.00 for VIP tickets. VIP tickets include priority check-in & reserved seating. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress (cocktail attire) for a night on the boards!

The night will include: 3 Hour Top Shelf Open Bar, Food, Live Music with Philadelphia’s premier nine-piece band Monte Carlo, Auction and a couple of Surprises! 

We added a Mega 50/50 Raffle to this event this year with first prize receiving up to $15,000.00 and second prize receiving up to $10,000. You can fill out the form below and we will mail you your ticket stub or visit our website to purchase your ticket – the Winner need not be present. Please be aware that applicable State and Federal tax laws do apply.

This event at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club will sell out quickly so don’t delay! We do have a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact David Caldarella david@davidsdreamandbelieve.org to reserve your tickets or sponsorship or you can buy online by clicking on link below PURCHASE ONLINE!

PURCHASE ONLINE

Download Forms

Island Gala Flyer

Mega 50/50 Flyer

Sponsorship Contract

Auction Agreement

Ship Bottom Christmas Parade “Rocking Through The Years!”

Generation Dream
Generation Dream

 

All of us at David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation are excited for the upcoming Holiday Season and it’s going to be a very busy one for our youth group Generation Dream. Generation Dream will start things off this Saturday December 6th at 1:00pm along Long Beach Boulevard from 5th Street to 25th Street by participating in the 35th Annual Ship Bottom Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is “Rocking through the Years” and Generation Dream will be the masquerading as our “Rocking Superhero’s!”

Our very dear friends at Reynolds Landscaping & Garden Shop have generously supplied a trailer and truck to tow our float. A special thanks to David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation Directors Kim Manzella & Kristin Panzone!

As an organization, parents and friends; we have learned so much from the youth in our Generation Dream group this year and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for these Dreamers & Believers. Stay tuned for exciting news about the SOMC Holiday Party on Friday December 12th presented by Generation Dream for the oncology patients of SOMC. The Wizard of Oz at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven on Saturday December 20th at 2:00pm presented by Generation Dream for local families affected by a cancer diagnosis. Lastly, we will update you very soon on the Generation Dream fundraiser called “Project Dream!”

See you at the parade this Saturday!

Crabbin for a Cure Wrap-Up!

Crabbin for a Cure

 

The weather outside may have been frightful but the positive vibes and energy inside Mud City Crab House on Wednesday night were electric for our 4th Annual Crabbin for a Cure to benefit David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation.

We need to start with our hosts, owners and friends of Mud City Crab House: Melanie & Eric Magaziner and Ginna, Brianna & Bob Nugent. Our friendship with this crew started almost 25 years ago and was reignited during the 2011 Jetty Coquina Jam. They have been faithful supporters of the Foundation since day one and are responsible for our second longest running event with Crabbin for a Cure. Melanie Magaziner is going on her 3rd year as Vice President of David’s Dream & Believe and we appreciate the combined efforts from Melanie and Eric. Simply put, we would not have been able to assist the amount of families we have in the past 3.5 years without their support and friendship.

The Staff at Mud City Crab House is FAMILY! There are many reasons for the long waits to eat at this local landmark since the Magaziner and Nugent families opened the doors. However, we believe the amazing staff is tied at the top of that list with the incredible food. This amazing staff has volunteered their time and donated their tips back to the Foundation every year!

Our 4th Annual Crabbin for a Cure did not have an auction this year and there was a very good reason for that. Crabbin for a Cure has been a locals event since year one. It allows for local business owners and families to join together for a relaxing dinner with amazing friends after a long and very busy summer.  We value and appreciate the continued efforts throughout the year from those same local businesses and local families that allow us to carry out the mission of the Foundation. We want our supporters to know you mean the world to us!

Crabbin for Cure was created during a lunch meeting between Melanie, Eric, David and Jeremy from Jetty. We want to thank all of our sponsors starting with our longest local sponsor Jetty. Thank you: Jackie & Bill McCabe, Ocean Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Wellness Center, Sally’s Shrimp & Seafood, Panzone’s Pizza, Reynolds Landscaping, Anderson Insurance Agency, Thomas V Massa DMD & Associates, Walt McCollum Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Price Home Group, Art Puzziferro Builder, The Ruemeli Family, Ann Coen Photography, Speakeasy Pizzeria, Tuckerton Lumber Co. and Potts Excavating!

A special thank you to Kerry Beetel and his students from Piece of the Puzzle for making and donating the yummy homemade ice cream for dessert!

See you next year!

Reynolds to the Rescue!!!

A few weeks ago, we sent an urgent S.O.S. to our supporters asking for help with one of our patients struggling with the burdens of a cancer diagnosis from our local hospital Southern Ocean Medical Center.  That call was answered within 24 hours by our friends the Reynolds family who own Reynolds Garden Shop & Landscaping in Manahawkin. Our patient is on a very low fixed income per month and was due to unforeseen circumstances going to be without a place to live starting July 1st. David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation was not going to let this happen and the Reynolds family partnered with us on this new mission. We also worked very closely with the nurse navigators at Southern Ocean Medical Center. The end result of meetings with the nurse navigators, multiple meetings with the Reynolds family usually at 5am, the use of a Reynolds box truck, Reynolds crew for a day and one of our directors assisting us last Saturday was our patient has a safe and comfortable home! This will give her time to focus on healing and allow her time to look for a more long-term living arrangement! We are blessed to work alongside so many amazing families and local businesses dedicated to serving our community. We could not have pulled off this major undertaking without the support from the Reynolds family!

THANK YOU REYNOLDS FAMILY!

Reynolds Garden Shop & Landscaping
Reynolds Garden Shop & Landscaping

 

Thank You!

Mud City Crab House, JETTY and DD&BCF took out the below Ad in this week’s Sandpaper. We thank the businesses listed and many more for their continued sponsorship. We are so grateful for the friendships and relationships we have formed within our local community. We would ask you to please support these local businesses especially now in the aftermath of hurricane sandy!