Town and Country Newspaper

News Article

Generosity Blooms in Quakertown

Written by Kelly Kalb, Correspondent
2013-04-11

James Zepp came out to the Spring Fling in costume and his wife, Lauren, wore colorful beads for the Mardi Gras-themed celebration.

What better way to spend a Saturday night than with friends, music, dancing, food and helping Quakertown’s youth? The third annual Spring Fling event, organized by Pride of Quakertown (POQ), made an impression at C and C Catering, Park Avenue, on April 6.

The list of attendants was nearly 150 for this year’s Mardi Gras-themed celebration. A ticket to the event allowed guests to dance to music, drink, eat and celebrate what POQ stands for – “helping children, bringing communities closer together, family engagement and building lifelong friendships.”

The organization enables children, who might not otherwise be able, to take part in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, like sports, Boy Scouts, and classes through the Upper Bucks YMCA. It also provides funding for tutoring for students in need.

This year’s festivities also included a silent auction with over 100 contributors, music from Tom Kramme and Nick Weiss-Rak Sound, cupcakes donated by Janine Wood-Artistically Baked, and photos available from Noel Gravelle Photography.

Silent auction contributors donated items from as far away as Walt Disney World who offered a donation of four day passes to the park with a starting bid of $248. Local businesses such as Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Dance Works, Upper Bucks YMCA, several local golf clubs and wineries also contributed to the auction.

All silent auction monies went directly into the organization’s scholarship fund.

POQ has been a very successful and highly supported organization in Quakertown for the past five years, supporters said, and began with the hope of helping local children fulfill their dreams. Those dreams may be out of reach due to low income or difficult family situations.

The non-profit organization is made up of a group of volunteers who have a passion for family and group activities who work diligently to find corporate sponsors within the community to donate money. They also hold several events throughout each year to raise funds for the scholarship program that benefits area youth within the Quakertown School District.

Board member Rob Henry explains, “We (POQ) really have a two-fold mission, we’re not only helping area kids but we’re also helping area businesses get recognized.”

Stephanie Borzio, POQ board member, offered some insight on how children are selected for the scholarship program. Borzio explained POQ works closely with guidance counselors in the district who hand select children in need.

After obtaining permission from parents, an application is completed and submitted to POQ for review. Members of the organization then follow up by talking with parents and children to determine the child’s interests and what extra-curricular activity or academic initiative will be the most beneficial.

POQ’s scholarship fund covers the initial cost of the activity with parents contributing wherever they can to their child’s program, Borzio said.

In 2012, POQ hosted seven

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