Community Corner
Bridge of Books Volunteer Finalist for NASCAR Humanitarian Award
Patty Aber is one of four finalists competing for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and $100,000 for her charity.
Bridge of Books volunteer and Middletown resident Patty Aber is one of four finalists for the Better Jane France Humanitarian Award, a prize given to a NASCAR fan who has had a significant impact on the lives of children through volunteerism or charitable work, the racing outfit announced recently.
According to a release from NASCAR, as a finalist, Aber was awarded $25,000 for the , a Monmouth County-based organization that collects and distributes books to disadvantaged children in the greater Red Bank area. If Aber wins the award, Bridge of Books will receive an additional $100,000 that should allow the organization to distribute tens of thousands more books and expand its reach.
The winner of the humanitarian award is chosen by the public through an online voting contest with the results announced during the season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas this December.
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Bridge of Books provides an ongoing source of new and gently used books to underprivileged and at-risk children throughout New Jersey in an effort to support literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. Bridge of Books, an all-volunteer organization, has distributed more than 240,000 books with the help of who provides storage space to children since its creation in Middletown in 2003.
According to the release, in the past five years Aber has volunteered with the Bridge of Books Foundation, The NASCAR Foundation, The Kasey Kahne Foundation and The Wally Dallenbach Jr. Foundation.
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Abby Daly, executive director of Bridge of Books, said the organization has donated books to Keansburg Schools, , St. Anthony’s Food Bank, , the Long Branch Concordance, and several Long Branch schools. Annually, the organization donates about 30,000 books. Daly said $100,000 could help increase that number to 50,000 and also pave the way for expansion of the organization beyond New Jersey.
To learn more about the Betty Jane France award or to cast your vote for Patty Aber, visit www.nascar.com/award.
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