The Arc of Somerset County Golf Outing Reaches Success on 9/17

Watchung, NJ: The Arc Foundation of Somerset County hosted their first “Clubs for Cabins” Golf Outing fundraiser on Monday September 17 at Watchung Valley Golf Club. The event was part of a strategic fundraising goal to help raise significant funds for Camp Jotoni, a 15 acre summer camp program for special needs children and adults of all ages located at 51 Old Stirling Rd. in Warren Township.

Significant upgrades to the cabins are necessary to meet the changing needs of the individuals served at the Camp. The Arc of Somerset County, which owns and operates Camp Jotoni intends to accomplish this by focusing on initial and immediate needs that support the upgrade and expansion of Camp Jotoni’s physical capacity, to ensure they can accommodate all who require access to respite care services throughout the year. The event helped raise over $105,000 thanks to major support from local sponsors and the community of Camp Jotoni families. Over the span of 5 years, funds raised will help build four ADA accessible cabins for year round respite programs. Magyar Bank visited Camp Jotoni this summer and was one of the first Somerset County corporate partners to pledge $25,000 over the next 5 years shown in the photo attached.

While the campaign began in 2014, a tremendous amount of preliminary, engineering, grounds, site, legal and administrative work were required to pursue the ultimate goal of updating the cabins and other facilities on the premises. Such work included securing architectural drawings of the cabins and lodge, addressing engineering needs and potential environmental and wetland barriers and the site plan submission and approval by Warren Township.

“We are excited to announce we are well on our way to break ground for our first of four cabins in 2019 and we will continue to raise funds for the remaining cabins for the next 5 years, which will allow our respite program to accommodate each of our campers and families throughout the year” stated Lauren Frary, Executive Director for The Arc of Somerset County. “We are so very grateful for community partners like Magyar Bank who believe in our mission and our need to improve our special needs camp accessibility”, stated Lisa Marie Arieno, Director of The Arc Foundation of Somerset County.

“Magyar Bank is pleased to be a part of the Camp Jotoni upgrade project, stated Jon Ansari, Executive Vice President, CFO, Magyar Bank.” The upgrades will not only improve the Camper’s experience, but allow The Arc of Somerset County to expand the number families they can assist with their respite care program.”

To view images of the proposed new year round cabins, see link attached for 3D Simulated Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud8WI6xvGQU

For more information about Camp Jotoni’s cabin renovation project, please contact The Arc Foundation of Somerset County office at 908-658-3805 or e-mail: foundation@thearcofsomerset.org

Photo:Bob Beringer, Vice President, Commercial Lending, John Reissner Vice President, Marketing Director, Jay Castillo, Senior Vice President, Branch Administrator, Tom Logan, Assistant Branch Manager, and Jon Ansari, Executive Vice President and CFO.