MP Charity Fund logo

SINCE 1947

About us

The mission of the Monmouth Park Charity Fund is to raise and distribute funds to nonprofit agencies in Monmouth County that provide services related to health, those at risk in the community, and those in need of special services.​

Group of people posing by a pool at a backyard party

OUR HISTORY

A storied history of giving

1946
Monmouth Park Racetrack is revived​

Amory L. Haskell leads a group to reopen Monmouth Park Racetrack after 50 years, founding the Monmouth Park Jockey Club with Philip H. Iselin and others.

1947
The Charity Fund is born

In gratitude to the community, Haskell and Iselin organize a Charity Ball and Carnival at Monmouth Park. The Fund is officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) on July 21, 1947. Betty Iselin becomes the first president, serving for 50 extraordinary years.

1986
New ownership, same commitment

The NJ Sports & Exposition Authority purchases Monmouth Park and continues to support the Fund's mission. Today the NJ Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association carries that tradition forward.

Today
$11 million and counting

Hundreds of nonprofit organizations have received grants totaling over $11 million, supporting health, housing, education, and the arts across Monmouth County — powered entirely by volunteers and community generosity.

Help us make a difference in Monmouth County​

Every gift supports nonprofits providing essential health, housing, and community services.​

Donate

related posts

Maureen Lloyd, RN, BSN, MSN, is the Co-President of the Board of Trustees at the Monmouth Park Charity Fund. As a board member, she has played a key role as Chair of the Kentucky Derby Celebration, the Fund’s signature fundraising event, which helps raise and distribute vital support to nonprofits in Monmouth County. Maureen also serves on the advisory council of Lunch Break and has been actively involved with various nonprofit organizations, serving on boards and fundraising committees.

Senior Vice President & Private Wealth Advisor

Maria Farhat Tanzola, joined UBS in 2012 culminating 30+ years in Private Wealth Management. Maria leads the team in delivering all aspects of wealth management and planning to Ultra high net worth families. She provides insightful execution helping to relieve her clients of the worries and burdens of their wealth. Maria is a founding member of UBS Sustainable Investment Advisory Council and was the creator of ImpactNJ, an investment strategy focused on supporting the rebuild efforts of New Jersey communities. Her team at UBS has been recognized by Barrons and Forbes as a Top Private Wealth Management Team.in the country.

As a very committed member of the community, in addition to Monmouth Park Charity Fund, Maria spends much of her personal time involved with many non-profit organizations such as The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore (Executive Board), Chair, Hackensack Meridian Foundation-Women’s Heart Fund and was most recently honored as a Woman of Distinction of the Girl Scouts of America. She also was awarded the Silver Gull Award by the Monmouth Ocean Development Council.

Anita Roselle is the quintessential community advocate. She is a tireless leader in the many charities she had devoted herself to in our community.

She chaired the ARC of Monmouth’s Winter Glow Ball for 25 years, transforming it to the “Event of the Year” to attend.

She served on the Board of Trustees for Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center.  She was a board member of Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  During this time, she also chaired, for eight years, the Brookdale Community College President’s Ball along with Monmouth University’s Scholarship Ball Ad Journal and was chairwoman of Parent Fund Raising.  Anita also was a chairwoman on the Boy Scouts Joshua Huddy Award Dinner.

Anita continues to serve as a board member to the Parker Family Health Center, Hackensack Meridian Health’s Women’s Heart Fund, of which she was a founding member, and the Monmouth Charity Park Fund.

She and her husband, Joe, continue to be scholarship donors to Brookdale Community College and Monmouth University.  They are supporters of Count Basie Theatre and she serves on the Gala Committee.  Anita has chaired for many years the VNA Auction Committee for their annual Summer Gala.

She has received many honors for her leadership:

  • Eastern Chamber of Commerce “Spinnaker Award”
  • National Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award
  • 2000 Brookdale Community College “Woman of the Year” Award 
  • 2000 FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties “Humanitarian of the Year” Award
  • 2001 Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore “Woman of Distinction” Award 2003 Monmouth Council of Boy Scouts “Joshua Huddy Award”
  • 2006 Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center “Woman of the Year” Award
  • 2007 Dama of the Order of Merit of Savoy

Linda Sirico is currently MPCF Board Secretary and Co-Chair of our 2023 Kentucky Derby Day Celebration.  Linda has over 20 years of experience in the Healthcare Industry. She currently is the Director of Business Development for a leading senior healthcare company. Linda also has an extensive background in real-estate and mortgage transactions and is an active referral agent for both.  Her passion for helping others leads Linda to make successful connections for many in the business and nonprofit communities. Linda has a passion for giving back, providing support to nonprofits, among many; Wounded Warrior Project, Senior Citizens Activity Network—SCAN, and for many years she has orchestrated a holiday toy drive for Lunch Break. 

Linda along with her husband Tom live in Spring Lake, and are active in business networking throughout Monmouth County. They are both founding members of the Monmouth Park Charity Fund Winner’s Circle.

Matthew Holman brings over 15 years of financial expertise to his role as Treasurer of the Monmouth Park Charity Fund, where he helps guide the organization’s mission to support non-profits in Monmouth County. With his extensive background in auditing, consulting, and internal controls, Matthew ensures the charity’s financial operations are well-managed, fostering transparency and accountability in the distribution of funds to local agencies.

In addition to his work with the charity, Matthew is the lead Partner in the Advisory Department of Holman Frenia Allison, P.C. (HFA), a regional public accounting firm serving New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. His experience in governmental auditing and financial consulting translates seamlessly into his work with the Monmouth Park Charity Fund, where he plays a vital role in overseeing budgetary processes and ensuring the organization meets its financial goals.

Matthew holds a B.A. in Accounting from Franklin and Marshall College and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA). He holds certifications in Internal Control, Cyber-Security, and Client Advisory Services.

Outside of his professional life, Matthew enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, exploring their beach town, and indulging in his passions for tech, craft beer, and trop rock music.

Denise Anderson, Ph.D. is a communications/marketing consultant for the higher education and non-profit sectors, establishing brands from logo design to the execution of a comprehensive strategic marketing campaign. An adjunct professor at Rutgers University teaching public relations and integrated marketing, she also volunteers at the USO and Fulfill. 

Carolyn Cannon is the Director of Community Relations at New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), where she has worked for more than two decades.

Originally from Indiana, Carolyn left the Midwest to attend Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), receiving her B.A. in Broadcast Communications with a concentration in political science. While at FDU, Carolyn was a host and reporter for the campus television studio, where she discovered her passion for public speaking.

Carolyn coordinated NJNG’s Project Venture mentoring program for 24 years. This long-standing initiative – now in its 36th year having served nearly 470 students – is a collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey (BBBS) and provides youth from local schools such as Jackson Township and Keansburg High Schools with hands-on workshops on life skills, personal finance, self-esteem and more. She has served as a BBBS regional board member for the past six years.

As the newly appointed Director, Community Relations, Carolyn oversees the department which includes the NJNG Charity, educational, homeownership and volunteer programs, etc.

As a lifelong learner, Carolyn holds a certificate in Leadership Development for Early Career Women from Rutgers University’s Center for Women and Work, is a graduate of the Stand & Deliver executive coaching program from New Jersey Public Television’s Steve Adubato and received the Psychology of Leadership Certificate through eCornell in April 2022.

Carolyn is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, an international organization dedicated to public service and social action, where she has held various leadership roles within her local chapter. She is also an active member of Impact 100 Jersey Coast chapter and serves on the board of the Monmouth Ocean Development Council and is co-chair of their educational foundation.

Carolyn, married with a teenage daughter, enjoys power walking, exploring new restaurants, and is an avowed chocoholic. Her favorite city is Chicago.

Raymond R. Curnew, Jr. is the CSO and partner at Fortune Title Agency, Inc. He is a graduate of Temple University and has over 20 years of experience in the real estate and insurance industry. In his spare time Raymond enjoys riding his motorcycles and donating his time to various charities.

A longtime Rumson resident, Warren is an avid supporter of many local causes, including Monmouth Medical Foundation, the Beauty Foundation Cancer Care, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, ARC Foundation, Meridian Health Care, Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Environmental Cleanup, American Cancer Society, Women’s Philanthropic Fund, and Visiting Nurses Association.

Currently CEO of American Real Estate Management, which owns and operates the Self-Storage chain known as American Self Storage, Warren and his family are committed to improving the lives of families facing hardship.

Tom is the Director of Customer and Community Relations for New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG). With a B.S. in Architecture from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, Tom started with NJNG over thirty years ago in the Facilities Management Department before heading up the company’s newly formed Economic Development Department in 1995 and in 2000 was asked to head up the company’s Customer and Community Relations Department.  Tom serves on over 20 nonprofit boards and numerous committees in the Monmouth, Ocean and Morris County areas.  He is responsible for community outreach, manages the NJNG Charity and is the liaison with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.  He and his fantastic staff handle numerous programs ranging from home ownership and energy assistance to volunteer and educational initiatives throughout NJNG’s service area.

Tom and his wonderful wife Regina are blessed with three terrific children, Tom Jr., Christopher and Olivia.  They volunteer often and appreciate all who lend a hand to help others. 

John has philanthropic ties deeply rooted in Monmouth County including a number of charitable organizations such as Parents with a Plan, where he is leading the development and financing of supportive housing.  He served as President of the Board of Lunch Break, a well-known community organization where he and his wife, Robin were recently honored with the Heart to Hand Award, they were co-chairs of the Captial Campaign and led the Construction Committee. John has 30 years experience in the real estate industry as a developer and an executive.  He was CEO of the Premium Outlets division of Simon Property Group.

Executive leader with proven record of success, agility, strategic vision and transformational impact. Reputation for taking decisive action, including strategic risks, creating unique and sustainable value while developing other high-performance leaders.  Unique and diverse background including Marketing, Sales, Finance, Business Development, Advertising and Consulting across Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Consumer Packaged Goods industries. Excellent management, partnering and interpersonal skills with the ability to scale businesses and apply innovative strategies to drive growth. Strong, trusted leader with proven results in assuming challenging roles and consistently creating incremental value. 

A longtime Monmouth County resident, Stephen resides in Fair Haven with his wife and two young children.  Stephen is a partner at the law firm of Riker Danzig LLP where he leads the firm’s Trusts & Estates practice.   MPCF’s broad impact among the many organizations that serve the variety of needs of Monmouth County’s residents drew Stephen to volunteer on the board.

Gina Petillo, from Little Silver, has a thirty-five-year commitment of philanthropy and giving back to her community.  Her focus has been with local non-profits such as The ARC of Monmouth, Hackensack Meridian Health, Parker Family Health Center, Fulfill, The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, Impact 100 of the Jersey Coast, The Mercy Center, and Monmouth Park Charity Fund. She enjoys her grandchildren, traveling and playing golf in her spare time.

Barry Shapiro is a resident of West Long Branch. He has served over the years in many capacities in support of a variety of organizations. He is past chairman of Ronald McDonald House of Central NJ, past president of temple Beth Torah, and is currently on the board of the Robert Kilgour endowment fund on endowment fund of congregation Torat-eland, and he is Vice President of Monmouth Park Charity Fund.

Holly Schult is the Director of Operations for EZ Docks Mid Atlantic and EZ Docks Florida, working with a locally owned small business that has grown exponentially over the past 25 years. Holly moved into this current role after a 25-year career in banking in 2022. Her past role was as the Branch Manager and Business Development officer of BCB Bank Bayshore. Her time with BCB Bank gave her the opportunity to work with many Monmouth County businesses and non-profits. Holly is originally from Bergen County and spent the majority of her career in the North Jersey market as a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Hackensack YMCA, an Assistant Governor with Rotary International, a volunteer with Junior Achievement, and a Financial Educator at the Bergen County Housing Health and Human Services Center.

When she relocated here in 2012, she was eager to put her volunteerism to work in her new community, Monmouth County. Holly has volunteered her time with SCAN (Social Communities Activity Center), Bayshore Senior Center, RAINE Foundation, Hazlet’s Hope Network, Bayshore Success Center, Community Affairs and Resource Center, Monmouth Park Charity Fund, and many others. With the support of her current and past employers, she is also a strong advocate for small business, the immediate Past President of the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Treasurer of the Hazlet Business Owner’s Association. In her free time, Holly enjoys Ballroom Dancing, the Jersey Shore Beaches, and spending time with friends and family.

Jeanne Wall owns Hometown News, publishing TAPinto community news in Monmouth County since 2017. Before her current role, Jeanne was a Vice President of a PR firm in Manhattan and brings 15 years of experience creating and executing strategic communication and media relations plans for Fortune 500 companies and C-level executives. Besides the Monmouth Park Charity, Jeanne is a board member for The Middletown Arts Center, Holmdel Chamber, former founding board member of Hope for Children Foundation, and Friends of Holmdel Open Space. Jeanne lives in Holmdel with her husband and four children. 

Casey Pioli is proud to have joined the Monmouth Park Charity Fund in 2025 as Director of Operations. With a deep passion for helping others, she brings extensive experience in non-profit management, special events, and production. Prior to this role, Casey served as an Associate Producer of live events for George P. Johnson, the world’s leading strategic experience marketing agency.

Originally from Bergen County, Casey relocated to Asbury Park in 2021, to begin her work with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. She started as the Marketing & Program Manager, where she led the JBJ Soul Kitchen marketing team and raised public awareness of the foundation’s mission. She was later promoted to Senior Communications Manager, where she cultivated strong community partnerships while overseeing fundraising initiatives and events.

As Director of Operations for the Monmouth Park Charity Fund, Casey is excited to continue her non-profit work and make a lasting impact on her community.

Outside of work, Casey enjoys life in her beautiful beach town, live music, traveling, practicing yoga, and spending time with her cherished family and friends.

Linda Rebbel is an experienced nonprofit fundraising professional with a passion for building community connections. She most recently served as Director of Development at The Center in Asbury Park, where she raised significant new funds, secured major grants and sponsorships, and launched creative programs that expanded impact. With a background that also includes work at The Count Basie Center for the Arts and The Moody’s Foundation, Linda brings strong skills in fundraising, partnerships, and event planning — and a genuine commitment to making a difference.  Linda is also a member of Impact 100, a women’s giving circle and actively involved with The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce and Monmouth and Ocean Development Council. When she’s not working in the community she can be found walking the beach in the morning with her little dog Charlie, seeing live music, practicing yoga and is a newbie pickle ball player!