Red Bank Walk To Benefit Freehold Domestic Violence Foundation

RED BANK, NJ — The Stephanie Nicole Parze Walk in support of victims of domestic violence will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Aug. 12 at Riverside Gardens Park, at West Front Street and the Navesink River in Red Bank.

And state Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, is co-sponsoring the walk, following his announcement of a state budget allocation of $50,000 to assist the foundation set up in her name.

The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation is named for the Freehold Township woman who died at 25 in a domestic violence episode involving an ex-boyfriend, who later committed suicide. She was missing for three months before being found in January of 2020.

The Parze family formed the foundation to support victims of domestic violence and their families and to create response teams that are ready to help local authorities conduct searches in missing persons cases. You can learn more at the foundation's website www.snpfoundation.org.

“In forming the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation, the Parze family has demonstrated the power of bringing together volunteers to create a grassroots, local nonprofit organization that is improving the quality of life of all Monmouth County residents,” Gopal said. “The Parze family has expanded the range of the foundation to support other local needs in ways the state does not address.”

Gopal, a supporter of the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation, most recently secured $50,000 for the Freehold-based nonprofit in the 2024 state budget to help it continue its work assisting people and families dealing with domestic violence, sexual abuse and missing loved ones, his office said.

“We are very grateful to Senator Vin Gopal and the State Legislature for securing the $50,000 grant for our foundation,” Stephanie’s father, Ed Parze, said. “This funding is vital to our foundation’s mission to ‘Educate, Intervene and Support’ families and individuals dealing with domestic violence, sexual abuse and missing loved ones. We thank all those who recognize the importance of helping those in need and thank them for their continuing support.”

To register for the walk, RSVP at https://bit.ly/SNPwalk or call or email the Legislative District 11 at 732-695-3371 or SenGopal@njleg.org. The $25 fee to register includes a T-shirt. Sponsorships at higher levels are also available at the site.

Gopal serves as Senate Majority Conference Leader and Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Elected in 2018, and seeking re-election this November, Gopal represents residents of Asbury Park, Allenhurst, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbor, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, and West Long Branch in the State Senate.