Celebrities sign masks to aid Habitat mitzvah

Nov. 2 sale of special
items will raise funds
for home construction
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

Hand-painted ceramic masks will be auctioned off at the Celebrity Mask Auction to be held at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. These are among the celebrity masks being offered for auction on Nov. 2.

If you have a keen interest in art, a passion for celebrity autographs, and a desire to help others, keep Nov. 2 open on your calendar.

The Freehold Area Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring a Celebrity Mask Auction in the Student Life Center at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft section of Middletown, beginning at noon with a silent auction and a craft fair. A live auction will commence at 4 p.m. The auction is being held to raise funds for a project the volunteers are calling the Mitzvah House.

According to George Cohen, a board member of Habitat for Humanity, mitzvah means "good deed" and members of local Jewish organizations are joining together to perform a good deed by raising funds to build a home for Habitat on Institute Street in Freehold Borough. The home will be a part of Habitat’s six-home subdivision.

The Mitzvah House project will cost about $70,000. Habitat for Humanity will contribute $20,000 for the land and the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County will add an $18,000 grant. The area’s Jewish community will work toward raising the balance.

The Mitzvah House is sponsored by volunteers from synagogues, Jewish schools and organizations in Monmouth County.

According to Evett Weiner, event coordinator, the celebrity auction will offer a host of celebrity masks from people in the entertainment, music and sports worlds. Weiner said the response to her letters asking celebrities for mask signatures has been overwhelmingly positive.

Nestled in among the masks signed by Bruce Springsteen and James Gandolfini are masks by Freehold Borough artists John Carey and Chris Robinson, known as Kortez.

According to Weiner, Kortez has designed and painted two masks which she said "are colorful and beautiful." One is a lion painted in black with gold artwork around it, and the second is a warrior mask painted in black and white. A layer of texture completes the mask.

Carey has employed his signature style on the mask he painted, blending muted shades of yellow, green, rust and blue to create something wonderful. His figures and soft colors meld to craft what will surely please his fans.

Gov. James E. McGreevey signed a beautiful mask that was painted by local artist Donna Ponzo.

Area artist Sherril Beaton-Jose also lent her talent to paint numerous masks for celebrities to sign.

The entertainment world will be well represented at the auction, according to Weiner. Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Carmen Electra, Richard Simmons and the late Buddy Hackett have all signed masks.

The music industry will be represented with masks signed by Harry Connick Jr., Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Hornsby.

Jon Bon Jovi sent a rare compact disc from a limited release private collection that will be up for sale and funny man Mel Brooks sent an autographed book about his play "The Producers."

Television personalities from "Today" and "Good Morning America" will also have masks up for auction. In addition, the casts of many soap operas have signed masks which will also be for sale.

Weiner said Broadway will be represented with signatures from Toni Braxton ("Aida"), Melanie Griffith ("Chicago"), Antonio Banderas ("Nine") and Leslie Uggams ("Thoroughly Modern Millie").

A catcher’s mask worn and signed by Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox will be among the items, as well as items from members of the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

For further information about the event visit www.mitzvahhouse.org.