Ernie, a consumer with SERV Behavioral Health System Inc., speaks to the audience during the evening reception at Volley For SERV held on June 15, 2015.
For 25 years, area tennis players and corporate sponsors have supported SERV Behavioral Health System Inc.’s major fundraiser, the Volley For SERV Tennis Tournament. During this year’s silver anniversary event on June 15, 2015 supporters raised $35,895 to help the Ewing-based nonprofit organization provide special programs for individuals who are recovering from severe mental illness and/or coping with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Funds raised will finance the Scholarship Fund for SERV consumers, the annual Wellness and Development Conference for consumers and their families as well as other projects of The SERV Foundation.
Volley for SERV took place at Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, with one division playing at nearby Bedens Book Club to allow for more playing time for all divisions. Fifty-eight players participated in Men’s, Women’s and Mixed A & B doubles. A late afternoon downpour canceled a pro exhibition with Glenn Michibata, who in his playing career has faced such opponents as Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi, among others; Kaptan Karsolia, Igor Filipovic and Chris Hoeland.
During the evening reception, attended by an additional 100 supporters, two individuals were honored.
The SERVice Award was presented to Alice Hecht Giedekier of Wyckoff in appreciation for her 13 years of dedication and leadership as a board member at SERV. Giedekier, a First Vice President of Investments for Wells Fargo Advisors in Wayne, has also led the popular “Money Matters” workshop multiple times at SERV’s annual “Wellness & Development Conference” for consumers.
The Lou Natale Jr. Players Award was given to Ted Golfinopoulos of Skillman. Presented by Chris Natale, president of Ritchie & Page Distribution Co. of Robbinsville and son of the late Lou Natale, the award acknowledged Golfinopoulos for the 18 years he participated as a player at Volley For SERV and for his generous sponsorship of the event each year. Golfinopoulos is president of TG & Associates, a real estate company in Pennington. He also is secretary of The SERV Foundation Board of Directors.
Another highlight of the reception was the presentation by guest speaker, Ernie, a consumer with SERV since 2002. Ernie, a resident from SERV Centers’ Central Region (Passaic County), shared his personal story of recovery from mental illness and thanked donors for contributing to the SERV Foundation Scholarship Fund. Because of the 12 scholarships he has received from the Foundation, Ernie earned bachelor’s degrees in both elementary education and studio art from William Paterson University. He now is a substitute teacher, teaching a wide variety of subjects to students in Pre-K to 12th grade.
Each year, one of the most anticipated events of the evening reception is the drawing of the Super 50/50 Cash Raffle. The SERV Foundation raised $15,950 in the Super 50/50 Cash Raffle. The winners were Jim Zanzucchi, $6,380 (40% of total raised) and John Maret, $1,595 (10% of total raised)
The SERV Foundation would like to thank Gold Sponsor, The Rue Foundation, and other corporate sponsors, tennis players, advertisers, area businesses that donated auction items, committee members and volunteers for their invaluable support in making the 25th annual Volley For SERV Tennis Tournament a success.
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