33rd ANNUAL BONNIE BRAE TARTAN BALL HONORS MICKEY SINGH AND CRISTY KAUR WITH THE RED BANDANNA AWARD

On Saturday February 23rd, Bonnie Brae Residential Treatment Center, one of the nation’s preeminent therapeutic learning environments, will return to the era of “Old Havana” at the 33rd Annual Bonnie Brae Tartan Ball. This year’s Ball will honor Mickey Singh and Cristy Kaur with the prestigious Red Bandanna Award. The Red Bandanna Award was established in 2008 by the Crowther family in honor of their son, Welles Remy Crowther, a volunteer firefighter and equities trader who, on September 11, 2001, lost his life saving at least ten people. The award was created in the spirit of Bonnie Brae’s mission and is presented by the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust to an individual or group who has shown initiative in support of children in need.

CEO Paul Rieger, remarked, “Mickey and Cristy bring a passion for service to Bonnie Brae as well as to several other area non-profits. They have been incredible Ambassadors, connecting us with potential partners and introducing their friends and families to Bonnie Brae’s mission. Their efforts have helped to provide holiday gifts for our boys as well as scholarships for our youth to attend summer camp. Their service and commitment are exemplary and well deserving of this prestigious honor.”

As a member of Bonnie Brae’s Board of Trustees and a registered pharmacist and business owner, Mickey has taken an active role in helping Bonnie Brae navigate the rapidly changing field of healthcare. In addition to serving on Bonnie Brae’s Board, Mickey serves on the Boards of the ARC of Passaic and Bergen Counties and the Fairfield Police Foundation. When asked what their philanthropic work means to them, Mickey shared, “Cristy and I are both first-generation Americans. We are incredibly blessed to have received our education, careers and a circle of friends who support us in so many ways. Our participation in various charities gives us an opportunity, albeit in a small way, to give back to the country which has given us so much.”

Cristy has spent 20 years in finance and currently is a financial advisor with the Heim Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In addition to working with Mickey as an Ambassador of Bonnie Brae’s mission, Cristy also serves on the Board of the India Heritage Center. Cristy shared, “A good friend once said to me that it is easier to write a check to charity than it is to devote time and promote the cause. Mickey and I made a commitment to each other to devote time to charitable work and we choose charities that mean something to us as a couple. Now these charities are a part of our life. Our involvement with Bonnie Brae, in particular, has rewarded us many times more than the time we have devoted.”

In addition to honoring Mickey and Cristy, this year’s Ball will serve as a forum for Bonnie Brae to share their progress on construction of and fundraising for the construction of a premier family resource center and state of the art new cottage. CEO Rieger stated, “Bonnie Brae began our second century with a bold vision to transform lives—not only of at-risk New Jersey families and youth currently eligible for Bonnie Brae’s intensive services—but the lives of families in the Somerset area and beyond who are experiencing mental health and addictions challenges. Our Family Resource Center and New Cottage represent our first step in advancing this vision and becoming a significant resource for the community at large. The services provided within these buildings will go far in helping to build healthier families and stronger communities across New Jersey.”

The Tartan Ball will feature entertainment from the famous Bob Hardwick Sound, a live auction led by Nicholas M. Dawes, VP of Heritage Auctions as well as special events including a wine pull, scotch pull, basket auction, scotch bar, wine and cigar cellar -- all sponsored by local businesses, the Tartan Ball Committee and Bonnie Brae Board of Trustee members. </p>
<p>For more information about Bonnie Brae and attendance at the 33rd annual Tartan Ball, contact Maureen Hunt, Bonnie Brae’s Assistant Director of Development at 908 647-4700, mhunt@bonnie-brae.org or visit www.bonniebraetartanball.org.

If you’d like to learn more about the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust you can visit www.crowthertrust.org.