By PETE WALTON
The Neptune City Family Foundation will host its first dance for school-age youth at the Community Center on Fri., Feb. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m.
The nonprofit charitable foundation was started by Councilman Alexander J. Tallman and his family in the fall of 2016.
“The idea for the foundation arose after I started campaigning for council,” Tallman said. “I wanted to try and make an impact on our town in a way that was more directed toward the youth of our community. They are the future of this town, and have always been the highest priority for me while I’ve been in office.”
At the dance there will be a DJ, food catered by Bubbakoo’s Burritos, and a Snapchat geotag so participants can let others know that they are in attendance.
“We hosted or co-hosted a few events during the 2017 year, but really look forward to starting 2018 with some significant, fun events for the kids,” the councilman said.
Tallman said he and his sister Madeline are not that far removed from having attended Woodrow Wilson School.
“I graduated in 2009, and she graduated in 2011,” Tallman said. “For us, the health and well-being of the school and the school children is a very high priority, especially as we have both become older and more involved with our community. Although I realize that the impact we can make through our foundation is small, it is still something.”
The foundation has framed memorabilia found in the school’s attic, helped sponsor the kids “fun run” before Neptune City Day, and helped to sponsor Free Music Day by collaborating with Big Beat Music Studio.
Members of the foundation’s board are Tallman, his father Chris, mother Tamara, and friend Tim Krajewski. Melissa Whalen and Casey Wilson, both of Neptune City, are part of the foundation’s leadership team.
Tallman said that the foundation is accepting outside contributions. More information is available at the group’s website, neptunecityfamilyfoundation.
