MILLSTONE — Lynn Mele, chairwoman of the Millstone Charity Gala Committee, presented checks to three organizations chosen as recipients of the largess.

The three charities the committee picked to help are the Millstone Township First Aid Squad; the Warriors Youth Group, a local organization that brings teen-agers together; and MAST (Middle After School Teens), a program for middle school children who stay after school.

Each group received a check for $12,000.

"I’m sure all three of these groups are in need of this money," said Mayor Evan Maltz.

Mele and the Millstone Charity Gala Committee, which also includes Dawn Maltz, Maggie Gilbert and Eneida Tobias, were at last week’s Township Committee meeting to present the checks.

The first Millstone Charity Gala was a resounding success, said Mele.

"This will definitely become an annual event," she added.

The gala was held at Frogbridge on the lakeside verandah and dining room on a Saturday night in August.

All 300 tickets were sold and an ad journal was filled. The finances were audited by a large accounting firm, one that handles nonprofit corporations, Mele said.