Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of the Jersey Shore Award $25,000 in Grants to Area High School Graduates

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore continued their tradition of supporting college bound students of Irish descent by awarding $25,000 in grants to 25 deserving graduates. 

Nearly 200 applicants from twenty one different high schools in Monmouth and Ocean County applied for the Brother Peter Mannion Memorial Grants.  

Despite schools closing prematurely and the cancellation of the Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Black Tie Dinner due to the pandemic, the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick stayed true to their mission of funding these grants despite suffering some financial hardships. Through the efforts of outgoing President Kevin Dwyer, many would be attendees and sponsors graciously contributed their dinner fees to help fund the Grants Program. 

The Grants are made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick-Jersey Shore Annual Black Tie Dinner and Program Journal, the  annual FSSP Golf Outing at Manasquan River Country Club in August, corporate donations and other events. 

FSSP Foundation President Patrick Sheridan noted, “We’re pleased that the good work we do with our fundraising events allows us to distribute these grants to a group of talented and deserving students as they head off to college.  Over the years, the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick have awarded over $700,000 in aid to local area high school graduates of Irish heritage.”

The students were selected by the organization’s Grant Committee according to Chairman Mike Dunphy. “We reviewed applications from some incredibly talented and well-rounded students. Each committee member reviewed every application and we had to make some difficult decisions to select this year’s grant winners. “

Normally the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick would host the Grant winners and families at a Doolan’s Shore Club Grant Dinner, but the current climate of social distancing made that impossible. 

“We’ll miss presenting the checks at our annual ceremony, but we wish all of our winners the best of luck and future success, ”noted Dunphy.

The 25 Brother Peter Mannion Grant recipients are from 21 high schools: Biotechnology, Brick Memorial, Central regional, Christian Brothers Academy, Colts Neck, Communications, Donovan Catholic, Manalapan, Manasquan, MAST, Middletown North, Neptune, New Egypt, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Red Bank Catholic, St. John Vianney, St. Rose, Southern Regional, Trinity Hall, and Wall.

Last NameFirst NameSchool
CashmanMary kateTrinity Hall
CochraneTuckerMAST
CurryMeganSouthern Regional
DevineJackNew Egypt
DonohueSeanSt. Rose
Dwyer IIIPatrickSt. Rose
FoxMichelleWall HS
GiovencoMadisonCentral Regional
GriffinHeatherCommunications HS
HagertyBrendanWall HS
HayesDanielleRBC
LeonardLiamDonovan Catholic
McCagueAidanCBA
McCarthyEmilyManasquan
McGovernKellyColts Neck
NikolaKrystofBiotechnology
O’BeirnePatrickWall HS
RamosNoahPt. Beach
RossiAlexaPt. Boro
RyanJakeSt. J Vianney
SanclementiCarynNeptune
SextonAndrewManasquan HS
SherlockLaurenMiddletown North
ShornakSamanthaBrick Memorial
SparacioAngelinaManalapan
Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of the Jersey Shore Award $25,000 in Grants to Area High School Graduates

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore are proud to announce the awarding of $26,000 in grants to 26 college bound students during an awards dinner honoring their achievement.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore chose from nearly 200 applicants of Irish descent from 37 High Schools in Monmouth and Ocean County. Seventeen different high schools were represented in the awards. The Grants are made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick-Jersey Shore Annual Black Tie Dinner and Program Journal, an annual Golf Outing at Manasquan River Country Club in August and other endeavors.

“The Brother Peter Mannion Friendly Sons of the Jersey Shore Foundation Grants” honor the late Brother Peter Mannion, the man who was the guiding light behind awarding of over $650,000 in aid to local area high school graduates of Irish heritage.

The students were selected by the organization’s Grant Committee according to Chairman Michael Dunphy. “We reviewed some incredibly talented and well-rounded applicants. Our committee members reviewed every application and had to make some difficult decisions to select this year’s grant winners.”

Seventeen local high schools produced winners included Allentown, Brick Township, Christian Brothers Academy, Freehold Borough, Manasquan, Middletown North, Ocean Township,  Performing Arts, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven, St. Rose, Toms River East, Toms River North and Toms River South and Wall.

FSSP Foundation President Patrick Sheridan and FSSP President Kevin Dwyer noted, “We’re pleased the good work we do with our Annual Dinner, The Journal Program and the Gold Classic and other events could raise monies to allow us to award 26 grants to some talented and deserving students as they head off to college.”

Students, their parents and relatives and members of the Board of Directors of the Friendly Sons participated in the Annual Awards Ceremony Dinner at Doolan’s Shore Club Restaurant.

2019 Grant Dinner & Awards

Our Golf Classic for 2019 has been announced! Join us on Monday, August 5 at the Manasquan River Golf Club.

The Golf Classic will start with a continental breakfast and morning golf, which is followed by lunch and an afternoon tee time. We then have cocktail hour, dinner, and awards. This year we have a raffle for an Ireland Golf Trip for 4. Only 250 tickets are sold at $100 each.

Sponsorships are available and help contribute to our annual Grants Program for college-bound high school seniors. This Golf Classic is a great opportunity to enjoy the company of your family, friends, business colleagues, and customers.

Stay tuned for more information!

Save the Date! Golf Classic 2019

The Annual Friendly Sons Golf Classic was held at Manasquan River Golf Club on August 6, 2018 for the 11th consecutive year. Last year, despite the rain date, the luck of the Irish prevailed as the weather was spectacular, as it has been each year we’ve held this event at MRGC. The Robert White-designed course lived up to its reputation of lightning fast greens, challenging, pristine conditions, and a highly desirable venue.

It was another Manasquan River GC record-breaking success – 190 golfers, under the watchful eyes of resident Bald Eagles, with AM/PM shotgun starts. Despite the enormous number of participants, the “Best Ball” format, play was completed in under 4 and a half hours, thanks in great part to our Golf Marshal, Lt. Mike Clancy, who kept pace of play a reality!

The course had undergone numerous improvements: new bunkers, revamped and relocated tee boxes, improved fairway locations and changes to the most challenging hole on the Jersey Shore – the par 4, 16th hole (should be a par 5 for our caliber of players)!

As usual, MRGC provided an outstanding lunch, cocktail hour and gourmet buffet dinner. The highlight of the day was the drawing of the $10,400 Ireland foursome raffle, won by longtime FSSP member Chris Coyle.

It was a great opportunity to enjoy the company of family, friends, business colleagues, and customers. The 2019 Golf Classic at MRGC is scheduled for Monday, August 5, with a rain date of Monday, August 12th.

2018 Friendly Sons of St. Patrick – Jersey Shore Golf Classic on August 6th

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore are proud to announce the awarding of $26,000 in grants to 26 college-bound students during an awards dinner honoring their achievement. The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey shore chose from 214 applicants of Irish descent from 37 high schools in Monmouth and Ocean County. The grants are made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick – Jersey Shore Annual Black Tie Dinner and Program Journal, an annual Golf Outing at Manasquan River Country Club in August and other endeavors.

“The Brother Peter Mannion Friendly Sons of the Jersey Shore Foundation Grants-in-Aid” honor the late Brother Peter Mannion, the man who was the guiding light behind awarding over $576,000 in aid to local area high school graduates of Irish heritage. The students were selected by the organization’s Grant Committee according to Chairman Michael Dunphy. “We reviewed some incredibly talented and well-rounded applicants. Our committee members reviewed every application and had to make some difficult decisions to select this year’s grant winners. We have a wonderful group of high school students in our local communities.”

Eighteen local high schools produced winners, including Brick Township, Christian Brothers Academy, Central Regional, Donovan Catholic, Manasquan, MAST, Matawan Regional, Middletown South, Neptune, New Egypt, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Red Bank Catholic, Shore Regional, St. Rose, Toms River East, Toms River North, and Toms River South.

FSSP President Joseph Maher noted, “We’re pleased the good work we do with our Annual Dinner and other events could raise monies to allow us to award 26 grants to some talented and deserving students as they head off to college.”

Students, their parents, FSSP President Joseph Maher, and members of the Board of Directors of the Friendly Sons participated in the Annual Awards Ceremony at Doolan’s Shore Club Restaurant.