Get your clubs ready! On Tuesday, May 10, the Third Annual Marty Aronow Charity Golf Classic will be held at the Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson.

Once again, the organization will look to raise funds for CAREing for Children (CFC), OCBA's adopted charity, which provides holiday cheer to area families in the form of food boxes, toys, clothes, and gifts. Last year's event raised more than $20,000! Sponsorships of all types are available. Foursomes are only $750 and include lunch, dinner and a tee box sponsorship! For more information, click here.

The Ocean County Business Association is Ocean County’s premier business networking group. However, that doesn’t mean it’s all about business. The 60+-member-strong organization of business owners and senior decision makers is also committed to giving back to the communities—through its non-profit arm called CAREing for Children (CFC).

Chaired by longtime OCBA member Clare Bojus, CFC’s primary purpose is to provide gifts for children at Christmastime. In 2015, the group handed out more than 3,000 toys through various agencies.

“The number of families we help is enormous,” says Bojus. The majority of toys are delivered through other agencies, including the Island Heights United Methodist Church, Preferred Behavioral Health, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, DYFS of Toms River, O.C.E.A.N. Inc., Providence House, Lakehurst police Department, Lakehurst First Aid Squad, Lakehurst VFW, Lakehurst Fleet Rescue, Beachwood and Pine Beach police, The Hope Center of Toms River, Seaside Park police and borough, and many individual families.

“The gifts are always unwrapped, so everyone can see what they are receiving,” explains Bojus. “We categorize them by age group, sex, baby or young adult,” she adds, “which helps the agencies tailor the gifts to their recipients.”

Bojus, who has chaired the charity for the past 15 years, says CFC started small and just kept growing. “In the ‘90s, Paul Losseff, our resident eyeglass and hearing-aid dispenser, suggested we each bring an unwrapped gift to our holiday party. After a few years, the pile of gifts became so large that Phil Brilliant, our environmental consultant, loaned us his truck and we began delivering gifts.”

Now CAREing for Children is a year-round endeavor. Bojus visits toy trade shows, where she orders thousands of toys at wholesale prices. They are delivered and housed at Bojus’s facility. She owns The Creative Basket, which supplies gift baskets for all occasions.

Every May, OCBA holds its biggest fundraiser of the year—a golf outing—and all proceeds go to CFC. In 2016 , the event raised more than $20,000 in its second year. “The rest of the donations are made up through the generosity of OCBA members throughout the year,” she adds.

CFC also supplies many food pantries in the area. “This started when one of our members was able to secure a large block of donated food,” explains Bojus. We now supplement donations with purchased goods and distribute them through St. Joseph’s Church in Toms River, St. Steven’s Church in Whiting, and Morning Star Presbyterian Church in Bayville.

“It’s been a very rewarding experience,” she concludes. “It’s wonderful to put a smile on a child’s face and food in his or her stomach. But it’s also wonderful to see the generosity and commitment of my fellow members.”

OCBA’s resident writer/editor Lisa McComsey is getting 5-star reviews on amazon.com for her book The Vegan Cheat Sheet, which was published by Penguin in 2013. Lisa co-wrote the book with noted Boulder-based vegan chef Amy Cramer. The book, subtitled “Your Take-Everywhere Guide to Plant-based Eating,” has garnered 61 reviews so far.

According to Lisa, “Our sales have been steady, and we’re continually asked to do talks, demos, and food tastings. I was recently interviewed by Shawn Michaels of WOBM, and am in the process of planning a presentation and food tasting in Farmingdale early next year. My goal is show how fun and delicious it is to go plant-based, as I am the unlikeliest of vegans—but I love it!”

The Vegan Cheat Sheet offers 270 pages of helpful tips and easy-to-make recipes. It retails for $14 but (at press time) is available on Amazon for $11.67 for the paperback and $11.99 for the Kindle version. This handy guide, which you can toss in your purse or glove box, promises to keep things simple and tasty. Every recipe can be made in three steps or fewer and takes less than 20 minutes hands-on time. It also includes shopping lists, restaurant guides, and a 21-day meal plan.

Lisa and Amy’s second book will launch in July 2016. When not writing books, Lisa is an avid runner, magazine copywriter, and freelance writer. A long-time OCBA member, she is a past president and current board member.

OCBA presented a check for $20,087 to CAREing for Children at the Clarion Hotel, Toms River. (l to rt.): Craig Aronow, Esq., Partner at RAM Law, New Brunswick; Lisa Aronow, Owner of Women’s Wellness, Red Bank; Robert C. Novy, Esq., Founder and Managing Partner at Novy & Associates; Clare Bojus, Owner of The Devil Brownie & Creative Basket, Toms River (Photo: Sandy Levine)

The Ocean County Business Association (OCBA) raised $20,087 for the charity, almost double from what was raised last year, at its Marty Aronow CAREing for Children Golf Classic, held recently at the Pine Barrens Country Club, Jackson.

The golf outing was renamed the Marty Aronow CAREing for Children Golf Classic in honor of past OCBA president Marty Aronow, who passed away last year. It was Marty Aronow who was the driving force in establishing this golf outing as a fundraiser for CAREing for Children, a 501(c)3 charity OCBA has supported since 2001, that provides needy families with food and holiday gifts for their children.

Robert C. Novy, Brick, the managing partner of the law firm Novy & Associates, Manchester, who chaired the event, said, “In just six short months, most families will be celebrating the holidays; however, there are families who can’t afford to. The money we raised will help needy children and families to celebrate the holidays with food and toys.”

Last year, OCBA members personally donated more than $6,000 to purchase food boxes and hundreds of toys at trade shows and other venues. The toys were given to organizations, including the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department; State of New Jersey, Department of Children, DYFS of Toms River and Lakewood; The Hope Center, Toms River; Providence House; Seaside Heights Police Department, Ocean Inc. of Barnegat and Toms River; St. Joseph’s Church, Toms River; Morning Star Presbyterian Church, Bayville, and the Lakehurst Police Department.

Chad White, OCBA's President and Financial Services member, is also an author. Chad, who is President of Safe Harbor Wealth Management, in Toms River, authored an article that was recently picked up and published by the Huffington Post. You can read the article, entitled "I'm retired. So now what?" by clicking here.

Get your clubs ready! On Tuesday, May 5, the Ocean County Business Association will host its second annual Marty Aronow Charity Golf Classic to benefit CAREing for Children at the beautiful Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson, NJ.

Once again, the organization will look to raise funds for CAREing for Children (CFC), OCBA's adopted charity, which provides holiday cheer to area families in the form of food boxes, toys, clothes, and gifts.

The event's new name—the Marty Aronow Charity Golf Classic—honors OCBA past president Marty Aronow, who passed away last spring. He was hugely instrumental in helping to set up our inaugural outing last May—and it's a privilege to raise funds in his name for a charity he held so near and dear to his heart.

In its first go-around in 2014, the outing raised more than $10,000 for CFC and acted as a springboard to what was the most successful fundraising year in the charity's history. This year, the committee—once again chaired by OCBA member Robert C. Novy—is looking to surpass that amount.

"The outing provides a way for golfers of all skill levels to play a prestigious course at a very reasonable price," Novy says. "And we are able to build relationships within the organization." Adds committee member Bill DeBernardis, "There's a lot of camaraderie within the OCBA, a lot of people who go out of their way to support others in the organization. The outing is a great way to bring everyone together to continue to network with each other."

Once again, the event will feature prizes for the following: low score, longest drive, closest to the pin, a putting contest, and a beat-the-pro competition. There will also be the popular hole-in-one contest, with Down's Ford once again generously donating a car to anyone who sinks a hole-in-one on the 14th hole. There will also be a silent auction at the end of the day, where players can bid on golf foursomes and other great prize packages, including a weeklong summer stay in a Vermont vacation home.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 5
Registration: 11:30 A.M.
Lunch: Noon to 12:45 P.M.
Shotgun Start: 1 P.M.
Completion of Round: 6 P.M.
Dinner and Awards: 6 P.M.

For more information, call 732-657-0600 and ask to speak to Jake Mason.

To download our brochure click here.

Marty (front row, yellow tie) posing with his board members and officers at the 2013 OCBA Holiday Party.
Photo courtesy of Angie Lombardi Photography

One of the good guys is gone—and OCBA has lost one of its greatest champions. He fought a battle against an invisible foe. And while it took his body, Marty's legacy of strong family and an impeccable work ethic lives on in his children, colleagues, clients, and friends.

The owner and principal consultant of Aronow Business Advisors since 2005, Marty was a master troubleshooter, problem-solver, and team builder who helped scores of business owners set and meet goals—whether for growth, turnaround, or retirement. Guided by his motto, "Problems don't fix themselves; they get worse," clients learned that good planning and consistent follow-through are the keys to success. Prior to launching his own business, Marty served as a professional-services executive for three decades, with vast experience in technology, construction, and contracting.

Clients and colleagues admired Marty for his expertise and loved him for his kindness. While tough in business—and unafraid to take on even the toughest challenges—he cared deeply for those he worked with and was praised for his listening skills, great sense of humor, and passion for the job. One client put it simply: "Spending time with Marty will make you better.

He was one OCBA's most influential members. When he joined the organization in 2009, Marty immediately dove in and began volunteering. He co-chaired the marketing committee, became a member of the board of trustees, served as vice president, and was elected president in 2013. Under his leadership, OCBA teed off its first annual golf outing in May 2014, which raised more than $10,000 for CAREing for Children—OCBA's charitable arm that provides holiday gifts and food baskets to families in need. A true professional in every sense of the word, Marty was always impeccably dressed, usually in suit and tie, and gave generously of his time and talent.

In 2010, Marty and his wife, Lisa, founded the Aronow Family Foundation in memory of Marty's cousin and best friend, Evelyn N. Aronow. The organization supports the work of advocacy and education for people with disabilities. He was also a mentor for SCORE, Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Donations in Marty's name can be made to the New Jersey Commission on Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NJCRID), P.O. Box 26 Kendall Park NJ 08824 or CAREing for Children, P.O. Box 1291, Toms River, NJ 08754-1291.

Ocean County Business Association members and guests had a great time golfing at the beautiful Pine Barrens Golf Club, while raising over $10,000 for CAREing for Children. The nonprofit was formed by OCBA as a way for members to give back to the community, by providing toys and food baskets during the holidays to families in need.

More than 75 business owners and managers attended OCBA's annual open house in April. With a keynote speech by noted author and motivational speaker Barry Farber, it was an action packed lunch meeting. Acting President Chad White of Safe Harbor Wealth Management kicked the activities off. The main purpose of the event is for potential members to attend an OCBA luncheon, meet with existing members and learn about how the organization fosters business exchange in Ocean County. More than 35 prospective members and guests attended.

Bruce Rush, of Autoshred, introduced the guest speaker. Bruce worked with Barry many years ago for a copier company before both of them caught the entrepreneurial bug and started their own businesses.

The open house is just one of many activities OCBA holds each year to promote business exchange in Ocean County. The group is unique in that we are category exclusive, and we are entirely dedicated to business referrals. To find out more about membership click here.

If you're an Ocean County-based business owner or corporate decision-maker looking to meet the most trusted and respected people in our community, then Ocean County Business Association (OCBA) is the ideal networking organization for you. Read more about OCBA and see for yourself how this unique organization can be one of the most important steps you'll ever take toward boosting your business.

Finding high-quality, reliable product and service providers can be tricky business. Where do you look? Whom can you trust? The Ocean County Business Association solves that problem once and for all. Each carefully screened member must meet rigorous standards and adhere to the OCBA Code of Ethics. To locate the product or service provider you want, click here.

We are now accepting applications for new members. If you're interested in joining, there are three ways for you to contact us. Click here to e-mail our membership representative. Download a membership application immediately. Call us for more information or for questions you may have at 1.866.606.OCBA (6222).

Don't delay. Once your category is filled, you will no longer be eligible for membership. Some members have maintained their categories for over 25 years! To view which categories are currently taken, check out our membership list.