Bridges of Peace get help from Bon Jovi

Bridges of Peace members Karen Bailey Bebert (l-r) and Police Sgt. Robert Bruce, also a U.S. Army sergeant, are pictured with Jon Bon Jovi's brother Matt Bongiovi and Diane Eleftheriades and Marianne Riscoe during last week's Bon Jovi show at Starland Ballroom, Sayreville.

SAYREVILLE — Jon Bon Jovi did more than entertain some of his biggest fans in his hometown last week. He helped a local charity, and in turn, children in wartorn Iraq.

Bon Jovi, along with his Backstage with JBJ fan club, sponsored a drive for the borough based Bridges of Peace organization and its "Help a Child Through a Soldier" drive at his private fan club concert at the Starland Ballroom Feb. 23. The drive was a huge success due to the support of Bon Jovi, his brother Matt Bongiovi and the fan club, according to the charity organization.

In an effort to encourage the fans to give to Bridges of Peace, Jon Bon Jovi donated a personal item to be raffled off. Winner Katrina Van Horn received a black Dolce & Gabbana Vneck shirt owned, worn and signed by the rock 'n' roll superstar.

Sayreville Police Sgt. Robert Bruce, a U.S. Army sergeant who recently returned from Iraq, gives the thumbs up as Karen Bailey Bebert collects items from Bon Jovi fans outside the Starland Ballroom last week.

Fans gave thousands of items to Bridges of Peace, filling an entire U-Haul truck with soccer balls, toys, sports equipment, art and school supplies, and other children's goods. The drive had Bridges of Peace volunteers packing about 60 giant boxes for several days for shipment to children in Iraq.

The boxes were shipped the next day to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq. The soldiers are with the same U.S. Army Civil Affairs unit as Sgt. Robert Bruce, who returned home to Sayreville in mid-November after spending a year in Iraq. Bruce is also Sayreville police officer and a Bridges of Peace board member.

The Bridges of Peace board extended its thanks to Jon Bon Jovi, Matt Bongiovi, who oversees the fan club, and the fans for their support of the drive.

"By everyone's participation, we are able to build Bridges of Peace together, said Bridges of Peace President Diane Eleftheriades of Sayreville. "We look forward to the soldiers receiving the gifts and giving them to the children. We hope it brings them happiness, as I really feel all children deserve happiness in this life."

A documentary-type video on the drive has been posted on the YouTube website. The video features "Toys for Peace," a song co-written for the charity by legendary folk musician Pete Seeger and folk artist Ray Korona.

For more information on the organization, visit www.bridgepeace.org.