“Rock for the Rec.” will take place on Oct. 6 from 7 to 11 p.m.
In 2016, the Monica Buckley Memorial Foundation held a fundraiser in Moorestown that raised more than $36,000 for the Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation. The money went toward the department’s Social Meeting After School Hours program, which provides programming for individuals with special needs, and the program has since been recognized by the state for its therapeutic efforts.
The foundation hopes to meet or surpass its 2016 donations with its “Rock for the Rec.” fundraiser on Oct. 6. The event will be held at a private residence in Moorestown, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward programs that help special needs children and adults in South Jersey.
The foundation was founded in honor of Monica Buckley, who passed away following a car accident. During her high school years, Buckley volunteered with a group that worked with special needs children and adults, and so her family started the foundation to promote the education of adults and children with learning disabilities and developmental disorders.
The SMASH program at Moorestown’s Department of Parks and Recreation came to fruition in collaboration with the foundation. Sue Williams, who sits on the board of the Monica Buckley Foundation and is a local parent, met with the department, and together with the foundation, they developed the SMASH program. Their goal was to give teenagers and young adults with special needs an opportunity to participate in social activities, and the program welcomes residents from Moorestown and the surrounding communities.
Recently, the SMASH program was recognized for its efforts having won the 2017–2018 Jacquie Stanley Excellence in Therapeutic Programming award form the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association.
“The Rec. has been a fantastic advocate and is working hard to help those in the South Jersey area,” Williams said. “A wonderful partnership has developed in creating an after-school program helping not only individuals but families.”
Williams said, unfortunately, statistics show individuals with special needs have a higher likelihood of becoming isolated and depressed. She said special needs programming can often be quite costly, and so the foundation’s primary goal is to provide programming that meets the needs of as many special needs individuals and their families at little or no cost. She said the foundation strives to help individuals of diverse backgrounds at all economic levels.
The Oct. 6 fundraiser will feature a DJ, an evening of dancing, open bar and appetizers. There will also be a silent auction and 50/50 raffle tickets. Tickets for the event are $85, and all donations are tax deductible.
“It’s a really fun night that involves the entire community coming together to help those with greater needs,” Williams said.
“Rock for the Rec.” will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. at 10 Cortland Shire Drive in Moorestown. Attendees can buy tickets online at http://rock-for-the-rec-returns.ticketleap.com or by mailing a check payable to: The Monica Buckley Memorial Foundation, c/o Sue Williams, 401 Providence Dr., Moorestown, NJ 08057. For more information on the Monica Buckley Memorial Foundation, visit http://monicabuckleyfoundation.org.
