The 9th Annual Memorial Dinner is set for Sunday, Sept. 17.
“Opportunity creates desire.” — Danish Proverb
Chad Gunther was a passionate young man who loved sports and loved kids. He grew up in Cherry Hill and graduated from Cherry Hill East High School. He excelled in all sports, but ice hockey was his passion. He played ice hockey all four years in high school and was on the Philadelphia Flyers travel team. Chad also enjoyed teaching hockey and baseball to children.
Chad and his family moved to Centennial Mill in Voorhees and immediately fell in love with our community. He loved playing half ball and football with his neighbors and shared his youthful spirit.
Chad left this world on Feb. 8, 2009 at the tender age of 28. As a tribute to him, his family established the Chad Gunther Memorial Fund, a non-profit organization that provides a “chance” for the children in the South Jersey area.
The Memorial Fund has provided uniforms and equipment for the Bancroft School Softball Teams. This year, two of Bancroft’s teams won a Silver Medal and Bronze Medal at the Special Olympics held at The College of New Jersey.
Also, the Memorial Fund has provided young men and women scholarships to college through the Boys and Girls Club of America, purchased sporting equipment for the Promise School in Camden, sent needy youngsters to sports camps and provided food to underprivileged families in Camden. The Fund also sponsored the Below the Rim Basketball Program, supporting over 300 children in the Camden area. The last two years, scoreboards were provided to the Gibbsboro/Voorhees Athletic Association at Cricket Field on Route 561 and Rabinowitz Field on Kresson Road. The Fund has also upgraded the lighting at the Lions Lake Softball Complex for the Voorhees Girls’ Softball Association. This year, the Fund will continue to support youth athletic programs in Voorhees and Gibbsboro as well as Special Olympic Teams and the VGSA.
The organization will continue its mission with the 9th Annual Chad Gunther Memorial Dinner on Sunday, Sept. 17 at the Lakeside Manor in Gibbsboro. Cocktails and Hors d’ Oeuvres begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and dancing. Entertainment will be provided by DJ Michael Lazar and Magical Entertainment by Peter Cuddihy. Tickets are $58 per person and the attire is casual. Donations can be made to the Chad Gunther Memorial Fund (CGMF) at P.O. Box 404, Voorhees, New Jersey 08043. For more information, contact Ted Lachman at [email protected].
