Press release from Christine Burke Associates
For the sixth year, the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund will present its annual Toast to Dennis on Saturday, September 6. Scheduled from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, the event will be hosted at the riverfront home of Kim and Ron Jaeger in Rumson.
The donations raised by the wine and food event will benefit the fund that was created and founded in 2006 in order to honor local resident First Lieutenant Dennis W. Zilinski II, United States Army, who was killed in action while deployed in Iraq on November 19, 2005. Information regarding the event is available via the charity’s website www.runwithdennis.org. All proceeds raised on behalf of the fund are used to support programs that assist our wounded soldiers and their families, and to provide scholarships in Dennis’s name to his alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy.
According to Marion Zilinski, mother of Dennis and co-founder of the fund, “Guests can take part in live and silent auctions. We will also have an exciting reverse auction for service dogs that will become invaluable partners to veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome or Traumatic Brain Injury.”
“We have already donated numerous service dogs, which come to us through K9s for Warriors, to area veterans – several of whom are from NJ – and we hope to raise additional funds to provide dogs to even more veterans in need.”
Co-chairs of this year’s event committee are Major Kevin Burke (NJ State Police, Ret.); Larry Durso (Durso Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley) and Lt. William Rustico Jr., (USN, Ret.). Former White House Chef John Grifo is participating for the sixth year and will prepare an extensive tasting menu. Grifo has been honored as one of southern NJ’s top 25 chefs by Atlantic City magazine. Charlie Brown will provide background music.
Zilinski notes that sponsorships and contributions are still available for the live and silent auctions, and that additional volunteers are still welcome.
Contact event planner Christine Burke Eskwitt 732-688-8079 or [email protected], for reservations or more information. Tickets are $150 per person, and can be reserved here. Valet parking will be provided.
