Kicking In for Local Events Made Easier

Fans of the early '60s girl group The Toys—whose hits included "A Lover's Concerto"—will be anxious to hear the group perform at Watchung Hills Regional in February in a township-sponsored show.

Bigger fans may even want to help underwrite the show, which is now possible after the Township Committee took steps to create the proper mechanisms to receive donations.

Recreation Commission Director Eleanora Hermann said the township is hoping to find sponsors for the annual Yuletide Bonfire, as well as the concert, the spring Easter Egg Hunt and ongoing Recreation Commission projects—events that may be ideal for corporate benefactors.

"This is a great opportunity for business to advertise," Hermann said. "In return they receive advertising in many venues and get to talk to the residents face-to-face during the event by having a table with their handouts and banners."

The Township Committee approved a set of policies to guide donation aceptance and a trust fund for donations at the Oct. 3 meeting. The policies will allow residents and businesses to make donations to fund specific events, and defray the costs of other programming offered by the Recreation Commission—which would reduce costs to participants or township contributions.  

Herman said the new policies also open the door for donations of equipment and materials for events, which would be evaluated to set monetary values.