SOMC Oncology Holiday Party

SOMC Holiday Oncology Party
SOMC Holiday Oncology Party

We have a special relationship with our local hospital Southern Ocean Medical Center (SOMC) in Manahawkin, NJ and the majority of our patients come directly from SOMC. We work very closely with the nurse navigators, nurses, doctors, administration and ultimately the patients from SOMC. We believe a unified effort between SOMC and David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation will greatly benefit the journey for our local cancer patients.

“You Have Cancer” are the dreaded words nobody ever wants to hear but it’s our mission to bring COMPASSION, LOVE and HOPE to our patients and families battling a cancer diagnosis.

Our youth group Generation Dream is responsible for every aspect of this event and we couldn’t be prouder of this group of inspired kids who continue to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families.

We are inviting the patients of SOMC and 1 guest to join us for our 1st Annual SOMC Oncology Holiday Party on Friday December 12th between 4-7pm. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] or 609-548-3382. 

 

 

 

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!

Survival of the Mills presented by Ocean Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Wellness Center

Survival of the Mills
Survival of the Mills

It’s always difficult to come up with the words to describe a new event because you cannot just say, “You had to be there.” It feels like we’ve been saying that a lot lately with last weekend’s Sing for Hope and now today’s Survival of the Mills! We try to maintain a healthy balance of diverse events so there is something for everybody while not wearing out our welcome. We are always mindful that your support comes directly from your hard work and we NEVER take that for granted!

Survival of the Mills was created by my friend and our race director Ross Reynolds. Ross and I had a conversation about doing an event together about a year ago when I saw Ross and his wife Marissa having dinner at Mud City Crab House. 12 months of planning and hard work by Ross resulted in an amazing day for the participants. Ross worked so hard on every aspect of this event to ensure it ran smoothly, was challenging and safe for everybody, and the participants all had fun. Mission accomplished! Thank you so much Ross!

However, Ross and I both know that an event like this one does not just happen without the incredible efforts from a Team of Volunteers! Since our inception as a Foundation in 2010, we have maintained that our David’s Dream & Believe volunteers are simply the best and today only confirmed that fact. Not only do we preach to the public that we have the best volunteers but we practice what we preach. President Tim Hall volunteered all weekend helping with set-up and breakdown in between competing and placing 16th overall in the triathlon! Our secretary Kelly Powers competed in the 5K today! Our event Directors and Survival of the Mills Sponsor Kristin Panzone and Jillian Elsasser (Panzone’s Pizza) and communications Director Danielle Corso managed the cycling turnarounds! Our youth Director and Main Event Sponsor Kim Manzella (Ocean Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Wellness Center) and her family managed the water stations! Our Directors serve the Foundation on a completely volunteer basis and their efforts are extraordinary on a daily basis not just event days! Thank you!

Thank you to our youth group Generation Dream families that manned the water stations & managed some of the race logistics for us today! We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to support the Foundation & we love the kids who continue to “Pay it Forward!”

A special thank you to Ross’s wife Marissa for all her efforts supporting today’s event. Thank you to Tommy Craig for assisting Ross with all the race set-up and logistics.  Thank you to our sponsors for their ongoing generosity and to Fusaro’s for the incredible after-race spread which so many participants raved about.  A special thanks to our host, Wells Mill County Park and their staff, who delivered an incredible experience taking us off the beaten path of typical triathlons, duathlons, and 5k races.

Thank you to all the participants for competing today! We heard from cancer survivors participating in the event throughout the day and your courage inspires us!

The end result of a successful race is that our patients will be the ultimate winners! Thank you from all of us at David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation and see you next year!

 

 “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have!”

Crabbin For A Cure presented by Mud City Crab House!

Crabbin For A Cure
Crabbin For A Cure

 

 

 

Our last major event for 2014 is Crabbin for a Cure at Mud City Crab House on Wednesday October 22nd. It’s one of our two oldest events along with Jetty’s Coquina Jam. We will be holding a special 50/50 raffle at each seating but no auction this year. We appreciate EVERYTHING our auction gift donors/sponsors do for us throughout the year and we never take your efforts for granted. We are asking you to join us for a relaxing evening of amazing food, cocktails and great friends with the best staff this side of the Mississippi! Please contact [email protected] to reserve your sponsorship or seats today.

 

Thank you!

 

 

SING FOR HOPE!

SING FOR HOPE
SING FOR HOPE

 

SING FOR HOPE: An All-Star concert presented by Cara Samantha to raise money for David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation!

SUNDAY OCTOBER 5th 2014, 2pm-6pm
Toshi’s Living Room at The Flat Iron Hotel1411 Broadway, NY, NY 10001
Performers from Broadway, American Idol and more!

Please pre-purchase your tickets by visiting: SING FOR HOPE                         $22 in advance, including one free raffle entry ($5 value)                                                      $20 at the door, raffle entries sold separately                                                                            100% of ticket and raffle sales PLUS 20% of all food and beverage purchases will be donated back to David’s Dream & Believe on behalf of Toshi’s Living Room.

WHY? From: Cara Samantha

In 2013 my cousin Jamie passed away at just 35 years old from Stage 4 Breast Cancer leaving behind her husband Glenn and three delightfully inquisitive kids Kyle, Alyssa and Brandon, all under 8yrs old. Luckily, David’s involvement in Jamie’s journey allowed us to have a wonderful party celebrating Jamie before she passed. She was showered in love and kindness from over 250 family members, friends and strangers. We also managed to raise about $30,000 for her and her family in her final days. David Caldarella was an integral part in making this happen and we are all forever grateful.

Just one month after Jamie left us, her brother Brian was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL). Multiple trips back and forth from NJ to Sloan Kettering, hospital stays, hotel overnights, treatment and more make for some hefty bills and luckily David stepped right in again to offer as much assistance as he could. Jamie and Brian are just two people from one family. One family who means the world to me, but one family that even David’s foundation can only do so much for. He is constantly helping people of all ages fighting all kinds of cancer find hope in their struggle by easing some of their financial burdens and giving them a little more light in their life. The more money we can raise for David’s foundation, the more families he can help thrive.

 

Please join us in NYC as we raise money to give back to a wonderful foundation whose mission brings hope and happiness to families fighting cancer in the New Jersey area. If you are unable to attend, please consider donating any amount and helping us spread the word.

 

ROCKTOBERFEST presented by Beach Haven Moose Riders

Rocktoberfest
Rocktoberfest

 

Please join us this Saturday September 20th at the Beach Haven NJ Moose Lodge 1575, 120 Rt. 72 East, Manahawkin NJ 08050 between 1-6pm for the 2nd Annual Rocktoberfest presented by Beach Haven Moose Riders to benefit David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation with special guests: Fritz Electric, Wildcard and The 559!

$25.00 per person and kids 12 & under are free! There will be a bouncy house, video game trailer and face painters for the kids. Food, beer, wine, incredible auction items and LIVE Music! You can purchase tickets in advance at the Beach Haven Moose Lodge or purchase tickets day of event!

Our youth group called Generation Dream will be at the party selling t-shirts. Please join us on Saturday for a fun-filled family event that benefits our local families battling a cancer diagnosis!

Thank you to our friends with the Beach Haven Moose Riders for their continued support with Rocktoberfest and throughout the year!

Survival of the Mills presented by Ocean Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Wellness Center

Survival of the Mills
Survival of the Mills

 

We are excited to announce Ocean Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Wellness Center in Manahawkin, NJ have agreed to be the Main Event Sponsor for our Survival of the Mills event on October 12, 2014. Owners Kim & John Manzella and their staff have been ardent supporters of David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation since the inception of the Foundation. Kim Manzella recently accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors for David’s Dream & Believe. All of us at the Foundation and our families battling a cancer diagnosis will be well served by Kim’s compassion, kindness, generosity and loving heart for others! We also want to thank our dear friend & Race Director Ross Reynolds at Trident Multisport for creating this unique, scenic and demanding race. We have been asked numerous times throughout the past 4 years, “Why don’t you have a race event to benefit David’s Dream & Believe?” The simple answer is we were waiting for that special event to come along and the right partnerships. We have found both with our 1st Annual Survival of the Mills and partnerships with Trident Multisport & Ocean Acupuncture!

One of Kim Manzella’s first acts after being appointed to the Board of Directors was to create a youth sub-group of David’s Dream & Believe called “Generation Dream.” Generation Dream is a youth group committed to raising awareness & creating fundraising projects for David’s Dream & Believe and generating a ripple effect of kindness, hope and love for New Jersey families battling a cancer diagnosis. Our Generation Dream Team will be heavily involved in this event as well. You will see some of them participating in the 5K race while others will be manning water stations along the race route.

Please visit Survival of the Mills for more information about the race and to register for this unique first time event!

Click on below attachment for more information regarding Sponsorship & Food/Drink opportunities. Please contact David Caldarella at [email protected] or Kim Manzella at [email protected] to reserve your sponsorship!

 

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have!”

 

Sponsorship Form

 

 

2nd Annual Island Gala & Casino Night Wrap-Up

THANK YOU!

The “Cards,” “Stars” and “Positive Vibes” were with us at this year’s 2nd Annual Island Gala & Casino Night presented by our friends at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club in Beach Haven Friday August 8th!

Our Host & Main Event Sponsor Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club need to be commended for another incredible evening. A special thanks to Tom Hughes, Jaimee Boyle and Brittany Hughes for their support for David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DD&BCF) during not only our Island Gala & Casino Night but for their continued support throughout the year! Thank you to the awesome staff for making everybody feel comfortable and setting the positive tone for the entire evening. It’s not a surprise to let our supporters know we are already ironing out plans and date for next year’s 3rd installment of our Island Gala & Casino Night presented by Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club!

Thank you to our executive committee, planning committee and volunteers that work tirelessly to ensure a good time is had by all. A special thanks to Kim Manzella, Melanie Magaziner, Paula Sari and Danielle Russo Slugh. Congratulations to Melanie & Eric Magaziner for being honored with our 1st Annual Dream & Believe Humanitarian of the Year! An extra special thanks to Danielle and her husband Marc for their support over the past few years but most of all thanks for the enduring friendship and Good Luck on your next adventure! Thank you to our planning committee & volunteers: Kelly Powers, Kevin Price, Cathy Deely, Jeremy DeFilippis, Jeanne Arington, Jen Larkin, Tara Wallerstein, Caryn Hill, Genny Clausig, Janet Brown, Karen Salvo, Denice Miller, Joyce DeGregorio & Shannon Rabbit.  Thank you to our good friend and amazing photographer Michael John Murphy.  Thank you Christine Howard and her local flower company Lily in the Valley Florist for the absolutely beautiful flower arrangements. Thank you to our house band Spare Tire and to our incredible Emcee/DJ for the evening Mike Thompson! There’s a reason we are constantly praising our Volunteers – Our Volunteers are Simply the Best!

Thank you to our amazing Sponsors:

National Pipe Hanger Corp. Mr. & Mrs. McCabe, Reynolds Garden Shop & Landscaping, Kristen & Anthony Martinelli, Bergen Risk Managers, Inc., Southern Ocean Medical Center, Thomas V. Massa DMD & Associates, HEALTHINTHEFUTURE, Lou’s Electric, D. Finelli Construction, Apgar Family, Shannon Keyes DMD, Schwee Tea Co., 777Tattoos.com & Van Dyk Group.

Thank you to our Gaming Table Sponsors and Auction Sponsors.  We make an effort to use local auction items from the extremely talented & creative individuals in our community as a way of spotlighting there genius whether it be pictures, handcrafted jewelry, amazing restaurants etc. Please visit our sponsors and auction donors that make it possible for DD&BCF to continue our mission on a daily basis!

This was a very special & successful evening but it would not be possible without the support from everybody listed above and so many others not listed above including our supporters that continue to attend our events. We value your commitment to the Foundation and we appreciate your dedication to our mission of helping those families battling a cancer diagnosis! We do not take this support for granted and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

 See you next year for the 3rd Annual Island Gala & Casino Night!

Summer Concert & Ice Cream for a Cause presented by Black-eyed Susans

Please visit our friends in the Black-eyed Susans Ice Cream Truck at tomorrow night’s summer concert with “Verdict” in Sunset Park, Harvey Cedars at 7pm and Monday night’s summer concert with “No Discipline” on 9th & 10th Street on the Bay at 7pm.

50% of the proceeds will be donated directly to local 19 month old Elena Michelle! Thank you Ashley & Chris!!!

Black-eyed Susans Summer Concert & Ice Cream for a Cause
Black-eyed Susans
Summer Concert & Ice Cream for a Cause