Foundation continues work in youth’s name

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff The Graeme Preston Foundation for Life held its annual soccer marathon on Aug. 7 at Opatut Park, Freehold Township, to raise funds that benefit various endeavors in the community. One of the popular activities during the day — in addition to the soccer matches — was a dunk tank that gave people of all ages a chance to knock someone into the water. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A local foundation is continuing the work it started several years ago, trying to turn a tragedy into something positive for individuals in need.

The Graeme Preston Foundation for Life held its annual soccer marathon fundraiser on Aug. 7 at Opatut Park, East Freehold Road.

The foundation is named for Graeme, who was struck and killed by a van on Bar Harbor Road in February 2008. Graeme and his friend, Kevin Clawson, were pedestrians on the street when they were struck and killed. They were both pupils at the Eisenhower Middle School at the time of their death.

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff The Graeme Preston Foundation for Life’s mission is to “affect lives in a positive, caring and compassionate manner,” according to Graeme’s uncle, Pat Preston,

This year’s soccer marathon was the third annual soccer event. The foundation sponsored the day of play in conjunction with Freehold Township Parks and Recreation, the Freehold Soccer League and Freehold Pop Warner, which also handled all of the food concessions for the soccer marathon.

Preston thanked the hundreds of volunteers who helped to make the soccer marathon a success. He said the soccer marathon generated $50,000 from a Super 50/50 raffle. Half of the proceeds went to the three winning ticket holders. The other half was raised for the foundation with part of the money going to support the Freehold Soccer League.

A dunk tank gave players a chance to dunk their coach for $1, he said, adding that $1,000 earned from the dunk tank will go to the family of New Jersey State Police Trooper Marc Castellano, of Howell, who was killed in the line of duty in June.

The foundation uses its funds to help local families who are facing hardships such as having a sick child or the loss of a job. Preston said the foundation has distributed more than $100,000 to the community. He said the organization has grown more than the family could have imagined.

“This is not a Preston/Fecsko family foundation, but a foundation for the community,” he said. “We would not be where we are without our community supporting us. The message is spreading and with that awareness, people are reaching out to us now, asking for our help or referring us to a friend who could use our help.”

The Graeme Preston Foundation for Life has a database of volunteers who serve the community under the name G’s LOV.

G’s LOV provides help for families in need and includes manpower and financial help, Preston said.

“The foundation has been able to give back to the community as we undertake our mission of affecting lives in a positive, caring and compassionate manner,” he said. “We have accomplished this by providing financial support, as well as by volunteering time and resources to help families in need, and by supporting other like-minded charitable organizations. In just under two years, the support from the community has allowed us to grant over $100,000 to families and organizations in our communities. In addition to the financial assistance, we have also made an equally important impact through G’s LOV – Graeme’s League of Volunteers.”

Organizations the foundation has partnered with or provided support to include the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, Camp Quality, Open Door of Freehold, the Jackson Food Bank, Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, the Freehold Borough Education Fund, St. Vincent DePaul Society, YMCA Community Center/DJ McGackin Music Program, Autism Speaks and Blessings in a Backpack.

“The soccer marathon is a day about celebrating life. There are no winners or losers. It’s a day where the community comes together for a common cause and makes something positive out of something so tragic,” Preston said. “Our family misses Graeme every day, but knowing that so much good work is being done in his name helps us carry on and deal with the loss. We would not be able to do that without all of the support, compassion and generosity of our community and for that we are truly grateful.”

For further information, visit www.GraemePrestonFoundation. org.