For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:
Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County
Laura Lella-Smith, Director of Operations
Phone: 732-728-0441 ext. 302
Email address:  llsmith@habitatmonmouth.org


Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County hosts second annual A Taste for Homes on May 15
 Freehold, NJ - On May 15 from 6-9 pm, Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County will 
 be  hosting its annual Food and Wine Tasting event, A Taste for Homes, at the Oyster  
 Point Hotel in Red Bank, NJ. This event celebrates the impact and difference that 
 volunteers and businesses can make to provide people in the community with a safe and
 affordable place to live. Over twenty local vendors and restaurants will participate. All
 proceeds from the affair will support the organization's efforts this year throughout their 
 service territory that covers 83% of Monmouth County.

Habitat for Humanity Monmouth County has built 50 new homes and assisted hundreds of families over the last 27 years. Since 2013, with the support of volunteers the organization has built 11 houses, assisted over 130 families with Sandy related repairs and reached many others through its A Brush with Kindness and Ramp and Rails projects. Additionally, volunteers have contributed more than 40,000 service hours to benefit residents of Monmouth County.
 
Carl's Fencing, Decking and Home Improvements is excited to sponsor the event as the
Five Star and lead sponsor for the event. "Carl's has been a great partner to work with for this event. We look forward to growing our partnership in the future," said Diane Kinnane, executive   director of Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County.
 

"Habitat for Humanity and Carl's Fencing, Decking and Home Improvements share many similar values," said Carl Del Pizzo, Jr. Vice President of Sales, Marketing and IT. "Habitat for Humanity is all about helping families, and Carl's is a family owned and operated business with strong family values. We're delighted to partner and help such an outstanding organization."   
Honoree Profiles:
  • Corporate Citizen Award: State Farm Insurance and its local agents have continued to be one of the largest supporters of Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County. Their support has helped build the House that Youth Built in Long Branch in 2016 and their most recent award will support the 2017 House that Youth Built in Long Branch in the upcoming months.
  • Community Development Award: The City of Long Branch has been a strategic partner of Habitat for Humanity for more than two decades, where Habitat has built 8 homes. In addition to donating land to the organization, the City and Habitat have partnered to develop programming for the Long Branch High School Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter to support Project Lead the Way STEM Curriculum specifically for the House that Youth Built in 2016 and for the upcoming House that Youth Built.
  • Community Partner Award: Monmouth Park Charity Fund distributes funds to non-profit agencies across Monmouth County for services to those at risk in the community and in need of special services. The Fund has supported the organization since 2014 with grants to underwrite Hurricane Sandy repair and critical home repair projects throughout the county.
  • Women Build Leadership Award: Kate Nelson, a current Fair Haven resident, will be honored with the Women Build Leadership Award. Since 2013, Kate has been an instrumental member of the Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County team. She served as the organization's first volunteer coordinator and now generously volunteering her time to spearhead the organization's A Brush with Kindness and Ramps & Rails programs.
 
Tickets for the event are $100 per person and includes the food and wine tasting. The event will also include a 50/50 raffle and gift auction. Students from Long Branch High School will be displaying their house design plans as part of the Project Lead the Way STEM Program. To purchase tickets or receive information on sponsorship packages, please visit www.habitatmonmouth.org/atasteforhomes
 
"We are excited to continue our A Taste for Homes event at the Oyster Point Hotel for the second year. Annually, we are able to build on our success thanks volunteers and partners like State Farm, the City of Long Branch, Monmouth Park Charity Fund and Kate Nelson. They are committed supporters of our mission to build homes, communities and hope. What better way to celebrate their generosity than with a wonderful event of food and wine," said Diane Kinnane.

Restaurants and vendors include:
 
Ama Ristorante, Anna's Italian Kitchen, Blu Grotto Ristorante, The Bistro at Red Bank, Booskerdoo Coffee, Chill Bubble Tea, The Danish Café, Danny's Steakhouse, Firebirds of Eatontown, Fox Hollow Winery, The Healthy Palate, Holmdel Buy-Rite, Jerry's Vodka, Kitch Organic, Lil Cutie Pops, McLoones, Monmouth Park, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ocean Place Resort & Spa, Shore Point Distributors, Teak Restaurant, The Vintage Cake and Yvonne's.


About Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County
Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County (HFHMC), serving Northeast and Western Monmouth County, is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. The organization brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope and a vision of realizing a decent place to live. HFHMC seeks to eliminate sub-standard housing and help low-income families achieve the dream of homeownership throughout its service area. It works with communities to develop decent and affordable housing where people can live and raise their families. In 2013, the affiliate hosted a Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project site in Union Beach to continue Sandy Relief projects in the area. The combined affiliate has built 50 new homes and assisted over 130 families in Sandy related projects in Monmouth County. HFHMC currently services 83% of Monmouth County and includes the following towns and municipalities: Aberdeen, Allentown, Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Howell, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Long Branch, Manalapan, Marlboro, Matawan, Middletown, Millstone Township, Monmouth Beach, Morganville, Ocean Township, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, Union Beach, and West Long Branch. For more information visit www.habitatmonmouth.org.

Twitter:  @HabitatMonmouth
Instagram: @HabitatforHumanityMC

Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County | Serving Northeast and Western Monmouth County | 732-728-0441 | www.habitatmonmouth.org
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