Famed Red Bank area rock photographer Mark Weiss has announced the donation of a series of classic rock and roll portraits from the 1970s and 1980s, to benefit the borough-based nonprofit Lunch Break and its 2013 Gala and Fundraiser event.
The limited edition prints, assembled under the campaign title “Feels Like the First Time,” collect a set of images dating back to the first time that Weiss had photographed each of the subjects — a gallery of luminaries that includes Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper, Cheech & Chong, David Johansen (New York Dolls), Debbie Harry (Blondie), Paul Stanley (Kiss), Sammy Hagar, members of Bon Jovi, Boston, and many more. Prints are signed by the artists as well as by Weiss, and are being auctioned here through October 8, via the online service CharityBuzz.
The fourth annual gala for the charitable organization under the direction of Gwendolyn Love takes place from 6 to 10 pm on Monday, October 21 at Navesink Country Club in Middletown. Tickets ($150 each; the majority tax deductible) include passed hors d’oeuvres, carving stations, music by the Pat Karwan Trio, a silent auction as well as a live auction conducted by Steve Trevelise of New Jersey 101.5. Also offered are a cash bar and and a 50/50 raffle ($30 a chance).
There will be presentations of the “Norma K. Todd Award” to Myron and Judith Kaller, the “Heart to Hand Award” to First Presbyterian Church (Tower Hill Church), the “Future Charitable Leaders Award” to Ranney School, and the “Beacon of Service Award” to the Red Bank Rotary Club.
The event marks 30 years of service for the entity described by Weiss as a “soup kitchen and so much more.” With the lingering effects of the economic downturn continuing to impact the hungry and working poor of Monmouth and Ocean counties, demand for Lunch Break’s services has increased dramatically.
According to press materials issued by Lunch Break, in 2012 some 56,487 hot meals were served (a 68 percent increase since 2008); 7,624 emergency food pantry distributions went to families (a 65 percent increase since 2008); and there were 8,879 distributions of every day clothing (476 percent increase since 2008), plus outfits for job seekers preparing for interviews and new found jobs.
Through the efforts of a small staff and “an army of more than 2,000 volunteers,” Lunch Break delivers daily meals to the homebound, offers cooking classes for children, a summer Community Gardener’s Market, and a back-to-school distribution of backpacks and school supplies. There is a monthly “Dinner and a Classic Movie” night for the Boys and Girls Club; Thanksgiving and Christmas meals; special Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas food baskets; both toy distributions and and a senior gift program during the holidays; and a monthly dinner night for the community. Social service providers are hosted on site; there is an internet café for job searches, and job seekers are invited to take part in the Suited for Success program.
“I am reaching out once again and appealing for your all-out effort to spread the word,” Weiss stated in a press release. “I need you to blast out to social media and tag the CharityBuzz links of the photographs… to the artist’s fan pages, band pages, Facebook pages, anywhere and everywhere there are FANS who will want these limited edition photographs.”
Tickets to the October 21 gala can be purchased here by clicking on the Gala section on the opening page. Contact Petra Vanderven at (732)383-8005, ext. 8 with any questions about tickets. To learn more about Lunch Break, its activities and events, go to www.lunchbreak.org. They can also be followed on Facebook, and reached at (732)747-8577 or [email protected].
