Madison Education Foundation’s 7th Annual Adult Gala ‘Oktoberfest’ Raises Approximately $35,000 for Madison Public Schools

Madison, NJ (November 23, 2016) – On Friday, October 21st, supporters came out in full force to attend ‘Oktoberfest’, Madison Education Foundation’s seventh annual Adult Gala. This annual adult social is an important fundraiser for the Madison Education Foundation (MEF), which awards educational enrichment grants that impact Madison students at the elementary, junior school and high school levels.

This festive event was held at a new venue, The Park Avenue Club in Florham Park. The new atmosphere, coupled with a fun, Bavarian theme, created a casual and social evening for guests to come together, across the district and community-wide. “Oktoberfest was a great night for parents, educators and local business people to socialize while supporting education in our schools,” says Gala Co-Chair, Suzie Reilly. Along with a DJ, a 50/50 raffle and a wine pull, the evening showcased a diverse collection of silent auction items donated by local merchants and families. Auction items ran the gamut, and included a Chanel bangle bracelet, a Madison Community Pool Membership, inflatable paddle boards, a helicopter ride with dinner for two, a fire-pit as well as a dinner (or cooking class) for two at 90 Acres. The biggest prize was the 50/50 raffle which exceeded $9,000 and went to a guest in attendance. “Many volunteers were involved in the planning and execution of the evening and we couldn’t have done it without their help,” says Claudine Giglio, Gala Co-Chair.

“Given the Board of Education’s tight budget, MEF’s impact on our schools is more critical than ever. MEF grants inspire Madison’s wonderful and dedicated teachers to continue to provide engaging materials, new technology and enriching academic experiences for our children,” says MEF President, Clare Sievers. “We are so grateful for all the support at this vital fundraiser, which enables the Foundation to fund educational enrichment grants for the upcoming grant cycle.” The Foundation is currently reviewing its Fall Grant Cycle, which is one of the largest in MEF’s history. Those grants will be announced mid-December and enhance the curriculum taking place across all five of Madison’s public schools.

For more information about MEF and to learn about grants at all five schools, please visit www.mefnj.org.

Save the Date: MEF’s next event will be the annual Madison 5K Run/Walk/KidsFun Run on Sunday, May 7th, 2017.

Madison Education Foundation

The Madison Education Foundation (MEF) awards grants to Pre-K-12 teachers for initiatives that energize the creative and academic lives of students but are above and beyond the school budget. Since its inception in 2003, MEF has awarded more than $1,090,000 in grants. MEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 1093 Madison NJ 07940 or submitted online. Visit www.mefnj.org or e-mail info@mefnj.org for more information.