Walk4Friends To Support Special Needs Programming In Monmouth County

MARLBORO, NJ — Friendship and community will take center stage this spring, when Walk4Friends, an annual fundraiser dedicated to promoting inclusion for those with special needs, comes to Marlboro.

Set to take place on Sunday, May 17, from 12-3 p.m., the annual walk will be hosted at the Marlboro Recreation Center by the Friendship Circle of Central Jersey.

Residents and local community members are invited to participate in or support the event, which will raise funds for Friendship Circle’s programming.

“At Friendship Circle, we believe that every step we take together brings us closer to a world where everyone belongs,” said Muka Pewzner, Operations Director of Friendship Circle of Central Jersey. “Walk4Friends is not just a fundraiser, it’s a celebration of friendship, inclusion, and the power of community.”

Launched in Central Jersey in 2001, Friendship Circle is dedicated to fostering inclusion, connection and empowerment for those with special needs by bringing families, volunteers and local community members together.

Their programming ranges from their Sunday Program, which pairs participants with a teenage volunteer to foster connection and friendships, to the YAD Program, which gives both teens and adults with special needs a space to connect and engage in meaningful social experiences.

Mikayla Schultz, a volunteer coordinator with Friendship Circle, described community as the core of their organization.

“We want to provide opportunities for as many individuals with special needs and their families as possible,” she told Patch. “We do a lot of events for those with special needs, and our hope is that we can grow.”

As part of this growth, the organization’s annual Walk4Friends event will take place in May, where attendees will be able to participate in the walk while enjoying music, games, food, entertainment and more.

In 2025, roughly 1.1K supporters attended Walk4Friends with 1.8K donations made and $227,000 raised.

For 2026, event organizers are projecting 1.4K supporters to be in attendance, with 2.2K donations and a goal of $275,000 to be raised.

“It’s a day that you truly feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself,” Schultz said of Walk4Friends. “And I think that’s what makes it so special.”

To sign up for or support Walk4Friends, you can make a donation, learn about volunteering, or register online here.

As of Thursday morning, $61,323 have been raised for this year’s event, with an overall fundraising goal of $275,000.

Pre-registration online is free and will close on the evening of May 14.

For those who don't register online, there will be a $10 walk-up registration fee at the event.

“This is an amazing program right in people’s backyards in Monmouth County, and a lot of people don’t know about it,” Scultz said. “The support from Monmouth County has been fantastic thus far, and our goal really is to continue to grow and partner with different places in the Monmouth County area to build awareness.”

To learn more about Walk4Friends 2026 or Friendship Circle, you can visit their website.

Walk4Friends will take place at the Marlboro Recreation Center, located at 1996 Recreation Way, Marlboro.