New Jersey School Giving to Holiday Express Reaches $45,000

New Jersey School Giving to Holiday Express Reaches $45,000

TINTON FALLS, N.J., Dec. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In what has become a time-honored winter tradition at Ranney School, the community once again teamed up with the nonprofit organization known as Holiday Express during its third annual concert in RSPA Panther Hall on the evening of Thursday, December 8, 2011. Combined with this year's donation of $12,000, the school has given more than $45,000 to Holiday Express since 2009 -- donating 100 percent of ticket sales to help those in need during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Founded by restaurateur Tim McLoone, Holiday Express is an organization comprised of 1,300 volunteers and 80 or more professional musicians who travel across the Tri-State area delivering music, food, gifts, financial support and friendship to adults and children who are physically and mentally disabled, living with AIDS or homeless. Now in its 19th season, Holiday Express will travel to more than 50 events between mid-November and Christmas Eve Day.

Thursday evening marked the group's 29th show of the season and offered joint performances to such songs as Higher and Higher and Nobody Ought to be Alone on Christmas along with Ranney's Upper School Chorus on vocals and very own Head of School Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed.D. on guitar. "Thank you for all that you do in the spirit of human kindness," Dr. Sykoff said to Mr. McLoone. "This partnership remains a blessing."

Ranney's pledge to the organization began November 12 as Ranney students and their families took one of four trips to the Tinton Falls warehouse, assembling "gift bags" to be given to the various organizations, schools, and nursing homes that Holiday Express will visit. "Gift bags" distributed by Holiday Express are completed by hundreds of volunteer warehouse "elves" every year. Beginning in October, these "elves" work extremely hard to assure that Holiday Express can provide approximately 15,000 packages stuffed with such items as body wash, deodorant, ponchos, wool hats and toothbrushes each year.

Aside from collecting the above-mentioned items in designated bins throughout the school, Ranney hosted various events and competitions for other charities this holiday season. For instance, the Middle School's $10 winter dance admittance fee was donated to the K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital. The Middle School community service club, "Making a Difference," also donated DVDs to the Children's Hospital earlier this month. Meanwhile, every Middle School homeroom worked with Lunch Break's "Adopt-a-family" program this December, shopping for less fortunate children within Monmouth County. Prior to Thanksgiving, each division teamed up with Lunch Break and donated thousands of items for the Red Bank organization's Thanksgiving Food Drive as well. Other organizations that collaborate with Ranney both during the holiday season and throughout the year are Toys for Tots (see related story), the Monmouth County SPCA and several more local hospitals.

PRESS CONTACT: Valerie Francois, 732-542-4777 x. 1184 or vfrancois@ranneyschool.org.

Story and photos available online.

About Ranney School:
Founded in 1960 and serving more than 800 boys and girls, Beginners (age 3) through grade 12, Ranney School is an independent, college preparatory day school located in historic Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Under its motto "knowledge, vision, honor," Ranney School strives to provide an exceptional academic experience in which every child is known and valued. It emphasizes modern methods of instruction, small class sizes and traditional educational values. For more information, please call Ranney School at 732-542-4777 or visit www.ranneyschool.org.

SOURCE Ranney School

Ranney School

Web Site: http://www.ranneyschool.org

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