The residential treatment center has helped more than 10,000 boys over the years.
Bonnie Brae has helped more than 10,000 boys in crisis throughout its storied history. (Courtesy of Bonnie Brae)BERNARDS -- Bonnie Brae, which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, will hold its 30th annual Bonnie Brae Tartan Ball on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the The Park Savoy in Florham Park.
The fundraiser, which will honor Bonnie Brae's "Transformational CEO" Bill Powers, has become an important vehicle in helping the storied residential treatment center serve at-risk young men ages 8 to 21 from all over New Jersey. Over the years, the center has provided assistance to more than 10,000 young men with clinical, medical, educational and emotional issues.
"More and more we're depending upon these fund raisers," said David Fox, the center's director of Development. "The state pays for a lot of our costs, but those payments haven't increased in seven years and our costs keep rising. These fund raisers really help us cover the cost of operating and allow us to do more."
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Currently, Bonnie Brae serves 93 young men at their main campus in Bernards Township and 21 at community-based transitional living homes in New Brunswick, Bound Brook and Bridgewater.
Fox said the nationally-recognized residential treatment center, which includes an accredited high school, has an 88 percent success rate. He said the young men go to a less restrictive and more stable environment when they leave.
"We're the last hope for a lot of these young men and their families," said Fox. "These young men are coming from difficult circumstances. Our main objective is to try to heal their families."
There are a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities available which can be viewed at www.bonniebraetartanball.org. Individual tickets can be purchased for $275 ($200 for young professionals under 35), also at www.bonniebraetartanball.org.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.