Beards, Moustaches Crop Up For Freehold Twp. Hospital Fundraiser

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — If beards and moustaches begin to trend among your town's first responders, it's all for a good cause.

Police, firefighters and other officials are growing their "mo's" to raise funds for the CentraState Healthcare Foundation.

The foundation is now conducting its annual MoForNovember fundraiser through November.

Participants are encouraged to grow their facial hair throughout November and ask their family, friends and co-workers to support them.

Funds raised will benefit men’s cancer programs and services at the Statesir Cancer Center at CentraState. The goal is to raise $13,000 this year and fundraising has already begun.

You can visit its fundraising website for information on all the ways to donate - and to check how fundraising is going in the participating teams.

The fundraiser started in 2015 and, well, grew from there, said Nicole Romano, manager of Donor Engagement at CentraState.

When the end of the month comes, some participants choose to keep their new look. Others get a shave, she said.

One area police department discussed why it participates:

"The Manalapan Police Department participates in many community events and supports local charities. Supporting MoForNovember allows our agency to work alongside a local hospital to support men’s health and prostate cancer. We look forward to the challenge of raising more this year,” said Manalapan Police Department Patrolman Ross Dessel.

Since 2015, more than $90,000 has been raised through the efforts of teams throughout the area.

The following first responder and community organizations are participating this year:

• Colts Neck Police and PBA
• Freehold Borough Police Department
• Freehold Independent Fire Company #1
• Freehold Township Police PBA
• Howell Fire Bureau
• Howell Township firefighters
• Howell Police Department
• Manalapan Police Department
• Monmouth County Sheriff's Office
• Monroe Police Department
• Wall FMBA Local 75 for firefighters
• Township of Wall
• Wall Township PBA Local 234

Along with these departments, 24 CentraState team members are also supporting the cause, Romana said. They are: Omar Aguilar, Gabe Basalatan, Paul Bianchi, Jeff Booth, Heath Braunstein, Eugene Csipskay, Neftali Flores, Kevin Gunther, Mike Hilla, Ed Jacoby, Mark Kassabian, Christian Kohl, Luis Marmejolo, Brian Mason, Dr. Sanjay Mehta, Michael Migliore, Efrain Pesantes, George Quintano, Evan Richvalsky, Angel Rodriguez, Chris Skok, Adam Tizio, Gary Triolo and Patrick Williams.

She said CentraState Healthcare Foundation is "grateful to these participants and to our 2022 sponsors" : The New York Shaving Company, Image Creators, Lenneth Miller Hair Salons, Eat Clean Bro, The Bagel Nook, Ramtown-Howell Fire Company, Charles & Vicki Rickabaugh and Marilyn Kirschner.

For information on CentraState Healthcare Foundation, visit its website or call 732-294-7030.