'Sundae Bingo' draws large crowd in Millstone Twp.

BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Janaki Goudar, 8, and her mother, Swati, of Millstone Township, scan their bingo cards during "Sundae Bingo," which the Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence held at the Millstone Township Elementary School on March 19. MILLSTONE - Bingo may never have been so sticky.

More than 200 area residents, including children of all ages, enjoyed ice cream along with bingo games during the Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence's "Sundae Bingo" event, which took place from 2-4 p.m. on March 19 in the Millstone Township Elementary School cafeteria.

The Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence (MTFEE) is a nonprofit organization formed by a group of Millstone Township leaders and educators. The organization aims to enhance educational programs in the public schools through private resources within our community, according to the foundation's Web site.

MTFEE President Laura Wittman said that volunteers, who included MTFEE trustees and friends of the foundation, organized the second annual "Sundae Bingo" as a family-oriented affair with "the expressed purpose of fun and wholesome entertainment for all ages.

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Dimas Santiago, 4, enjoys some ice cream during "Sundae Bingo," which took place at the Millstone Township Elementary School on Sunday. "We also hoped to highlight some of the strides the foundation has made to enhance educational excellence in the Millstone school district," she said.

The mission of the MTFEE is to promote and enhance educational excellence in Millstone Township's public schools by distributing grants that may not be available through federal, state or local budgets. The grants enable qualifying teachers and administrators to offer innovative programs and materials, according to the foundation's Web site.

Since its inception approximately five years ago, the MTFEE has collected and donated more than $185,000 in grant money to township schools.

"Again, we weren't running the 'Sundae Bingo' as a fundraiser, although we thankfully broke even," Wittman said. "We wanted to do something fun for Millstone families and raise awareness about the foundation and its purpose of enriching the schoolchildren's educational experience in our school district."

According to Wittman, "Sundae Bingo" came about because the MTFEE's other annual signature events are for adults only.

Each year in early October, the MTFEE sponsors a golf outing called "Fore the Kids." In February, the organization hosts a gala known as "Cupid's Ball." Both events serve as MTFEE fundraisers, according to Wittman.

"[Since] the golf outing and Cupid's Ball [are] for adults only," Wittman said, "the foundation wanted to create an event for the children and families of Millstone."

Dr. Mary Anne Donahue, the Millstone Township school district's assistant superintendent, kicked off "Sundae Bingo" as the first number caller, Wittman said.

According to Wittman, participants made their own chocolate and vanilla sundaes with toppings ranging from M&M's to whipped cream and fudge.

"The sundae station was a big hit," she said.

The MTFEE gave away three door prizes, one of which went to Dee Sinha, according to Wittman. Sinha, who was among those who volunteered for the event, took home a hardwood board game complete with a dart board, Wittman said.

During "Sundae Bingo," the MTFEE gave away more than 75 prizes, which local individuals, families and businesses had all donated.

"We had Borders Books gift certificates, games, books, art sets and gift certificates from Cold Stone [Creamery] and Barnes & Noble, too," Wittman said.

Every "Sundae Bingo" participant went home a winner, with some kind of prize, according to Wittman.

For more information about the MTFEE and its grant program, go to www.mtfee.org.