For Immediate Release:
September 28, 2018
Monmouth County Freeholders Present Colts Neck High School Student with Certificate of Recognition
FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently presented Cadet William Dean, a 16-year-old Colts Neck High School student, with a Certificate of Recognition for his outstanding commitment to supporting our country’s veterans.
Over the past three years, Dean has hosted annual fundraisers that have yielded almost $80,000 in total for veterans and for his high school’s ROTC Unit.
His most recent event, a carnival held at Bucks Mills in August, raised $26,000 for the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund, which purchases service dogs for veterans. Since each service dog costs $15,000 to train, The Association of the United States Army Monmouth Chapter is partnering with Dean to donate the remaining $4,000 needed so two dogs can be purchased. The dogs will go to local veterans and Dean will have the opportunity to present each veteran with his or her new service dog.
“William Dean truly embodies the meaning of serving your community. He has shown how one individual can impact the lives of many,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Lillian G. Burry. “We are proud to have supported his fundraisers the past three years and look forward to seeing all that he can accomplish in the future.”
In his previous endeavors, Dean raised $12,250 for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel and $21,000 for Extreme Seal Adventures, a Maryland-based nonprofit that helps disabled veterans.
Dean is a senior at Colts Neck High School and a lieutenant in the school’s award-winning ROTC unit. His goal is to attend the U.S. Naval Academy next fall; Dean’s parents both served in the navy.
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