Meet The Team

​Marylou Roberts, CEO ​Five years ago, the Protect & Serve Foundation began with an idea... how to serve our Military and First Responders in NJ and throughout our nation? The idea turned into reality in 2021 when my Team and I launched our first Protect & Serve Golf Classic at Raritan Valley Country Club. It was a great success. Headquartered in NJ for the past 35 years, my company Sempre Bella Events, LLC, has formed special relationships with dozens of companies, "bringing the for-profit world and the non-profit world together.” Why the Military and First Responders? My grandfather, Simone Caputo, served in the Italian Army during WWII to support the United States and our Allies. Simone was a POW for 5 years. Upon his release, our family moved to the United States where Simone, his wife, Luiga, and my father became US Citizens. My son, James Roberts, graduated from Stockton University in 2021. Upon graduation, James immediately enlisted in the NJ Army National Guard as a Medic. James is also an EMT (First Responder) at two Stations located in New Jersey. My daughter, Lauren Tropiano, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in trauma and PTSD.  Lauren works with active Military Personnel and Veterans. The Military and our First Responders deserve our support, our respect and our many thanks. Please remember, at any given moment, there are Men and Women standing tall watching over us, protecting us.

President and Founder, Bonnie Carroll THE MISSION OF TAPS TAPS is the national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources for all those grieving the death of a military or veteran loved one. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24/7 through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones.

Kim Van Note, President Niece of MOH receipient, John Basilone The Basilone Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization operated exclusively for charitable purposes. Our mission is to raise funds to ensure a better quality of life for US Military Veterans and their families as well as people impacted by cancer. We do this in honor of Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone and are proud to carry on his name and legacy. Funds raised will be distributed to Fisher House Foundation and Somerset Health Care Foundation as well as other deserving charities.

Staff Sergeant, Charles Eggleston Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Charles Eggleston served for 16 years, including multiple tours in Iraq, on his last tour he was severely wounded from an IED blast. He is a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient who received treatment at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) for over three years from wounds of war. While at WRAMC, he advocated for his fellow wounded servicemen from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Mr. Eggleston’s civilian career, he was a systems engineer for over 15 years – managing contracts with the Pentagon, White House Communications Agency, U.S. Senate, and U.S. Postal Service. He is the CEO of Three Seven Consulting, a service-disabled, Veteran-owned small business. Mr. Eggleston also holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Cornell University.In addition to serving as a member of Blue Star Families' Board of Directors, he also sits on the board of the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) - An organization that uses the game of golf to rehabilitate and mentor wounded warriors with TBIs and PTSD and other Injuries from War.