Meet our team:
Sue Sharkey
Founder
Sue is a retired Southern Regional High School health and physical education teacher where she worked for over 30 years. A proud 1976 Beach Haven Elementary School graduate, she enjoys tennis, biking, the beach, and spending time with her three grown children and grandchildren. Sue resides in Beach Haven, NJ with her husband, Paul.
.jpg)
Erin Sharkey
Founder
Erin has been working with children and adults with special needs since 2009, and her passion for the special needs community has become her driving force for all she does professionally! Erin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, entrepreneur and local business owner. Erin loves all things Disney, fitness, travel and being Amaya’s mommy.
Andrea Szott
Board Member
Andrea is our non-profit veteran and “resident advisor.” She serves on numerous like-minded boards such as The Friends of Matheny, a group which lends support to The Matheny Medical & Educational Center in Peapack, NJ, where her son with special needs resides. She loves spending time with her family, summer at the beach in LBI, & helping others. Andrea lives in Morristown and Haven Beach with her husband, Dave and two sons.
Kevin Bradley
Board Member
Our "checks and balances" guru, Kevin, has over 30 years of corporate finance experience, most recently as the EVP and Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Steel. He serves as a guest lecturer and mentor at his alma mater, Montclair University and enjoys travel, biking, fitness, and spending time with his family. Kevin resides in Loveladies, NJ.
Paula Cassidy Deely
Board Member
Paula is a proud team member of the Black Whale and Ship Bottom Shellfish, but her favorite and most rewarding job is raising her four sons. She brings wisdom, enthusiasm and willingness to our small but mighty Compassion Cafe crew. Paula resides in North Beach Haven, NJ with her husband, Tony.
Our Supporters: We couldn't do it without you!
Since day one, we have been overwhelmed by support from our community to make our vision a reality. We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsors & supporters
for all they have done and continue to do.
Compassion Kinds
-
Allison Aaron, Esq.
-
Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club
-
Board of Trustees & Our Volunteer Corp
-
Chick's Tees LLC
-
A Couple of Really Good Guys
-
David's Coffee Shop
-
Dolan, Bell, Lautner, & Gilbert, CPAs
-
Fath Family
-
Garden Party Hosts
-
Good Day Cafe, State College, PA
-
How You Brewin'
-
Kristen & the team at Jersey Girl Grill
-
Liz Law
-
Murphy's Marketplace
-
Nicole Dougherty & the team at TD Bank
-
Rebecca Gee
-
Sink 'R Swim Men's Shop
-
Sharkey Behavioral Health
-
Sharkey Home Services
-
Weekly Staff Social Event Hosts
Starfish Supporters
-
17 Broad, LLC
-
2021 Striped Bass Derby
-
A grateful and proud Grandmother
-
Anonymously in memory of John Coyle
-
The Barry Family
-
Barry and Nicole Baxter, Barry's Do Me a Flavor
-
Bloomberg Philanthropies
-
Robert and Ann Benson
-
Kevin Bradley
-
Brant Beach Yacht Club
-
Jennifer Cory & Rocco Morrongiello
-
Diane Entrikin
-
Doherty Family
-
"Downtown" Patti Brown McMenamin
-
Fallon Foundation
-
Friends of #teammatthew
-
The Fruscione Foundation
-
Garden Party Hosts
-
Hank and Pat Braun Mazzucca
-
The Hughes Family, Sea Shell Resort
-
Jokers of Mahjong
-
Jordan Giving Hope Foundation
-
Kindness for Kate
-
Lauren's First and Goal Foundation
-
McKinley School's Make a Difference Day
-
John and Cathy Lawlor
-
Noteman-Jones Family Charitable Foundation
-
In memory of Maureen
-
Patrick Pal's Foundation
-
Doug and Melissa Rotatori
-
Terrace Tavern/Sweeney Ent LLC
-
United Methodist Churches of LBI
-
Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation
Sand Dollar Supporters
-
111th Street - North Carolina Ave
-
Linda & Kevin Baumann-Larkin
-
Mike & Jaimee Boyle and Friends
-
Brendan Canty
-
Buckalew's & Station 117
-
Cycle4Awareness.org
-
Footprints in the Sand
-
Friends from Southern Regional
-
Heritage Industrial Services, Inc.
-
The Jaworski Family
-
Rosemarie and Marty Levandowski
-
Manahawkin Elks Lodge 2340
-
Murphy's Marketplace
-
Jon and Sarah Rosen
-
Wainwright Amusements
-
The Walter F. Blaine Foundation
-
Amy & Steve Webb
Seaglass Supporters
-
Blue Crab Properties LBI - Jodi & Jim Warren
-
Bruni Family
-
Betty and Bob Christian
-
Coastal Living Real Estate
-
Patrick Donohue Family and Fran-Choice
-
Greenbriar Capital
-
F.O.P. Lodge #5
-
Friends of the Streep Family
-
Greenbriar Oceanaire Women's Club
-
Tammy and Brian Haveson
-
Holgate RV Park & Boat Basin, LLC
-
Island Bible Church
-
Dianna Ivanov @ Ivanov Group Keller Williams
-
Mary Ellen Kazar
-
Nick and Donna Kulken
-
LBI Beach Crew
-
LBI Girlfriends
-
LBI Pickleball
-
Ocean County Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh
-
Howard and Alison Madsen
-
The Marinucci Family
-
The Porter Family
-
Reynolds Garden Shop
-
Kathy and Mark Scagliuso
* List updated quarterly. We apologize for any errors or omissions.
Are you or your business interested in sponsoring an employee this season? Click here to learn more about joining the Compassion Cafe Club and becoming a sponsor.
How does my donation make an impact?
Donations provide the cafe with everything needed to facilitate a real restaurant setting: ordering food, aprons, sanitation, advertising, menus, and much more!
The majority of your donation will go directly to funding payroll for our staff of adolescents and adults with disabilities.
Everyone's Time Is Valuable - We anticipate "overstaffing" our cafe to allow for the best experience for our extraordinary staff. This means our payroll expenses will be higher, so we appreciate all of your support. We feel it's vital to provide not only a meaningful work experience, but a meaningful life experience, which includes our team earning wages even during learning, because everyone's time is valuable.
Donations can be made via our donation site on Square
or by mail (Please make all checks payable to Compassion Cafe)
Compassion Cafe
10 N. Delaware Ave.
Beach Haven, NJ 08008
Our EI# is 85-2220248. Most donations are fully tax deductible. Please consult with your tax accountant for your specific donation eligibility.
We Thank You For Your Support!