Geltrude Dinner Raises $50,000 for Melanoma Research
• 400 At Sports Memorabilia Auction, Wine Tasting Event
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Among those celebrating the success of the 6th annual Geltrude Foundation event held Wednesday at Nanina's were (l-r) Sen. Joe Kyrillos, event chair Dan Geltruide, ABC-TV news anchor Michelle Charlesworth and Sen. Ronald L. Rice.
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ABC-TV's Michelle Charlesworth with Tommy Coykendall.
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Nutley Finance Commissioner Tom Evans (left) with attorney John Gizzo and Senator Ronald Rice.
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Marty Lyons, one of the all-time most popular member of the New York Jets, was the keynote speaker. Lyons now heads a foundation that full-fills the wishes of terminally ill children.
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Well-known Nutley personalities here include (l-r) Attorney Thomas S. DiBiasi, Public Works Commissioner Dr. Peter Scarpelli, Bank of Nutley Manager Mel Priolo and Nutley Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mauro Tucci.
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Penn State's Jay Paterno with Nutley's Dan Geltrude who was the founder the organizer and the chair of the benefit event that has been held for the past six years.
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Michael Geltrude addresses the more than 400 guests at the benefit dinner held at Nanina's in the Park.
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Proprietor Joe Maurillo of Nanina's with Senator Joe Kryillos of Monmouth County.
Jun 13, 2012 – The Mike Geltrude Foundation held its 6th annual fundraising dinner at Nanina's in the Park Park last Wednesday evening. The event featured a wine tasting that included more than 30 varieties of wines in addition to a cocktail hour and dinner buffet. A sports memorabilia auction was also held for the benefit of melanoma research. With over 400 persons in attendance, the foundation raised $50,000 from the event.
Michelle Charlesworth, co-anchor of WABC-TV's weekend morning news, served as the event's MC and spoke of her own personal battle with skin cancer on her cheek. While covering a story with a dermatologist, the doctor asked to examin a spot on Charlesworth's face. A pathology report later revealed that she had skin cancer. Fortunately it was found early and Charlesworth's life and career have been unaffected. However, she is now an advocate for sun safety and wearing sunblock at all times.
Thirteen-year-old Frank Geltrude, Mike Geltrude's grandson, presented Tommy Coykendall with the foundation's inspiration award. Coykendall is a courageous 10-year-old fighting stage-3 melanoma. His family originates from Nutley and now resides in Stroudsburg, PA.
"Tonight we will put a face on Melanoma, and that face belongs to Tommy Coykendall" Dan Geltrude, the foundation's director told the dinner crowd.
"It's people like Tommy who make it so important for the Mike Geltrude Foundation to continue its fight for a cure, and your support is critical in helping us make a difference."
Young Michael spoke of his memories with his grandfather and lamented over the fact that he is being graduated by his high school this week and wished his grandfather could have been there.
"I will be attending Penn State University in the fall and everyone who knew my grandfather knows what Penn State meant to him. I know that my decision would have made him very happy."
The foundations first guest speaker Wednesday night was Jay Paterno, son of the legendary former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. He spoke passionately of the importance of philanthropic fundraising for causes such as cancer research while and reflected on the lessons taught by his father off the football field.
The Paterno family has helped raise millions of dollars for pediatric cancer. In addition, the family has donated millions of their own money. Paterno quoted his father and asked the more than 400 guests in attendance to "live hour life so that by some little thing you do will improve our world just by living."
Highlight of the evening was guest speaker Marty Lyons, one of the all-time, most popular members of the New York Jets. Lyons was an All-American with the University of Alabama before playing 12 years in the NFL, all with the Jets.
Over the last 27 years, Lyons has been overseeing the Marty Lyons Foundation which focuses on fulfilling the special wishes of terminally ill children. Lyons emphasized that "we all have a responsibility to help others in society. Each of us can contribute something – some can give their money, some can give their time and if you can't do one of those two things, then pray for us," Lyons said.
The Mike Geltrude Foundation holds this fundraising event each year in May or June and it's anticipated that the event will continue to be successful into the foreseeable future.
"It seems that the dinner has taken on a life of its own," Dan Geltrude, foundation co-founder said. "People seem to have such a great time that they come back year after year and bring more and more of their friends."
