Grab Pizza, Beer Downtown To Support Special Needs Sports Program In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Planning to cook Friday night? The Toms River Education Foundation is urging you to change your plans and head downtown for dinner and beer as the foundation hosts a fundraiser for the Unified Sports program in the Toms River Regional Schools.

The Unified Sports program gives students with special needs the opportunity to participate in games such as flag football, soccer and kickball along with general education students. The games take place with paraprofessionals, nurses and other staff members on hand for support.

The Toms River Regional Schools began offering Unified Sports in the spring of 2023.

The fundraiser set for Friday, Sept. 5 is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. during Downtown Night Out in Toms River. Capone's Gourmet Pizza & Pasta House, Battle River Brewing and the Toms River Artist Community will each be donating a portion of their proceeds to the Toms River Education Foundation for support of the Unified Sports Program, officials said.

"The Foundation coming together with our community to support Unified Sports is another example of what makes this place so special," Toms River Regional Superintendent Michael Citta said. "Unified Sports allows our most at-risk students opportunities that are not available in most places. We are so thankful for the support and look forward to seeing everyone downtown for this great cause."

"We will continue to work side by side with the Toms River Education Foundation to be a voice for our students and to make sure that all of our students receive the educational experience they deserve," said James Capone, a member of the Toms River Regional Board of Education.

The Toms River Education Foundation was formed in 2020 in response to significant cuts in State aid to the Toms River Regional School District. The Toms River Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation comprised of community-based volunteers. The Foundation is non-political and is designed to help bridge the financial gap created by the loss in state aid so that extra-curricular school-based programs may still be available to all students, regardless of financial ability to participate.

The foundation has donated thousands of dollars to the Toms River Regional School District to assist students and ensure they receive a complete educational experience both inside and outside the classroom.