Craft beer fundraiser launched to support Morristown babes

Editor's note: The Nov. 28 event has been cancelled. Please contact Jennifer Mount for information.

Enjoy craft beer for a great cause next weekend at Cricket Hill Brewing in Fairfield next Saturday, a beer tasting event to support families in Morristown Medical Center’s neonatal intensive-care unit.

“Beer Tasting for the Morristown Medical Center NICU Babies” runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 and will include unlimited German-style food, wine by the glass and, of course, 12 of Cricket Hill’s beers on tap. has been cancelled.

There will also be live music courtesy of acoustic guitarist Tony Caggiano, and plenty of raffles and door prizes.

Tickets for the event are limited and cost $55, with about 85 percent of the proceeds benefiting families in the neonatal unit and the remaining costs covering booking the venue. They are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beer-tasting-event-4-the-morristown-nicu-babies-cricket-hill-brewing-co-tickets-18811250958.

Proceeds will help financially challenged families in the neonatal unit by providing them with gift cards for stores including Babies”R”Us, Walmart, ShopRite and similar large brand-name stores found throughout the area. The cards help the families in need pay for gas, food, and supplies for their newborns.

“Our goal is to make this already very traumatic situation a little bit easier on them,” said fundraising coordinator Jennifer Mount, a veteran mother of Morristown Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Donations of holiday sleepers for the premature and newborn babies will also be accepted at the event. The clothing must be new and feature snap buttons not zippers.

“Being in the NICU isn't planned. Most come way before their delivery date which can be challenging,” Mount said. “The money we raise can provide so much at such a traumatic time in their lives.”

Mount began doing fundraisers to support the NICU about three years ago, attempting to help out others who are in a situation she once faced and “paying it forward” to the hospital that she said saved her life. Past fundraisers were “Bowling for Babies” events, but Mount decided to shake things up this year with the beer tasting.

Mount hopes this year’s event will help raise $5,000 to aid families in the Morristown NICU.

“We are not a formal organization, but preemie parents and friends who are paying it forward and that hope to one day become a true non-profit and branch out to other NICU units in the area,” Mount said. “My goal would be to have a fund set up for parents who have financial setbacks to be able to come to us. “

Mount works with Ellen Laudone, a social worker for Morristown’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, to distribute the gift cards and find out what it is the families need.

“The provision of gift cards for baby care items has greatly benefitted many of our families who have significant financial needs,” Laudone said. “Jennifer’s creative fundraising promotes NICU awareness and supports the needs of our present NICU parents.”

Anyone who cannot attend the event but wishes to donate money or gift cards to support families in Morristown’s NICU can contact Mount at Jennifermount@rocketmail.com or 862-222-4317.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com

If you go : CANCELLED

Fundraiser for Morristown newborns

What: Unlimited Cricket Hill beer, wine, and German food

Where: Cricket Hill Brewing Co., 24 Kulick Road in Fairfield

When: Saturday, Nov. 28 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beer-tasting-event-4-the-morristown-nicu-babies-cricket-hill-brewing-co-tickets-18811250958

Contact: 862-222-4317