Although he is gone, the spirit of Chad Gunther is alive and well in the hearts of people in the area.
The third annual dinner/fundraiser in his name will be held Sept. 17. It starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be located at the E Lounge on top of the firehouse on Route 70 West in the Erlton section of Cherry Hill.
Voorhees resident Robert Shulman, a neighbor and friend to Chad’s father, Ray Gunther, said each year the event gets larger.
He said he expects to sell out this year and reach the 180-person capacity. The E Lounge is owned by a Voorhees resident.
Voorhees Mayor Michael Mignogna will be there as well.
Proceeds go to various children in the Camden area.
“We found there’s great need there,” Shulman said, noting the fund has given scholarships for college and overnight camp as well as to the Boys and Girls Club of Camden County.
So far the Chad Gunther Memorial Fund, a 501 © 3 nonprofit organization, has raised $35,000.
The money has gone to outfitting teams with uniforms and equipment, to after school programs, to Camden’s Promise Charter School, to providing turkeys during the holidays and food.
“The more we raise the more we can give — we’re not trying to build a war chest,” Shulman said. “We’re strictly about helping as many children as we can.
“Chad was a tremendous kid who cared about people,” he added. “He always stuck up for the underdog.”
Ray Gunther said Chad died at the age of 27 in 2009. The cause of death is still unknown.
A Camden native, Ray lives in Voorhees. Chad lived with his parents and took part in all sports in Voorhees.
Chad played half ball, wiffle ball, and football with older men in the township.
“He always really helped out the older guys.” Ray said. “He helped everybody in the community with whatever they needed.
“That’s why most of the people in this community give” to the fund, he added, noting most of the people who plan to attend are from Voorhees.
Chad was a sales representative for a store fixture company out of northern New Jersey.
Ray has a son, 43, who lives in Maryland with two children, a 40-year-old son who lives in Voorhees also with two children, and a daughter, 27, who also lives in Maryland.
“He was a tremendous athlete,” Ray said of Chad. “Whatever he played he was always the best player.”
Chad was South Jersey player of the year in high school and played varsity ice hockey for four years in high school. He also played on the Philadelphia Flyers’ travel team.
Ray said Chad excelled in baseball and soccer as well.
“He loved kids,” Ray said. “He was always helping little kids.”
One program Ray thinks Chad would like that is being funded through his organization is “Below the Rim,” a basketball program, for 4- to 6-year-olds in Camden.
For more information, contact Bob Shulman at: 856–782–1666.
