Saint Jerome PTA Celebrates Annual Fundraiser On the Shore

More than 500 eager supporters gathered last month at Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch to participate in the 31st annual Saint Jerome PTA Luncheon Fashion Show and Gift Auction. 

All proceeds from the 5-hour event directly will support the academic and religious education provided by the Saint Jerome School.

This year’s event was dedicated to Father Erin Brown, Parochial Vicar of Saint Jerome’s Church. Father Brown’s reassignment as the Catholic Chaplain and Campus Minister of The College of New Jersey in Ewing was recently announced by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

Activities were prefaced with a plated luncheon for approximately 460 guests who had been perusing the array of more than 245 colorfully decorated gifts for which patrons were able to compete.

Donations enabled an exciting afternoon for a host of winners capped with a mystery prize that consisted of a diamond necklace with matching earrings valued in excess of $3,000.

Eighth Grade students were models for a fashion show that highlighted youth formal wear enabling students to experience a blaze of lights on a carpeted runway. Liz Sano provided fashion commentary for the student models.

Fashions were provided by Dante Zeller Tuxedo of Freehold and the Rue Royale Couture of Red Bank. Coiffure services were provided by Evolution Spa-Salon of Monmouth Beach; Lord & Taylor provided cosmetic service for the models and free samples to the students.

More than 145 PTA parents helped to provide the large variety of gifts that lined walls of the Ocean Place ballroom. Leadership for the event was provided by the PTA Executive Board: Co-Presidents: Elsa Pagano and Mary Holtz; Vice President, Michelle Petillo; Treasurer, Betsy G Giordano and Secretary, Claudia Volpe. 

At the conclusion of the gift auction, the Rev. Father Harold Cullen, St. Jerome’s Pastor and School Administrator, thanked the attendees and the large number of supporters and donors who had made the event possible.

Saint Jerome school is a Pre-K through 8th grade parochial facility in West Long Branch administered by the Religious Teachers Filippini since 1957.