/UCWE/ Marlton, NJ – The Children’s Healthcare Foundation of South Jersey (CHF) has been selected as one of five children’s charities to benefit from “Hope for the Children – A Jazz Brunch,” presented by Prudential Fox & Roach and The Trident Group. This inaugural charity event will attract more than 1,000 people to the Cherry Hill/Philadelphia Hilton, 2349 West Marlton Pike (Rte. 70), Cherry Hill, New Jersey, from 10:30am – 2:30pm. The goal is to raise $100,000 for South Jersey children by hosting a first class brunch with original jazz ensembles, progressive and silent auctions, and other festivities.

“We can’t thank the wonderful and dedicated team at Prudential Fox & Roach enough for selecting us,” said CHF Executive Director Kory Michael Aversa. ‘Hope for the Children’ comes at a time when need is high and the CHF is growing. Funds will help us increase both grants and services – and fund some critical projects that might otherwise not receive the funds they need.”

“Hope for the Children” will feature a first class brunch buffet – complete with champagne mimosas and an extensive dessert buffet. Jazz ensembles scheduled include City Rhythm Orchestra, Minas, the Ryan Peiffer Trio and Cherry Hill West Jazz Band. Hundreds of auction items will include hotel packages, restaurants, sports memorabilia and other priceless items. Company owner – and Delaware Valley “legend” – Chip Roach will host the event. WJJZ Smooth Jazz 106.1 is the official media sponsor. DJ Teri Webb will play smooth jazz, meet and greet, and give away prizes.

The event is being chaired by Prudential Fox & Roach Mount Laurel Branch Manager of Connie Glass-Birnbohm, with co-chairs Linda Bailey, Millie Blander and Lorraine Flynn. All nine branch offices of South Jersey, in cooperation with the Trident Group, are presenting the event for the benefit of the Children’s Healthcare Foundation, along with the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Camden and Gloucester County and New Jersey CARES Institute. The fifth project is the Sunshine Kids, who will receive seed money to begin a program in South Jersey.

“This event is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference to children throughout South Jersey,” said “Hope” chair Glass-Birnbohm. “With the addition of the Children’s Healthcare Foundation, we saw that in helping one group we could actually help many organizations, many facilities and many more children. The CHF helps several children’s hospitals, many children’s non-profits, sponsors scholarships and even helps individual children in need.”

Since 1984, the Children’s Healthcare Foundation has provided $500,000 in grants and services for the health and well being of South Jersey’s most precious resource – children. The CHF mission is to provide grants, scholarships, programs and services for the health and well being of children, as well as to promote and advance South Jersey-based pediatric facilities, non-profits, resources and research. The CHF has also been instrumental in bringing together South Jersey based organizations for collaborations to foster the development of new pediatric programs for the development of new resources in the region.

The official website, www.childrensbrunch.org , features information on: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Camden and Gloucester County, Boys & Girls Club of Camden County and New Jersey CARES Institute.

“Hope” is the newest partnership/collaboration the CHF has announced in its expansion over the last twelve months. The CHF also will be announcing the “Food, Fun & Fitness Fiesta, ” a joint nutrition and fitness program with Whole Foods Market and area hospitals, on Wednesday, April 13, 2005. In June, the CHF partners with Curious Parents on Kids’ Fest and the first “South Jersey Health & Resource Guide.” In the fall, a partnership with the Garden State Discovery Museum will be announced.

Tickets are $60 and are available by contacting Executive Director Kory Michael Aversa at (856) 983-3308, e-mail protected from spam bots or visiting www.childrenshealthcaresj.org. Ticket and ad book information is also available at www.childrensbrunch.org or by contacting “Hope” Public Relations Chairperson Amy Barton at (856) 719-4518.