MBA President Ed Berger serves up some beer and wine.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE Over the last 19 years, the Margate Business Association and its dedicated volunteers have raised more than $122,000 for scholarships awarded to students who attended the Margate public schools.
Dan and Maria Walters, who helped the late Joe Tozzi form the Margate Business Association years ago and for whom the MBA scholarship program is named, provided Downbeach.com with a history of the wine tasting, which started at Steve & Cookies By The Bay and became so successful, it outgrew its indoor digs.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst to holding the event outdoors at the rear of the Sigmund Rimm Recreation Complex on Edgemar Circle last year. On Friday evening, more than 400 people attended the soiree, which included wine and spirits tastings, food trucks, music, and live and online auctions. Auction items were packed onto a square of 8-foot tables under a tent and attendees used their cell phones to bid on the items that included dinners at local restaurants, beach gear, stationary and road ready bicycles, fine jewelry and more.
But it was the social atmosphere that made the evening special. According to MBA Executive Director AnnaMaria Blescia, the organization had extra tents erected to ensure the party would go on if it rained. Luckily, the rain held off and everyone enjoyed the full length of the party.
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Maria Walters said she and her husband Dan, both retired educators, were some of the original members of the MBA who formed their group to promote Margate businesses and the community.
As the association started growing, we needed an event to do for the community, so we formed the Funfest by the Bay. Once that started and was so successful, we decided to do charitable things and we sold lots of raffle tickets and 50-50s. We wanted to be involved year-round and that's how the scholarship program started, she said.
The event started small with about 75 people in attendance, but quickly grew to about 175, and the event was labeled sold out.
That didn't go over well in the community, so the MBA started looking for a bigger venue.
Last year, we had it here on Edgemar Circle because of COVID, and it has grown to an unbelievable event for such a small organization, Maria Walters said. People were so excited to be together outdoors, so we decided to come back again. This is the perfect setting for it.
Because we were so involved in the work of the MBA, the organization decided to name the scholarship for us, Dan Walters said.
Maria Walters said the group decided they didn't want to ask a lot of personal questions about parents' finances, so they based the scholarships mostly on academics. Students are required to submit essays based on a prompt and provide three letters of reference and proof of acceptance to a college or university.
Our first scholarship was $1,000, but now we award two $2,500 scholarships to graduates from any high school who have attended the Margate City public schools, she said. The funds go to the student to use as they see fit. We felt they should have money to make their choices and they are always so thankful.
Six judges three from the MBA, including Dan Walters, who supervised the English Department at Absegami High School for many years, along with a business owner and community members do a blind review of the applications, which are now submitted electronically.
Maria Walters said the first recipient was a Subin, and when he graduated, he wrote us a wonderful letter thanking us for the scholarship. We do hear from the students from time to time, and often meet their parents, she said.
They are always so kind and grateful.
Volunteers of the MBA served up wine and spirits tastings, while Lou Solomon and WAYV radio host Diane Mitchell conducted the live auction. Culinary offerings include palate pleasing fare from Bocca, Dino's Subs and Pizza, The Little Sicilian and TacocaT, with sweet treats provided by Jagielky's Homemade Candy.
The event was co-chaired by Realtor Paula Hartman and her daughter Dana Hartman-Hiltner.
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