The Monmouth Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2024 whose mission is dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of all Monmouth Beach School students. Through community fundraising and an annual collaborative grant process, the MBEF provides funding for innovative projects, initiatives and equipment that enrich the curriculum and the learning environment for the Monmouth Beach School.

Ways to Give

Purchase your bricks!

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About Us

Courtney Wladyka

Co President

Michael Melando

Board Member

Colleen Campbell

Board Member

Jason Melando

Treasurer

Kristina Schmelz

Secretary

Burt Barham

Board Member

Courtney grew up in Illinois and ​earned a degree in Marketing ​from U of I. She worked as a ​Marketing Director at Food ​Network Magazine where she ​collaborated with Fortune 500 ​Advertisers to create integrated ​content across a 360 platform. ​Since moving to MB from NYC, ​she has been an active member in ​the community through various ​fundraisers and events including ​the Griffin Street Playground ​Fundraiser, Shore to Help Golf ​Outing, Beachstock Concert and ​the Monarch Beach Awareness ​Campaign. She is currently a ​Director of the MB PTO 5K and a ​member of the MB Shade Tree ​Commission. She resides in ​Monmouth Beach with her ​husband Joe and four children - ​Lillian, Joey, Benny and Penelope.

Jason has spent the past 20+ ​years working in financial ​planning, risk management and ​insurance in both NY and NJ. ​After living in NY for over a ​decade he relocated back to his ​home county of Monmouth ​Beach where he now lives with ​his wife Emma and two boys, ​Harry and Max . He is committed ​to the MB community, currently ​serving as the Co-Chair of the ​Monmouth Beach Rec ​Committee managing the soccer ​program and works with a ​fantastic team to enhance and ​expand the rec offerings, ​establishing great new initiatives ​for residents to enjoy. In his ​spare time, he coaches soccer ​and basketball, enjoys the beach ​whether it be right here at home, ​in Hawaii or in Australia.

Kristina grew up in MB and ​graduated from MBS (Class of 1996). ​She received her undergraduate ​degree from the University of ​Chicago and her law degree from the ​Cardozo School of Law. She worked ​as a trial attorney for the Committee ​for Public Counsel Services in Boston ​and the Office of the Public Defender ​in Freehold, NJ before returning to ​work for her family’s businesses Sea ​View Auto Corp. and Sea Breeze Ford ​as in-house counsel. She has been a ​member of the MB Planning Board ​for 5 years and was recently ​appointed to the Monmouth Beach ​Recreation Committee. Kristina has ​coached numerous Shore Rec soccer ​and basketball teams and also ​currently coaches her sons’ U9 travel ​soccer team. Kristina lives in MB ​with her husband Ryan Farissier and ​their 3 kids Mikey, Nate and Eliza

Michael grew up in Kearny, ​New Jersey, with roots in ​Bayonne. After earning his ​bachelor’s degree from New ​York University he chose ​education as a pursuit, earning ​a master’s degree in school ​administration from Regent ​University. A teacher for ten ​years, and a school ​administrator for fourteen, he ​is native to the partnerships ​between community and public ​schools. Michael, his wife ​Lauren and son Gavin became ​residents of Monmouth Beach ​in 2016. Michael has also been ​a member of the Monmouth ​Beach Recreation Committee ​for five years.

Burt grew up in Monmouth ​Beach where he attended ​Monmouth Beach School (Class ​of 1994) and went on to attend ​high school at Christian Brothers ​Academy. He received his ​bachelors in Business ​Management at Monmouth ​University. He is the Principal of ​his family’s mechanical ​contracting company, Barham ​Mechanical Group. Burt is a ​board member for the Jersey ​Shore University Medical Center ​Foundation. He resides in ​Monmouth Beach with his wife ​Annie and their two sons, Tommy ​and Beau.

Colleen Campbell is a dedicated mother ​of three—Kevin (6), Kyle (4), and ​McKenna (2)—viewing motherhood as ​her most important role. Professionally, ​she is a seasoned executive with over 13 ​years of experience in translating long-​term vision into actionable strategies ​across various industries, including ​health & wellness, sports, financial, and ​media. She has successfully launched ​brands and managed growth ​opportunities, earning recognition as a ​partnership creator and brand builder ​with notable work for billion-dollar ​brands like Under Armour, AMEX, ​Equinox, SoulCycle, and the recent PIF-​funded project Kayanee in the Middle ​East. With a deep passion for education, ​supported by a master’s in secondary ​education, Colleen values the efforts to ​equip children for success and ​continually seeks ways to further ​support schools and their teams.

Events

Grants

MBEFoundation@icloud.com