Tickets on Sale Now for April Fundraiser for Point Pleasant Beach Schools

Tickets are on sale now for a "Nite at the Races," a fundraiser for Point Pleasant Beach Schools, to be held on April 8 at Martell's on the Boardwalk.

The seventh annual "Nite at the Races," to be held from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., offers guests a modified form of horse betting, along with food, open bar and music provided by disc jockey Paul DiPasquale from Backstage Entertainment.

Tickets are $50 each, with all proceeds going towards various programs and supplies funded by the parent-teacher organizations at the G. Harold Antrim Elementary School, the Point Pleasant Beach High School and the Point Pleasant Beach Music Parents Association.

The parent groups will use event revenue to help pay for such things as Project Graduation, scholarships, teachers' luncheons and supplies.

Project Graduation is an alcohol-free, adult-supervised event held after the high school graduation on June 16 at the Atlantic Club in Wall.

Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle go towards the Point Pleasant Beach Music Parents Association. The group pays for such things as scholarships, band and chorus competitions and trips, the music banquet and to help support the Music department.

"Nite at the Races" attendees are encouraged to purchase "funny money" to bet on previously-run horse races that are shown on DVD. The activity is allowed according to the terms of a one-day, event license for the event.

Nite at the Races, a company based in Florida, sells the DVD and game package to organizations holding fundraisers.

Winners receive tickets to take a chance on prize packages.

Eight local businesses sponsor the races which provides the parent groups with revenue.

The businesses then have the opportunity to name the 10 horses, owners and jockeys in the races they sponsor.

This year's sponsors are A-1 Tents, the OB Diner, the Boenning Family, Dunkin' Donuts, Marine Inspection & Logistics, Jenkinson's, Rock 'N Joe's Coffee House, and the PBA local 106.

Prizes, donated by area businesses, include: a Girlfriend Getaway Weekend Spa Package at White Sands Resort and Spa; four roundtrip AMTRAK tickets  from Metopark to Washington D.C.;  four, one-day Disney World hopper passes; a $299 gift certificate towards any GaminRide party package; a beach portrait session from Life's Miracles Photography; and many gifts and gift certificates from numerous area businesses, restaurants, and theaters.

"Those who have the unfortunate luck to bet on losing horses are not totally out of luck," said Donnamaria Adelizzi-Diaz, one of the event organizers. "We have second chance drawings for other prizes."

Funds are also raised through purchase of  brochure ads ranging from business card to full page. For the second consecutive year, Weisleder purchased the back page.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Anyone interested can call Donnamaria Adelizzi-Diaz at (732) 539-1885 or email purpledonnamaria@aol.com. Or call Tracey Jackson (732) 278-2927 or  Antrim's main office (732) 899-3737.