The AUSA Monmouth Chapter’s “Jewel in the Crown” is the Gingerbread Ball that benefits Fisher House Foundation, held this year at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, a chapter Community Partner.

The Monmouth Chapter co-hosted this event with four other organizations, to include AUSA Community Partner, Association of Old Crows, Garden State Chapter; The New Jersey Bakers Board of Trade; and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Greater Monmouth Chapter; and the Army Aviation Association of America, Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

The evening began with a VIP reception for sponsors, and the judging of the Gingerbread House Competition at the Gingerbread Village Display complete with running locomotive and train.

A silent auction, with 85 baskets that were designed with donated items and created by AUSA Community Partners and individual members. The total sales from this evented netted $7,000.

Twenty-three AUSA Monmouth Chapter Community Partners participated with sponsorships, underwriting, ads and donations.

Participating were: Association of Old Crows, Garden State Chapter; Harris Corporation; Ace Electronics; Solari Creative; Booz Allen Hamilton; Ameripack; Ferlise and Associates; Brayco, Inc.; Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund; West Point Society of New Jersey; Aspen Consulting Group; and General Conference Services, Central Jersey Recruiting Company, Mid-Atlantic;

Meulener Dental; Purple Glaze; Lotus Blossom Psychotherapy; Stark Associates Insurance Agency; Molly Pitcher Inn and Oyster Point Hotel; Two Rivers Concierge Services, LLC; Future Skies; Morris Plate Glass; Colts Neck Golf Club and Ocean Place Resort and Spa also donated.

Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling presented the Monmouth Chapter with a New Jersey State Resolution commending the chapter for its outstanding community assistance to New Jersey soldiers, veterans and their families as well as its receiving an AUSA 2017 Best Chapter Award.

Additionally, Houghtaling presented Kit Roache, chapter vice president for programs, and Brian Gawne, vice president for community affairs, Fisher House Foundation, with a New Jersey State Resolution commending their dedication to the military, veterans and families.

The featured speakers were Gen. Carter F. Ham, president and CEO, Association of the U.S. Army, and Gawne.

Twenty-two Monmouth Chapter members were either committee chairs or members in a program committee totaling 30 volunteers.

AUSA First Region President Col. Dennis Doughtery, USA, Ret.; New Jersey State President Susan DiVila; Dix Chapter President Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur Maggs and Picatinny Chapter President Nick Pugliese were in attendance.

Purple Glaze Donuts, an AUSA Monmouth Community Partner participated in the Gingerbread House Competition and donated the December sales of their specially designed Gingerbread Donut to the Gingerbread Ball beneficiary, Fisher House Foundation.

AUSA national headquarters sponsored 20 soldiers who attended this event from Central Jersey Recruiting Company, Mid-Atlantic; the 77th Sustainment Command, 254th New Jersey National Guard and the 99th Regional Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve.

Additional individual members and Community Partners hosted another 24 soldiers from these commands.

As a result of this event, $60,000 was presented to Gawne for the Fisher House Foundation.

Miss New Jersey 2017, Kaitlyn Schoeffel, was a special guest who was available for photos with the 235 Gingerbread Ball attendees.