On Friday, Feb. 24, the First Day of School Foundation will host its 3rd Hearts For Eli gala at the Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale.
The event will have hors d’oeuvers, open bar, dinner, and music by The Heartbeats. There will also be raffle, with prizes including Jet Blue tickets, Disney passes, Yankees, Eagles and Giants gear and signed items, a golf foursome at Baltusrol, tool sets, cameras, local restaurant and vendor gift cards to name a few.
There will be a photo booth, and a children’s room with activities, along with a kid-friendly dinner, for children ages 4 and up.
The event is in honor of Eli Waller, the Hamilton 4-year old who was the first person in the United States to die from Enterovirus D-68. In the days after his Sept. 2014 death, Eli grabbed the attention of people in Hamilton and around the world. The First Day of School Foundation, which was formed in his memory, raised $25,000 in the three days after Eli’s father Andy announced it, first to a room filled with media members in Hamilton and later that day to a worldwide television audience on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360.
Hearts For Eli helps the foundation continue its mission of providing finanical assistance to local special education departments. The First Day of School Foundation has just awarded its first $1,000 Therapeutic Dance Scholarship, to a student at Dance It Up Studios in Hamilton. Andy Waller said the scholarship will be an annual award.
The First Day of School Foundation also is in the process of launching its Special Classroom Sponsorship Program, which will provide up to 30 $1,000 grants to nominated classrooms in New Jersey that serve students with special education needs.
“We’re trying to get money directly to kids and teachers for everyday classroom needs, school supplies, backpacks, clothing, sneakers, special equipment, and any related therapeutic expenses that students in those classes might have,”Andy Waller said in an email. “There’s a mailing going out to schools, and we’ll have a Special Classroom nomination form up on our website. The basic idea: Nominate a classroom, explain their needs, get a grant.”
With the foundation’s funds going to schools, it relies on sponsors to help throw the gala. The Hamilton Geico office has sponsored the first 40 kid’s tickets sold. CURE Auto Insurance Group has sponsored the entertainment stage. Chet Desai will be donating photography services. The Monmouth County No. 1215 N.J. Sons of Italy is sponsoring the favors, and Lebak Farms in Chesterfield will be donating flowers for the evening.
Tickets are $85 for adults and $25 for children 4-15.
For more information, go online to firstdayofschoolfoundation.org.
Four-year-old Eli Waller died Sept. 25, 2014 from Enterovirus D-68. A gala in his honor will be held Feb. 13 at Eagle Oaks Country Club.,
