Beth El’s Dinner of Champions

‘Volunteering is in the blood,” says Ellen Botwin. “If your parents do it, it must be ingrained in you.” One of two West Windsor residents being honored at the Gala Dinner of Champions at Beth El Synagogue on Saturday, March 11, Botwin is being cited for her contributions to the development, growth, and sustainability of the Sisterhood; keeping the link between college students and Beth El alive while they are at school; and for contributing countless hours on the Donor Program. Also being honored: Marc Perlman of West Windsor, who has served as president of Beth El and as president of the Men’s Club, which he helped rejuvenate.##M:[more]##Says Botwin of her honor: “My mother volunteered a lot when I was growing up. We lived in a project in East New York. A group of people wanted to build a synagogue and she sold bricks to help raise funds.”Born in and raised in Brooklyn, she graduated from Brooklyn College with a major in speech and theater. She has worked with Theater by the Lake at Peddie School and Open Air Theater. “If Broadway calls, I’m out of here,” she says.Botwin is the music director for the Maple Stream pre-school at Beth El. Originally hired as the office manager, her position evolved and now she runs the annual big pre-school show. She writes the music and changes existing tunes to make it easier for the youngsters to learn. This year’s theme is “Cruisin’ USA.”She and her husband, Robert Botwin, moved to East Windsor soon after they were married. They moved to West Windsor 13 years ago. He is the owner of Computer Systems Consultant. Their daughter, Samantha, 18, is a senior at High School North. A member of the track team, she also finds time to volunteer at University Medical Center at Princeton and at Beth El’s pre school. Their son, David, 23, graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 2000 and from Rutgers University. He is an insurance agent for Northwest Mutual.Botwin has been a member of the Sisterhood for 17 years and has been president, co-president, vice president of fundraising, and programming chairman. The donor program is very popular since it earns tickets to a Broadway show. People buy gift certificates and the stores donate money to the Sisterhood. Participating stores include McCaffreys, Acme, Superfresh, Lord & Taylor, and Home Depot.“We have one-stop shopping, which is perfect for holiday and teacher gifts,” she says. “People who are not members do their shopping through me or other Sisterhood members and earn free tickets,” she says. “It guarantees that people who don’t normally go to the theater see a Broadway show.” Most people earn two or more tickets. This year the group is seeing “Light in the Piazza.”“I remember my mother selling housedresses,” she says “I helped her by taking housedresses for women to look at. Sometimes they would try them on and ask for my opinion. They learned that I always told them if it looked good — or did not. It worked to my advantage because they bought the right dress.”When they moved to East Windsor she discovered the Princeton Chapter of National Council of Jewish Women. “In my nature to take over, I was president and vice president for fundraising,” she says. “When I was pregnant with my daughter we had a fashion show at the Scanticon Hotel (now the Doral Forrestal) and I promised original designers that there would be many people to buy in the audience. We charged $50 a person and despite one designer locking himself in a bathroom for awhile the event was a success.”Botwin is also involved with the Post Prom at the high school. A volunteer on the prize committee, she is in charge of getting prizes from larger donations. Instead of knocking on doors and pounding the streets, she is looking to raise funds through a letter-writing campaign. She decided that area pediatricians, who know the kids, are their patients and they will receive letters for the first time.Of the March 11 event, Botwin says, “I plan to dance the night away.” Dinner of Champions, Beth El Synagogue, 50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor, 609-443-4454. www.bethel.net. Dinner, dancing, and auctions. $85. Saturday, March 11, 8 p.m.