Post by admin on Jan 5, 2010 12:27:53 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2009-12-30/Front_Page/St_Rose_polar_plunge_helps_to_lower_tuition.html
St. Rose 'polar plunge' helps to lower tuition
Hardy participants will take a dip in the ocean on afternoon of Jan. 10
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent
FREEHOLD — "Freezin' for a Reason" is the theme of the second annual polar bear plunge that will have staff, students, parents, alumni and clergy of St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, Lincoln Place, take a Jan. 10 dip in the ocean to raise funds to help lower the school's tuition.
"Last year about $9,500 was raised for St. Rose and we had 10 St. Rose people take the plunge," said Carolyn Welsh, who is coordinating the event with Jeri Kellaher. "We hope to do better this year."
According to Welsh, the event is sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Monmouth County Division 2, to support parochial education and to increase an awareness of Catholic schools in the area.
Ichabod's Bar and Grill in Sea Bright will again host the event that in 2009 saw approximately 275 people from the area plunge into the cold Atlantic Ocean and raise a total of $57,000 for area schools, she said.
"The best part is that 100 percent of what we raise comes back to St. Rose school," said Welsh, of Colts Neck. "Our money will be used to stabilize the cost of tuition by spreading it out through the entire student body for the most impact."
Welsh and her four siblings, Karen Ramiz, Donna Harnisch, Kevin Condon and Bob Condon are graduates of St. Rose of Lima School. There are currently more than 400 students attending pre-kindergarten to eighth grade classes at the school.
Welsh's husband, Tom, will again be a polar plunger and he will be joined by his brothers-in-law, Rosh Ramiz and Peter Harnisch.
"Anything is worth it for the education of your children and for other people's children, even plunging in the ocean in January," said Tom Welsh, who with his wife has two children, Kyle, 3, and Scott, 6, who is a first-grader at St. Rose.
Kellaher, of Freehold Township, who was the only female polar plunger for St. Rose last year, will again take to the ocean with her husband, Vince, and their son, Kevin, 14, a St. Rose eighth-grader. They also have a son, Sean, 9, who is in fourth grade, and a daughter, Grace, 13, a seventhgrader at St. Rose.
"We're doing it for our children and for all the St. Rose children," she said. "It's to continue to provide the education we want for our children."
For Kellaher, the worst part of ocean plunging was coming out of the water.
"The sand feels like crushed glass," she said. "This year I'm wearing Crocs in and out."
The Rev. Rocco Cuomo, the temporary administrator for St. Rose Parish, was a polar plunger last year when he was joined by the pastor of St. Rose, the Rev. Richard Milewski.
"I'm doing it again this year to add my personal support to help decrease the financial burden of parents who send their children to St. Rose," said Cuomo. "For me, the worst part of the plunge is standing in the cold, wet sand waiting to go into the ocean."
Kellaher said participants of the plunge can wear whatever they want into the water with no time limit on staying in the ocean.
"It's only required to go in at least ankle deep," she said.
At 1 p.m. Jan 10 the polar plungers will be led to the edge of the Atlantic by bagpipers and a starter's gun will signal them to enter the water. After completing the plunge and changing into dry clothes, a party will follow with food and entertainment for adults and children, including the Around the House Band.
Registration for the polar plunge will be held at Ichabod's on Jan. 8 from 7-9 p.m. or on the day of the event, Jan. 10, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A minimum of $25 in pledges is requested to be a polar plunger.
St. Rose teachers planning to be polar plungers include Chris Stephan, Cheryl McLearen, Pat Brown and Debbie Starke.
Coaches, parents and alumni who will be plungers are Bill Thompson and his son, Courtney, Paul Zuber, Rich Mount, Trevor Mount, and Jessica DelVirginia.
To make a donation to the St. Rose polar plunge, make a check payable to Ancient Order of Hibernians and send to Jeri Kellaher, Polar Bear Plunge, St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold, NJ 07728.
For further information about the polar bear plunge or the St. Rose school open house scheduled for Jan. 31, call 732-462- 4328 or 732-780-2598.
St. Rose 'polar plunge' helps to lower tuition
Hardy participants will take a dip in the ocean on afternoon of Jan. 10
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent
FREEHOLD — "Freezin' for a Reason" is the theme of the second annual polar bear plunge that will have staff, students, parents, alumni and clergy of St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, Lincoln Place, take a Jan. 10 dip in the ocean to raise funds to help lower the school's tuition.
"Last year about $9,500 was raised for St. Rose and we had 10 St. Rose people take the plunge," said Carolyn Welsh, who is coordinating the event with Jeri Kellaher. "We hope to do better this year."
According to Welsh, the event is sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Monmouth County Division 2, to support parochial education and to increase an awareness of Catholic schools in the area.
Ichabod's Bar and Grill in Sea Bright will again host the event that in 2009 saw approximately 275 people from the area plunge into the cold Atlantic Ocean and raise a total of $57,000 for area schools, she said.
"The best part is that 100 percent of what we raise comes back to St. Rose school," said Welsh, of Colts Neck. "Our money will be used to stabilize the cost of tuition by spreading it out through the entire student body for the most impact."
Welsh and her four siblings, Karen Ramiz, Donna Harnisch, Kevin Condon and Bob Condon are graduates of St. Rose of Lima School. There are currently more than 400 students attending pre-kindergarten to eighth grade classes at the school.
Welsh's husband, Tom, will again be a polar plunger and he will be joined by his brothers-in-law, Rosh Ramiz and Peter Harnisch.
"Anything is worth it for the education of your children and for other people's children, even plunging in the ocean in January," said Tom Welsh, who with his wife has two children, Kyle, 3, and Scott, 6, who is a first-grader at St. Rose.
Kellaher, of Freehold Township, who was the only female polar plunger for St. Rose last year, will again take to the ocean with her husband, Vince, and their son, Kevin, 14, a St. Rose eighth-grader. They also have a son, Sean, 9, who is in fourth grade, and a daughter, Grace, 13, a seventhgrader at St. Rose.
"We're doing it for our children and for all the St. Rose children," she said. "It's to continue to provide the education we want for our children."
For Kellaher, the worst part of ocean plunging was coming out of the water.
"The sand feels like crushed glass," she said. "This year I'm wearing Crocs in and out."
The Rev. Rocco Cuomo, the temporary administrator for St. Rose Parish, was a polar plunger last year when he was joined by the pastor of St. Rose, the Rev. Richard Milewski.
"I'm doing it again this year to add my personal support to help decrease the financial burden of parents who send their children to St. Rose," said Cuomo. "For me, the worst part of the plunge is standing in the cold, wet sand waiting to go into the ocean."
Kellaher said participants of the plunge can wear whatever they want into the water with no time limit on staying in the ocean.
"It's only required to go in at least ankle deep," she said.
At 1 p.m. Jan 10 the polar plungers will be led to the edge of the Atlantic by bagpipers and a starter's gun will signal them to enter the water. After completing the plunge and changing into dry clothes, a party will follow with food and entertainment for adults and children, including the Around the House Band.
Registration for the polar plunge will be held at Ichabod's on Jan. 8 from 7-9 p.m. or on the day of the event, Jan. 10, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A minimum of $25 in pledges is requested to be a polar plunger.
St. Rose teachers planning to be polar plungers include Chris Stephan, Cheryl McLearen, Pat Brown and Debbie Starke.
Coaches, parents and alumni who will be plungers are Bill Thompson and his son, Courtney, Paul Zuber, Rich Mount, Trevor Mount, and Jessica DelVirginia.
To make a donation to the St. Rose polar plunge, make a check payable to Ancient Order of Hibernians and send to Jeri Kellaher, Polar Bear Plunge, St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold, NJ 07728.
For further information about the polar bear plunge or the St. Rose school open house scheduled for Jan. 31, call 732-462- 4328 or 732-780-2598.
