Over $440,000 Raised at Stockton College Scholarship Gala

A surprise performance from rocker Eddie Money highlighted a Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Scholarship Gala that raised more than $440,000, the college announced over the weekend.

All proceeds go toward Stockton College Foundation’s fund-raising efforts aimed at reaching an additional $2 million goal for scholarships, according to a statement issued by the college. Thus far, the college has raised a total of $950,000 toward that goal, according to Stockton College President Herman J. Saatkamp.

Money performed an acoustic set, beginning with “Baby Hold On to Me.” Money is a singer/songwriter and saxophonist known for hits including “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise."

The college previously announced that “Don’t Call Me Francis,” a popular Philadelphia-South Jersey dance band for the past 20 years, and Stockton’s own Faculty Band would perform, but Money's performance was kept secret until Saturday night.

Over 720 guests packed The Revel in Atlantic City for the college's 33rd annual event. Over the course of the past 10 years, the event is responsible for $5 million in scholarship money, according to the college.

Initially, the college's first comprehensive fund-raising campaign set a target of $20 million by 2014, but it reached that goal in 2012. As of Saturday, $22 million had been raised through the campaign, with $8.4 million going toward scholarships, according to the school.

 “With 14 months remaining in the campaign, I am confident that with your help and the help of many others we can meet, even exceed our stretch goals,” Saatkamp said. “Thank you for all you do for Stockton and our students."

About 20 scholarship recipients participated in Saturday's event, according to the college.

Emily Heerema, a candidate for a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy, was among those recipients.

"The day I started graduate school, my mother (Patricia Heerema) was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Heerema, of Bricktown, Ocean County.  “Throughout all this she has inspired me to keep going.  She’s been fighting and is now recovered.  Because of the scholarship donors, I am able to continue with graduate school and to become an occupational therapist.”

Heerma and her mother were both in attendance.

“We are especially grateful to Stockton Foundation Chair Tony Coppola and tonight’s Gala Co-Chairs John Schultz and Gary Hill,” Stockton College Chief Development Officer and College Foundation Executive Director Philip Ellmore said. “I would also like to thank our hosts, Revel and our honorary Chair, Dirk Schavemaker, senior vice president of resort operations at Revel.”

Lisa Johnson, of Lisa Johnson Communications chaired a silent auction, and Rick Dovey remembered the early days of the school.

“Back then, the President’s Office was in a log cabin. Stockton has come a long way,” the Atlantic County Utilities Authority President and member of the Foundation board  said.

“It’s exciting to see the whole Atlantic County charitable community come together to support Stockton,” said his wife, Mary Dovey, an Egg Harbor City teacher.

“I’ve been very happy with the progressiveness of Stockton," Johanna Johnson, secretary of the College Foundation and the coordinator of curriculum for the Atlantic County Institute of Technology, said. "It leaves a very large footprint in the region and I’m very glad that it does. A lot of my teachers are Stockton graduates and our students benefit.”

In addition to the scholarship recipient volunteers, 30 students from the Hospitality and Tourism Management program assisted Gala organizers, getting hands-on experience in their chosen field of study.

Top sponsors for the event include Revel Entertainment, Avalon Carpet, Tile and Flooring, IBEW Local 351, The Press of Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Burris Construction Company, Chartwells, Cooper Levenson, Credit Suisse Securities, Follett Higher Education Group, Horizon Eye Care, NBC 40, Dr. Jo Frances Stow, Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), AtlantiCare, Azeez Foundation, Caesars Entertainment, Cape Resorts Group, Ciccone, Gotthold & Koseff CPAs, Tony and Fran Coppola, DLA Piper and the Honorable William L. Gormley, Fox Rothschild LLP, Just Four Wheels, H. Paxson & Michelle Keates, Kramer Beverage Company, Liberty Mutual, Marathon Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc., Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association (MBCA), Nelbud Services Group, Inc., Dean and Zoe Pappas, Pennoni Associates, Inc., Pepsi Beverage Company, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Quantum Capital Management, L.L.C, Ravenswood Winery, Resorts Casino Hotel, Shore Medical Center, SOSH Architects, South Jersey Industries, Steve & Cookie’s By the Bay, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, Tropicana Casino and Resort, Trump Entertainment Resorts, U.A. Local Union 322 and the Yoh Foundation.