Holmdel Football Field...Interesting
Committee optimistic Roggy fundraising will pick up as work progresses
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer
Despite drainage delays and a lull in fundraising efforts, Frank Corrado, co-chair of Holmdel's Roggy Field Fundraising committee is optimistic that all will finish on time.
The ambitious, $1.5 million renovation project of the football field at the high school broke ground in January. But project delays and less than stellar fundraising results have yielded concern that it may not be ready on time.
"I am very, very optimistic that it will be done for the opening of varsity football in September," Corrado said.
Half of the project will be jointly funded by the Holmdel School District and the township, with the other half coming from private donations.
That's where Corrado comes in.
Along with co-chair Bob Evanson, Corrado and a band of volunteers have taken on the task of raising nearly $800,000 in private funds. At this point Corrado said $120,000 has been collected, but he expects that number will go up once the field is near completion and the public can see that it is a benefit to the community.
"I really think - call me crazy - that this should be viewed as a community venue," Corrado said. "I want people to start to realize this venue is for Holmdel."
When completed, the field named in honor of world-class javelin thrower and Holmdel alumnus Bob Roggy will boast an artificial turf and a new track.
Corrado said that since construction began, fundraising has hit a lull. But once completed, he said, business owners will see the benefits of buying advertising at the field that plays host to high school home games as well as community events and sports teams.
Businesses will be able to purchase advertising space at the new field for $1,500 per year. Those signing on for a five-year contract will pay $4,500, but Corrado said the cost will be worth it, given the volume of people that will visit the field each year, which he said pushes 15,000.
"We're looking for businesses who understand they are getting in on the ground floor," Corrado said. "You never know where this facility is going."
Corrado said he isn't worried about the funds raised not reaching certain levels at certain times.
"Raising $800,000 is not a drop in the bucket," Corrado said. "It would be putting undo stress on our committee by saying we need to be at 'x' by this date and 'y' at that date."
He said that he knows the businesses will come through.
"We haven't scratched the surface on who can contribute," Corrado said.
One thing the fundraising committee is deficient on is volunteers. Corrado said that since this is a community project, a little more help from the community outside of financial contributions is a necessity.
"We really need volunteers beyond soliciting," Corrado said.
It is understandable, he said, that some people may not be comfortable with soliciting donations from businesses and private individuals, but that should not be a deterrent for volunteering, as there are plenty of jobs for those who are not interested in directly raising funds.
Corrado said the fundraising committee plans on a big push to local businesses as the project begins to wrap up. A sign has been commissioned to display the progress of the fundraising and hopefully bring more notice to the project. The field is expected to be completed in time for the fall football season.
As for the fundraising effort, Corrado offered an appropriate analogy.
"This is not a sprint," he said, "but a long-distance race."
Committee optimistic Roggy fundraising will pick up as work progresses
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer
Despite drainage delays and a lull in fundraising efforts, Frank Corrado, co-chair of Holmdel's Roggy Field Fundraising committee is optimistic that all will finish on time.
The ambitious, $1.5 million renovation project of the football field at the high school broke ground in January. But project delays and less than stellar fundraising results have yielded concern that it may not be ready on time.
"I am very, very optimistic that it will be done for the opening of varsity football in September," Corrado said.
Half of the project will be jointly funded by the Holmdel School District and the township, with the other half coming from private donations.
That's where Corrado comes in.
Along with co-chair Bob Evanson, Corrado and a band of volunteers have taken on the task of raising nearly $800,000 in private funds. At this point Corrado said $120,000 has been collected, but he expects that number will go up once the field is near completion and the public can see that it is a benefit to the community.
"I really think - call me crazy - that this should be viewed as a community venue," Corrado said. "I want people to start to realize this venue is for Holmdel."
When completed, the field named in honor of world-class javelin thrower and Holmdel alumnus Bob Roggy will boast an artificial turf and a new track.
Corrado said that since construction began, fundraising has hit a lull. But once completed, he said, business owners will see the benefits of buying advertising at the field that plays host to high school home games as well as community events and sports teams.
Businesses will be able to purchase advertising space at the new field for $1,500 per year. Those signing on for a five-year contract will pay $4,500, but Corrado said the cost will be worth it, given the volume of people that will visit the field each year, which he said pushes 15,000.
"We're looking for businesses who understand they are getting in on the ground floor," Corrado said. "You never know where this facility is going."
Corrado said he isn't worried about the funds raised not reaching certain levels at certain times.
"Raising $800,000 is not a drop in the bucket," Corrado said. "It would be putting undo stress on our committee by saying we need to be at 'x' by this date and 'y' at that date."
He said that he knows the businesses will come through.
"We haven't scratched the surface on who can contribute," Corrado said.
One thing the fundraising committee is deficient on is volunteers. Corrado said that since this is a community project, a little more help from the community outside of financial contributions is a necessity.
"We really need volunteers beyond soliciting," Corrado said.
It is understandable, he said, that some people may not be comfortable with soliciting donations from businesses and private individuals, but that should not be a deterrent for volunteering, as there are plenty of jobs for those who are not interested in directly raising funds.
Corrado said the fundraising committee plans on a big push to local businesses as the project begins to wrap up. A sign has been commissioned to display the progress of the fundraising and hopefully bring more notice to the project. The field is expected to be completed in time for the fall football season.
As for the fundraising effort, Corrado offered an appropriate analogy.
"This is not a sprint," he said, "but a long-distance race."
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