Westwood Regional Staff to Be Honored by Education Foundation

The Westwood Washington Township Education Foundation has announced this year’s “Dedication to Excellence” award recipients.

The seven staff honorees include:

• Alexia Zygiel Brookside Elementary School
• Donna Kahn, Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School
• Jennifer Jarolem, Washington Elementary School
• Danny Castro, Berkeley Elementary School
• Rachelle Campbell, Westwood Regional Middle School
• Sue Ehlers, Westwood Regional High School
• Cindy Mazanec, Jesse F. George Elementary School

The winners are selected by a committee based on criteria which include promoting excellence in education and placing the needs of the school community first.

This year, the WWTEF will from 6 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at Seasons Restaurant in Washington Township. Tickets are $100 per person, which includes food, cocktails and $100 in “play money” to participate in the games. The winners will be recognized during the fundraiser.

At the fundraiser, participants can purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win "Dinner for Two" at the world famous Rao’s Restaurant. Each ticket can be purchased for $25. The food, house wine and tax are included in the raffle, but the tip is not.

This year, the WWTEF is also honoring Linda Bowden, regional president of PNC Bank of New Jersey and a Westwood alumni, with the Cardinal Alumni Achievement Award. NJBiz publication recognized Bowden as one of the “Best 50 Women in Business” and U.S. Banker Magazine named her among the “25 Women to Watch.”

Every year, the foundation honors special community members, including alumni and educators.

Thanks to the success of the last five galas, the WWTEF has donated nearly $300,000 to the Westwood Regional School District. Last year’s event raised about $50,000 for the social studies curriculum.

The WWTEF is an independent, nonprofit organization comprised of parents and community members. Patron tickets (patrons will be acknowledged in an ad journal distributed that evening) are $150 per person.

Checks for tickets can be mailed to: WWTEF-B. Cirillo, 345 Kinderkamack Road, Suite H, Westwood, NJ, 07675. More information about the WWTEF’s Casino Royale is available online at www.wwrsd.org/edfoundation as well as information regarding sponsorships and our ad journal.

Editor's note: This info was provided by Margie Druss Fodor on behalf of the WWTEF.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.