Enable’s main fund raising events are a Holiday Gift Drive, the Enable Possibility Pursuit which is a walk/run/pet walk, and a festive annual dinner. See information below.

During 2008 and 2009, Enable has been selected as the recipient of the generosity of the Martial Arts with Heart organization. This incredible group of owners of martial arts studios, their students, families and friends are committed to improving themselves and their communities using the motto, “Changing the World…One Kick…One Punch…One Karate Student at a Time!” The students who help raise funds for Enable are encouraged to live by the philosophy of being a champion for justice and a cause for good. They raise funds throughout the year through bowl-a-thons, kick-a-thons, a golf tournament, and other events. Here is information about the January 2009 MAWH Extravaganza which was their final event held after a year of fund raising

An exciting night of hard work and effort culminated on January 24, 2009 as Marital Arts with Heart, Inc. (MAWH) founders presented a check for $50,000.00 to Sharon Copeland, Executive Director for Enable, Inc. at their Extravaganza.

The purpose of the extravaganza, held at Millstone Performing Arts Center in Millstone Township, was to show the talents of the students associated with United Taekwondo Academies (UTA), and to present Enable with a check for the total raised throughout the year. The funds raised by MAWH will be used to help Enable’s programs and the persons they support. Those who attended the event included parents, friends and family of the students as well as individuals and staff persons of Enable.

“We are thrilled and thankful for the devotion and dedication that Martial Arts with Heart have demonstrated throughout the year. We are impressed with their loyalty and enthusiasm to support our organization and the persons with disabilities that we serve,” said Copeland.

“Although this event marked the end of our fund raising efforts for 2008, we are pleased to announce that we will continue to raise funds for Enable throughout 2009. We are proud of our students and their families and want to continue to transfer the results of our efforts to Enable,” said co-founders Bryan Klein, Michael Crocco and Dr. Nick Despotitis.

Funds raised by MAWH are used for specific projects such as replacing a worn out wheelchair for an individual, adding a sidewalk so persons with wheelchairs can safely evacuate from the backside of their home should an emergency occur, adding handicapped accessible doors to a day program entrance, and helping a family add a hydraulic lift to their van to transport their teenage son. Click here to see photos of these projects.

Each fall, Enable contacts the persons we serve to ask if they anticipating having any special needs during the upcoming holiday season. We invite them to participate in the Holiday Gift Drive which links the needs of persons with disabilities and his or her family with people in the community who can respond to their needs. Once we learn of the holiday needs of those we serve, Enable matches these requests with individuals and groups that volunteer to make the holiday wishes come true.

You can help with the Holiday Gift Drive in the following ways:

	donate presents
	donate non-perishable food or gift certificates to grocery stores
	help wrap presents
	make a financial donation

Each year individuals, families, congregations, Boy/Girl Scout Troops, schools and businesses volunteer to help with the drive. Here is an example of how a business, the New Jersey Hospital Association, helped with the Holiday Gift Drive for 2008.

Fifteen residents of Enable’s Lopatcong, Gallavan and Flock group homes received the generous outpouring of gifts donated by the New Jersey Hospital Association’s (NJHA) employees through Enable’s Holiday Gift Appeal in December 2008.

The gift requests were posted as ornaments on a “Giving Tree” displayed in the main entrance of the Association’s building. The opportunity to donate was extended to all employees. As they walked by the tree, they were able to pick off ornaments. Then they purchased gifts requested for an individual or group home. Altogether over 100 employees helped fulfill the wishes for Enable’s homes and residents.

“We normally take on a new charity every three years, and this year we decided to help out Enable. The drive was a huge success bringing in over 40 packages for the individuals served by Enable. We look forward to helping out this worthwhile organization next year,” said Debbie Furchak, Communications Specialist for NJHA.

For more photos from past Holiday Gift Drives, click here.

In 2009, Enable launched its first walk.

Over 165 participants were walking and rolling on February 8th at the indoor track of PEAC Health & Fitness in Ewing. Twenty-one teams raised pledges including the awesome students from Team North in West Windsor. Enable is grateful for the support of its major sponsors, Pepper Hamilton, PEAC Health & Fitness, and Novo Nordisk, as well as donations from Pennington Quality Market, Business Bistro Catering, and The Times (of Trenton). Several other organizations donated items to be given to all participants, including The Walking Company which gave away a gift certificate for a pair of shoes.

Honorary Chairpersons Kelly Rouba and Cynthia DeSouza, encouraged participants to lead healthy lifestyles, especially ones that included physical fitness. Throughout the day, walk and rollers enjoyed music from New Jersey 101.5 and the “Across the Street” band. Click here for more photos of the February 2009 walk.

The event was such a success that Enable will be holding the “Possibility Pursuit” on February 28, 2010. Once again PEAC Health & Fitness will be a sponsor and host. This year, it will expand and feature an indoor walk, an outdoor run, and an outdoor pet walk. Click here to register for the February 2010 event. A Students in Motion Committee is in place. These high school and college students are advising Enable on how to hold a fun walk and run and are helping to inspire others to raise pledges and participate. If you are a student and want to join the Students in Motion Committee, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Annual Gala Dinner

Pictured above (from left) Kathy Bologna, Ruth Sayer, Patricia O’Malley and Maureen O’Malley-Baus celebrating at the gala event

Enable’s annual gala focuses on the theme of fostering independence for those we serve. Acknowledging our 20th anniversary (as of October 2009), the gala being planned for May 8, 2010 will celebrate 20 years of fostering independence for persons with disabilities. It will be held at the Greenacres Country Club in Lawrenceville.

In 2009, Enable conducted a Nonevent Gala due to the challenging economic times. We are grateful for over 80 sponsors, organizations, couples and individuals who supported the event.

“The Magic of Independence” gala benefit attended by 190 guests was held on April 12, 2008 at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman. Audrey Wisotsky was the chair of the Gala Committee. The event, which netted over $55,000, included dinner, psychic entertainment by Ted St. James, an 8-piece string ensemble and silent and cried auctions. Patrick Boyle did a spectacular job as auctioneer for the cried auction items. The auctions alone brought in more than $20,000.

Sponsorship support was strong. Gold sponsors included the Baus Foundation, Bloomberg, Hovione, Pepper Hamilton, Stark & Stark and The Boyle Family Foundation. Four Supporting Sponsors made it possible for over 40 consumers and staff to attend: The O’Malley Family Trust, PSE&G, Sovereign Bank and Turner Construction. We also want acknowledge the Silver and Bronze sponsors: Kathleen and Paul Bagley, Karen Collias and Geoffrey Levitt, Michael and Joan Horton, Ruth Sayer, Valerie and Walter Simson, and Audrey and Marc Wisotsky. Enable is grateful to the many persons who attended as well as donors who made this event one of the most financially successful dinners to date!

Click here for more photos.