Autism NJ Conference Presentation to the Millburn Board of Education

Architectural and Real Estate House Tour Benefits Millburn Township Public Schools, sending key district professionals to the Autism NJ conference

Architectural and Real Estate House Tour Benefits Millburn Township Public Schools  

At the most recent Board of Education meeting, a presentation was made to share how funds were raised from the Architectural and Real Estate House Tour which benefits our very own Special Services in Millburn Township Public Schools.  Proceeds from the tour enabled 4 individuals to attend the Autism New Jersey main and transition conferences. Autism New Jersey’s main state conference was recently held on October 18th and 19th. The district’s three behaviorists received grants to attend the conference.  The behaviorists don’t just help those with Autism, they assist anyone who has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan). The fourth individual to receive a grant was a self-contained autism teacher from our district. They all shared their takeaways from the conference at the board meeting.  To see a video of their comments, please see the following link.   

For perspective, Autism Speaks is the Official National Autism Organization, while Autism New Jersey is the Official State Organization.

Background on Autism NJ:

It’s the largest statewide network of parents and professionals dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with ASD, autism spectrum disorder. This nonprofit organization is committed to providing information, education, awareness, and public policy work to NJ’s autism community.

Autism affects 1 in 41 children in NJ.

Background on the tour, which is the fundraiser to send our district professionals to the conferences:

It’s an architectural and real estate house tour in it’s 7th run and the idea came into play, by Melanie Rosenbaum and her husband, Matthew Rosenbaum.  He is an architect and Melanie is a realtor with Keller Williams Premier Properties. Melanie also serves on the SEPAC  (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee). Architecture and real estate are definite passions for both Melanie and Matthew Rosenbaum.  Many in this town seem to be similarly interested. The tour was a natural event to host, as a win win win for all.

It’s a unique tour that gives community members the chance to view high-end local homes all in one day.  Tickets are $30. It showcases architecture, design, and provides a pulse on our local real estate market. The homes on the tour never disappoint with prices typically ranging from $1M to $5M. At each mansion, participants receive a light lunch, other treats, giveaways and door prizes along with literature about autism.  Sushi was even provided in one of the houses by our very own Jon Lamkin, from Guaranteed Rate.

A very noteworthy sponsor was Anthony Verducci, Jr. with Sotheby’s International Realty, he jumped at the chance of supporting with adding one of the homes on the tour.  He also provided a sponsorship which actually sent two of the 4 individuals that received the grants to the conference. Arlene Gonnella with Weichert Realty has always generously contributed.  She tends to have some of the most expensive and interesting homes on the tour. Her sponsorship sent the other 2 district professionals to the conference. Architect Matthew Rosenbaum usually puts his own design/build high-end renovations and/or new construction homes on the tour.  (He’s the architect of the new construction modern home at 171 Highland Drive in Short Hills). His sponsorship will send two district professionals to the Autism NJ transition conference occurring in early 2019.

The amount of money being raised seems to be growing each year, with almost $40K raised to date.  Keller Williams Premier Properties is another generous sponsor and supporter. With that, additional monies have been slated for Jennifer Sowa, Director of Special Services for Millburn Township Public Schools to add to her  parental and professional development programs. Keep an ear out for those programs as some topic presentations/seminars relate to the entire school district.

Front row:  Dr. Christine Burton, Superintendent; Arlene Gonnella, Weichert; Melanie Rosenbaum, Tour Organizer; Dr. Christopher Mesopotanese, Behaviorist; Meghan Stenziano, Behaviorist, Jennifer Stracquadanio, Behaviorist;  Catherine Benedetto, Behaviorist; Jennifer Sowa, Director of Special Service; Matthew Rosenbaum, Design/Build Architect; Jon Lamkin, Guaranteed Rate; Anthony Verducci, Jr., Sotheby’s International Realty;  Back Row: Emily Jaffe, Board of Education (behind Melanie every step of the way)

Thanks to all those who assisted in making this tour a huge success!  Hope to see you at the next one on April 28, 2019.  April is Autism Awareness Month.  

For Sponsorship opportunities, please contact the tour organizer, Melanie Rosenbaum, Melanie@RealShortHills.com or see the following link.

Annual Short Hills House Tour Makes The Cover

So nice to have an article written about the annual house tour (and perhaps my journey related to the cause).  It certainly expresses my passion regarding (though some of the details are mildly off - see below) my desire to spread autism awareness, help enhance parental & professional development in our local schools, and share my passion for local real estate and architecture.  (My husband is an architect and I'm a realtor).  

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A few points deserving clarification are:

• The kindergarten teacher gets a huge hug most every time I see her, since she has educated all 3 of my children as their wonderfully caring teacher.  Check out another article written related to  our journey.  
• One of the letters written from an educator who has received one of the grants for attending Autism NJ's conference can be seen here.  They come back refreshed and ready with up to date strategies for the children in our schools.  
• Regarding the real estate that is seen on the annual tour it really does give people a true sense of the values of the Short Hills market and potentially your own home.  It's a fun opportunity to get a pulse on the local market!  
• All of the additional programs, besides the conferences from Autism NJ, where initiated by the Director of Special Services, Jennifer Sowa.  The tour helped pay for part of those programs.

Noteworthy (with many more involved not mentioned - see the tour map and photos)... Arlene Gonnella is always a generous sponsor with some of the best on the tour (this year $6M & still available);  Jon Lamkin and Matt Keane of Guaranteed Rate always put sushi and sandwiches in some of the houses on the tour;  Amy Burakovsky always puts a house on the tour;  Maggee Miggins, every time she participates gives out candles;  Jacky Elliott, the team leader at Sotheby's International was the igniter & cheerleader in the beginning for this event; Joanne Tedesco Kloud, the team leader at Weichert has always been a lovely supporter;  Tom Baio, local architect always writes a phat check;  The managing partners of KW, Howard Bunn & Cara Moxley are beyond generous and always show up to support me in some form or fashion;  Cecilia Valdez, KW Sales Associate partnering with me on planning this tour;  My family and especially my husband, Matthew Rosenbaum, high end local architect/design builder usually provides a highlighted house on tour, while providing patience and love (and amazing architecture in our town).  

Another special thanks to my dear friend, Lara Stolman, local producer of the movie "Swim Team".  It's a special award winning movie about a team consisting of only children on the Autism Spectrum.  It was playing in the media room in one of the mansions on the house tour.  If you missed it, check it out on Netflix!  

Seriously it warms my heart how all of these people come together to give to this cause.  
Thank you! 

House Tour Funds bring author to the district

Dr. Burton, Superintendent of Millburn Public Schools sent the following message below in her most recent letter to the school district.  The grant mentioned below paid to bring the speaker to our community, and a portion of it comprised of funds raised from the Short Hills House Tour that took place last May.

"I do want to remind you about next week’s speaker, Dr. Robert Brooks.  He will be presenting to parents on Wednesday night about the topic of resilience.  How do we learn, and teach our children, to bounce back in difficult times?  How can we help them become self-reliant, a skill needed for success in life?  You don’t want to miss this presentation – I have seen him speak at a conference and he is a highly engaging speaker.  He will share strategies that he has developed that you'll want to try out for yourself and with your family.  I want to thank Jennifer Sowa, our Director of Special Services, for using grant funds to invite him to Millburn.  He will be working with our staff on Wednesday afternoon, to give them professional development and instructional tools to support your children." 

To see the speaker, Dr. Robert Brooks, author of "Raising Resilient Children" please join us at MHS Auditorium at 7pm on March 14, 2018.

Robert Brooks, Ph.D. Child Psychologist and renowned author of 16 books Dr.Brooks has lectured nationally and internationally to parents on topics pertaining to motivation, resilience, and family relationships. He is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and has served as the Director of the Department of Psychology at McLean Hospital in Boston.

Thank you so much for supporting the house tour to help provide these type of programs.

The next tour will be in May 5, 2018. To get tickets and learn more, please go to:  

SHORT HILLS HOUSE TOUR