By Dawn M Chiossi

     Aiding and inspiring women to go back to college, and welcoming in spring at the same time, the Friends and Neighbors of Allamuchy invite women everywhere to join their next fundraiser. They will be is sponsoring their Scholarship Program/Fashion Show and Luncheon to be held on April 6th, at 12:00 p.m. This worthwhile event will be held at Panther Valley Country Club in Allamuchy located at 1 Forest Drive.

    Known for their generosity to local charities and scholarship awards for women, The Friends and Neighbors of Allamuchy  has been going strong for many years and is celebrating their 40th Anniversary. With approximately 85 members, their focus is empowering and inspiring women any way they can.

    Tickets will be $42.00 per person, and it is asked that they be purchased in advance as no tickets will be sold at the door. Tables of 10 may be arranged for $40.00 per person also.

    All proceeds will benefit their scholarship program, giving scholarships to women 25 years old and up who wish to continue their education and who just need a little help.

      Fashion: It is something innate about fashion that all women love: There’s something extravagant and utterly female about loving clothes, they can be beautiful and appealing. The idea is engrained from when women were little girls, dressing up is fun.

    The idea of a fashion show is just ideal for the largest fundraiser for the Friends and Neighbors of Allamuchy. Fashion it is part of the idea of self-care.

  As women, self-care might be considered a dirty word.  While women are experts at taking care of everyone else, when it comes to themselves, they simply ignore or dismiss the things that are important to their well-being and that includes education.

   Any number of women would love to go back to college, to continue their education to improve themselves or their circumstances, this outreach organization is proud to give them a helping hand. Believing that it is never too late to embrace opportunities, the Friends and Neighbors of Allamuchy are offering scholarships for women all over the state who are trying to go back to school to further their education.

    Warm and excited over the organization and the cause itself, according to organizer, Amy Petrie, they decided to do a fashion show and luncheon for their scholarship fundraiser because, “It is something different than the sort of events we usually do, plus it should be fun.”

    Petrie tells that during the Scholarship Program/Fashion Show/ Luncheon event they will be giving away three scholarships at $1,000 each for the fall 2019 school year. The only qualifications are that applicants must be 25 years old or older, United States citizens, a New Jersey resident, and in financial need.

    The fashion show will feature fashions from Dunkelberger’s For Women of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Known for their classic and beautiful fashions and accessories, they will be available for sale.

    There will be a luncheon, and attendees will have a choice of Chicken Francaise with mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and Madeira sauce or Mahi Mahi filet with pineapple and mango sauce. Additionally, the day will feature tricky tray baskets and craft items available for purchase.

    Involved with the Friends and Neighbors of Allamuchy for approximately three years, the scholarship program is something Petrie can’t say enough about and she makes a good point, the organization addresses a neglected part of the population. “There are so many scholarships out there for high schoolers people who are just starting out,” Petrie asserts. “But there are lots of other women out there. Women who want to go back to college, schooling, or start a new career, there’s nothing out there for them. Our scholarships are for women who are just a little bit older, and who have the desire to further their education.”

    Seeking to get the word out regarding this worthwhile cause, she mentions that applicants can be interested in any kind of education at all, not just necessarily college. She discloses that during last year one scholarship winner was interested in going to Cosmetology School while another was interested in becoming a physical therapist.

    “This is our big fundraiser for the year,” Petrie explains. “This is a wonderful way to empower women who want to make a positive change in their lives.”          

    For further information or details and an application, please contact genkrumm@comcast.net. To make your reservation, please call 973-222-8290.