First Annual Asbury’s Got Talent At Asbury Lanes
Brian Holland Memorial Event Raises $30K For Garden State Equality
Showcasing an array of hidden talents, The Asbury – Hotel and Lanes – staff came together Sunday to honor Brian Holland in support of Garden State Equality.
The 37-year-old, who served as regional director of employee experience at The Asbury, was struck and fatally injured last month at the Sunset Avenue train crossing.
“His personality showed through with everything that he did,” Bowd said. “On the first day of Salt School, which was our employment and hiring process, Brian got up at 3 o’clock in the morning to make 200 people coffee so that everyone would be comfortable on the first day of school. I think that really just shows what an incredible person Brian was and what a beloved member of our team that he was.”
Held at Asbury Lanes, the First Annual Asbury’s Got Talent raised a total of $30,000 in support of the state’s LGBTQ support nonprofit; $12,500 of it before the doors even opened and $2,260 from employee contributions.
Hotelier David Bowd, who owns and operates the the two venues, said the annual event in support of Garden State Equality is one many things they will do to ensure the 10 year long city resident is not forgotten.
“Garden State Equality was really near and dear to Brian’s heart,” Bowd said.
They will plant a tree on The Asbury grounds in his honor, create a Salt School Scholarship in his name, and have created the Brian Holland Leave A Legacy Award.
“Leave a legacy means positively influencing those people around you by being loving, serving others unconditionally, caring about everyone and living a life without expectations and judgements of others,” Bowd said. “This person is someone that always sees the bright side of life, sees the good in people and lives the best version of themselves; that two was Brian.”
Hosted by Z100’s Skeery Jones The Asbury’s top executive Larry Dembrun opened the event with his rendition of Barbara Streisand’s singing Don’t Rain on My Parade and followed it up with a show stopping Beyonce anthem.
The performances included song, dance rapp and lip syncing from those who answer the phone, serve drinks and work in the Asbury Lanes Diner, as well as on the security team.
“The talent was indescribable, every one was better than the next and done professionally,” Holland’s sister Lindsay Prato said. “It was just amazing.”
Prato, along with sister Caitlin Holland and COO Jennifer Loughman, served as the talent show judges.
In the end The Lanes Band, Jason Portizo and Miss Savannah Georgia captured the top three prizes.
“There are no words to describe this; it’s incredible,” Holland said of the tribute. “It goes beyond any expectation that we have. It’s so beautiful to see how loved Brian was because he was so loved in our family.”
Holland’s third sister Amy Lockhart said her brother would have been humbled by the gesture.
“This would have meant so much to Brian,” his sister . “He was very close to his family and these people were his family. We can’t even begin to tell you how amazing they are. He would have loved every minute of it but would also have been very overwhelmed and not want all of this because he was very humble.”
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