Care Plus Foundation to Honor Miss America

The Care Plus Foundation announced that Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler is among the honorees at their Annual Courage Awards Gala on June 12 at the Venetian in Garfield, New Jersey.

The Foundation chose Kaeppeler for the work she does in mentoring children of incarcerated parents. Kaeppeler has personal experience with the topic as her father served 18 months in federal prison for mail fraud.

“There are many of you out there — and I was one of them — but it doesn’t have to define you,” she told the Associated Press after winning the Miss America crown.

The Courage Awards, now in its 14th year, honor and celebrate individuals, groups, and corporations who work on behalf of others facing the daily and life-long challenges of mental illness and substance abuse. Other honorees at the event include Bergen County Freeholder David L. Ganz, and HOMECorp of Montclair. 

The event includes a silent auction, tricky tray, 50/50 and a jewelry raffle. Miss Kaeppeler will be modeling three pieces of Kwiat diamond jewelry donated for the event by Devon Fine Jewelry of Wyckoff.

The Foundation is currently welcoming sponsors and dinner guests. For more information, visit http://www.CarePlusFoundation.org or call 201-986-5070.

This information was provided to Paramus Patch. Send your community news to myles.ma@patch.com.