Business Briefs

ShopRite of Brick employees Chris Bednarski and Joe Myers of Howell are featured on special Cheerios box produced in honor of their store’s commitment to alleviating hunger. They were chosen through the ShopRite “Partners in Caring” program. The Cheerios boxes were unveiled Nov. 16 in a special ceremony at the ShopRite of Brick. Bednarski and Myers are featured on a limited edition of Cheerios Boxes that have been designed to honor hundreds of ShopRite Associates who took part in a competition developed by ShopRite Partners In Caring and General Mills. Also featured on the box with 51 ShopRite Associates is NASCAR Driver Jeff Green, who drives car No. 43.

ShopRite, ShopRite Partners in Caring, and General Mills teamed up for a weeklong competition in honor of National Hunger Awareness Day. The competition, which took place May 3 to June 5, challenged associates to design the most eye-catching displays that drew attention to National Hunger Awareness Day. Associates also promoted the Partners in Caring program throughout the store and raised more than $98,000 through $1 donation cards offered to customers at the cash register. The money went to the ShopRite Partners in Caring fund. In addition, General Mills offered ShopRite in Caring a $1 donation for every four select General Mills products purchased by customers up to $20,000. The 25 top performing stores were declared the winners and are among the recipients of the limited-edition Cheerios boxes featuring two store associates per store.

Georgian Court University has announced that two new board members have joined the board of trustees.

Allison DePalma, vice president of business development at the engineering and consulting firm of Schoor DePalma, headquartered in Manalapan, has been a recognized leader in business for several years. In her current position, she is responsible for targeting new markets and building relationships with the firm’s prospective and current clients.

In addition to serving on the GCU Board of Trustees, she is a member of the Board of Directors for Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) and the Anti-Poverty Foundation.

Elisabeth Fontenelli, global head of content management for Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research (GIR), also has enjoyed a successful business career. She currently directs strategy and operations for GIR publishing and distribution, overseeing a team of 80 people around the world. She joined Goldman Sachs in 1992 and was promoted to vice president four years later. In 2003, she became a managing director. She is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Management.

Fontenelli and DePalma are the two newest members of the 2004-05 23-member board, which functions as the second tier of institutional governance for Georgian Court University under the Sisters of Mercy.

Starbucks is sponsoring its fifth annual Holiday Angels Joy Drive to benefit the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation. Through Dec. 25, customers can donate gifts for seriously ill children served by the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation at all Starbucks retail locations in the tri-state area. Customers are invited to drop off new, unwrapped books and toys at local Starbucks stores. Recommended gifts include books, board games, puzzles, hand-hold games (including batteries), craft its, building toys, DVDs, compact discs, dolls and infant items. Customers can make a financial donation at Starbucks.com or slsb.org. Donated toys will be distributed to local hospitals or to hospitals that are a part of Starlight Starbright’s network of medical facilities in North America.

Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. recently delivered 1,000 frozen Wampler turkeys to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Neptune, for distribution to families in need this holiday season. The company’s Turkey Express program will deliver nearly 14,000 turkeys to food banks in the Northeast in November. The company also fights hunger through the Food for Friends campaign, which is expected to raise more than $1 million this year for more than 300 hunger relief organizations throughout six states.

Ladies Workout Express, Romeo’s Plaza, 10 South New Prospect Road, Jackson, is celebrating its one-year anniversary now through Dec. 15. During this time visitors and members can bring a nonperishable food item to benefit the Jackson Women of Today and enjoy a free workout.

The facility is also a drop-off location for Toys for Tots. Between now and Dec. 13, anyone can drop off a new unwrapped toy for children from infant to 15 years of age for the holidays. Ladies Workout Express is a circuit training center that offers female-sized hydraulic equipment, personal training, zumba aerobics, yoga, tanning, facials and a program for teens. Owners Pat Witte and Lauren Masarik, both of Jackson, are offering no registration fees on all of their memberships and low monthly dues to celebrate the facilities one-year anniversary.

Millennium Eye Care and Genesis Eyewear Inc. will present a preview of the entire collection of Coach Eyewear and Sunwear, Nov. 30 from 3-9 p.m. at the Freehold Township location, 500 W. Main St. The event will feature prizes and discounts.

Sovereign Bank recently presented Ocean County College’s Department of Continuing Education with a check for $25,000. The check will be used for the continuing support of the OCC’s Academy for Lifelong Learning. Sovereign Bank’s support allows the Academy for Lifelong Learning to extend its vision while demonstrating Sovereign’s interest in bringing its services and seminars to the senior population.

Radio station WMGQ Magic 98.3, New Brunswick, switched to an all-holiday format as of Nov. 22 at 12:01 a.m. and will continue through Christmas day. According to Tim Tefft, program director and “Afternoon Drive” host, the decision to make the switch earlier was done to accommodate listener demand for more holiday music. The play list will include traditional holiday music and holiday hits by Magic 98.3 artists. The station is owned by Greater Media, which owns 18 radio stations in Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia and New Jersey.

Monmouth County Freeholder Thomas J. Powers recently received the 2004 Joshua Huddy Distinguished Citizen Award from the Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America. The award was established in 1974 to “recognize those who show truly outstanding devotion to their fellow man.” It is named for Capt. Joshua Huddy, Colts Neck, a Revolutionary War militia hero. He was eventually captured and imprisoned on a British ship and later hanged in what is now the Borough of Highlands.

Powers was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved his growing family to Matawan Township (now Aberdeen) in the 1960s. He became active in the community, seeking and winning election to the Township Council, a position he held for 10 years. He then sought and won the mayoralty and served the township as its senior executive for four years. He was elected to his first term on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders in 1981, and has been re-elected six times.

Powers served with the U.S. Army in the Special Services unit. He is active in the Irish-American community and has membership in the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore, and the Irish Federation. He resides in Wall Township with his wife of 45 years, Barbara. The couple are the parents of six and the grandparents of 17.

WRAT-FM 95.9, a Greater Media radio station, held the third annual RAT Rock Open Charity Golf Tournament to benefit LADACIN (Lifetime Assistance for Developmental and Challenging Individual Needs) Network recently at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood.

Team winners were the foursome of John Pierre Tetrault of Red Bank, Rich Porter of Point Pleasant, Ray Rossi of Holmdel, and Rich Buonomo of Red Bank. Nina Anuario, OceanFirst Bank, won the “Beat the Pro” contest.

The tournament netted $18,600 for LADACIN Network. Proceeds will support educational, therapeutic, social, residential and support services for infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities and multiple physical disabilities in Monmouth and Ocean counties.