U.S. Senator Cory Booker Guest of Honor at Friendship Circle Banquet

LIVINGSTON, N.J., March 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) will be a special guest of honor at this year's annual Friendship Circle Banquet in Livingston, N.J. The senator's dedication to improving the lives of people throughout the state of New Jersey is an inspiration to many and goes hand-in-hand with the Friendship Circle's mission of bringing together children with special needs and teen volunteers for hours of fun and camaraderie.

Introducing Sen. Booker at the dinner will be Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop.

Also being honored at the dinner will be: Patricia and Kevin Cummings (Investors Bank); Ilene and Lance Blake (Rotwein+Blake); Mara and Steven Simon (Consolidated Service Distributors); Arlene and Michael Gordon (Gordon & Gordon).

800 people are expected to attend this year's banquet. A special display utilizing cutting-edge Samsung Gear VR Technology will allow attendees to take a virtual reality tour of the forth coming LifeTown facility, a one-of-a-kind building that will redefine the social landscape for individuals with special needs.

WHO: U.S. Senator Cory Booker

WHERE: Friendship Circle, 10 Microlab Road, Livingston, N.J.

WHEN: Sunday, March 29, 6pm

WHAT: Annual Banquet and Celebration of Individuals with Special Needs

BACKGROUND:

The Friendship Circle is a primary resource for families who have children or teens with special needs. Participants and their families benefit from a wide array of innovative respite, social and recreational programs. Friendship Circle's distinctive approach of pairing participants with teen volunteers, motivates, inspires and enriches everyone involved.

The Friendship Circle is now creating LifeTown, a 47,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art center. Its recreational, therapeutic and educational facilities – the first of its kind in the region – will cater to the needs of all children, teens and adults. LifeTown's focal point is "Life Village," a simulated Main Street that will help prepare participants with special needs for independent living. Offering real-world scenarios in a safe and controlled environment, Life Village will empower users and allow them to reach their individual potentials.

SOURCE Friendship Circle