By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
The Give Back Foundation will host a fundraiser at a local brewery as it continues its mission to raise money for families that are dealing with an illness or job loss.
The fundraiser will take place from 1-5 p.m. June 4 at the Screamin’ Hill Brewery, 83 Emley’s Hill Road, Upper Freehold Township. Tickets are $25 per person (ages 21 and older; includes pint glass and first pint of beer). Tickets will be held at the door.
Tickets may be purchased at www.thegivebackfoundation.com or by mailing a check to the Give Back Foundation, P.O. Box 535, Allentown, NJ 08041.
The foundation is dedicated to helping families who are dealing with life-altering circumstances such as illness or job loss. It serves residents of Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Burlington and Mercer counties and relies solely on fundraisers and donations in order to provide assistance, according to the foundation.
Foundation President Andrea Watson said the June 4 fundraiser will be the organization’s first event at the brewery.
“Our organization relies solely on fundraisers and donations. Having an event at Screamin’ Hill allows a local brewery to support a local 501(c)3 organization. They are a new establishment, so this will be their first time hosting a fundraiser,” she said.
Watson said all of the money raised by the Give Back Foundation goes to assist people in need.
“This is a great organization, supporting those struggling to overcome financial hardships due to the loss of income. We are a local nonprofit supporting our local community; 100 percent of all money raised goes to helping those in need,” she said.
Watson said the Give Back Foundation was co-founded by Ivan Olinsky after his daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer.
“One of the founding board members, Ivan Olinsky, started the Give Back Foundation after he noticed a gap in other organizations he was supporting.
“His daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer and at that time he was heavily involved with (another organization), but he realized there was a gap in what type of assistance they provided,” Watson said.
“People undergoing treatment needed help paying their bills while they were undergoing treatment, so he came up with the Give Back Foundation. The foundation filled this need within the five counties (it serves),” she said.
According to the foundation’s website, in 2005, co-founders Ron Dunster, Ivan Olinsky and Michele Lawrence received permission from the state to create a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization called the Give Back Foundation Inc.
In 2011, Olinsky and Lawrence retired, but continue to support the foundation and its mission. Dunster was appointed president. In 2013, Dunster died and Watson, who was the vice president, assumed the leadership role as board president.
Watson said the foundation has raised more than $500,000 since it was founded.
