When Jane Frotton, a former councilwoman in Atlantic Highlands and former employee of the Red Cross learned that Highlands had adopted a family and a town in North Carolina to help after hurricanes devastated the area, it didn’t take her long to gather up friends to help Highlands in their quest to help their neighbors in the South.
Within a few hours of learning Highlands was transporting goods and funds to help, she advised friends in the American Legion, Post 141, the Atlantic Highlands Fire Auxiliary and the Atlantic Highlands Community Events Committee , knowing each of them is well known for their generosity in helping others.
After giving them details of the Highlands efforts, each of the organizations made donations of hundreds of dollars, Jane added your own, and more than $1000 was presented to Rosemary Ryan of Highlands, who is coordinating the borough’s efforts for aid.
Present for the presentation was Cynthia Fair, representing Valerie Montecalvo, of Highlands. The family owns Bayshore Recycling and several other businesses and are also known for their philanthropy. The Montealvos had advised Highlands they would match monetary donations to their North Carolina aid up to $50,000.
In making the presentation, Frotton said she was moved to tears by stories of the devastation, recalling many other storm damaged areas from the past where she had been assigned and led efforts for rehabilitation and restoration and wanted to part of Highlands efforts to continue the work of reaching out to strangers with assistance.
