For many years, fundraising for Fort Lee High School Sports teams in Fort Lee has consisted of selling candy (not the healthiest method), selling athletic gear, primarily t-shirts and sweatshirts; and having athletes sit with \u201ctin cups\u201d (figuratively) in front of Shoprite and the A& P, soliciting donations.\u00a0 \u00a0Selling candy probably had a 25% return, clothing 10%, and tin-cupping 100%, but with limited donations.\u00a0 \u00a0As a result, our sports programs have suffered, i.e. our high school athletes and ancillary programs (cheerleaders; band; etc.) have been deprived of the necessary equipment to enhance our programs.\u00a0\u00a0 In past years, our teams have worn old, disgusting \u00a0uniforms while visiting teams would arrive looking like winners (except for our color guard that had no uniforms at all \u2013 totally embarrassing ).\u00a0 We have lacked equipment for our weight rooms and sports equipment to train our teams professionally.<\/p>\n
With the exception of selling clothing, which builds a sense of \u201chigh school spirit\u201d, it is time to discard the other antiquated, ineffective fundraising methods and begin to work together as a community to insure that our high school athletic programs have only the best.<\/p>\n
There is also the issue that, in the past, the various entities have failed to work together to raise money. The football team has separate fundraising from the soccer team, etc.\u00a0\u00a0 The band and the color guard have to raise their own funds.\u00a0\u00a0 There has never been a united effort to work together to benefit all the programs.<\/p>\n
A new era has begun.\u00a0\u00a0 In 2012, the seeds of an idea were germinated with the high school football program.\u00a0 A small sports ad journal was published in an effort to raise money for the team. In 2013, this idea was expanded into \u201cThe 1st Annual Bridgemen Athletics Ad Journal 2013\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>As a result of the work of a group of dedicated individuals, this enterprise raised over $ 10,000<\/b> for our sports programs.\u00a0 This has resulted in new equipment, new technology, and new uniforms for our athletes.<\/p>\n
With the help of several devoted individuals, this fundraising effort was a smashing success.\u00a0 Michael Raftery, FLHS Athletic Director, coordinated this project with all the high school coaches and the fundraising group.\u00a0 James Puliatte, Asst. Basketball Coach and head of \u201cFort Lee Fanatics\u201d, designed the front and back covers for the journal as well as organizing all the team photos.\u00a0 Marianne Laurel, \u00a0a 2008 alumni of Fort Lee High, dedicated mega-hours of her time into the ad designs and did an amazing job.<\/p>\n
Key individuals donated their time to fundraising.\u00a0 Alan Keller, President of the Fort Lee Soccer League; Paul Leale, VP of the Fort Lee American Little League, and Billy Straub, FLHS Head Football Coach, worked hard to solicit local businesses and individuals to place ads in the journal. Three high school student athletes: Cody Pearl; Sam Keller; and Mohammed Abdelhamid; went store to store to solicit ads.\u00a0\u00a0 Over fifty businesses, individuals, and organizations eventually placed advertisements in this journal as a result of these endeavors.<\/p>\n
The first Sports Ad Journals were distributed at our opening season Fort Lee High School football game on Friday, September 13.\u00a0 These journals will continue to be distributed at all home games for our various sports programs, demonstrating community support for our student athletes.<\/p>\n
Special thanks to all those generous individuals and organizations who contributed to this program: \u00a0These patrons who support our student athletes need to be acknowledged:<\/p>\n
New Jersey Bank \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Valley National Bank\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Cafasso\u2019s Fairway Market \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>Mayor Mark Sokolich\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Hook & Ladder Co. #3 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Luppino Homes<\/b><\/p>\n
Robert Dillon, Class of \u201997 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Chillers Grill\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Raffi Khorozian, Esq. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>P<\/b>arsekian & Solomon, Attys. \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
The Finest Construction \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Tutor Doctor<\/b><\/p>\n
Patrizia & Giuseppe Pagano \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Luppino Developers LLC \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
P.B.A. # 245 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Jan Goldberg, Councilman\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Maggiano, DiGirolamo, & Lizzi, Attys-at-Law<\/b><\/p>\n
Jamie M. Weiss Realty\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The Keller Family\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
The Pearl Family \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Starr, Darcy, & Starr, CPAs\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
The Elketchen Family \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Postcards R Us<\/b><\/p>\n
Ila Kasovsky, Councilwoman \u00a0 Trattorio Pomodoro\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Its Greek to Me \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b>Joseph A. Holzapfel, D.P.M. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Enzo\u2019s Market<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Paul Leale, Met Life\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
The Fort Lee Cooperative & Condominium Association<\/b><\/p>\n
Frank Aiello, Class of \u201972 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sokolich Real Estate\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Beverly Hecht, Remax Realtors \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>Barry Wein \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Modell\u2019s Sporting Goods \u00a0<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b>F<\/b>rank Cleary, Remax Realtors\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Gittleman, Muhlstock & Chewcaskie, A<\/b>ttys-at-Law<\/b><\/p>\n
BrightStar Home Health Care \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b>Mikula Contracting \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Envy Parking LLC<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>A<\/b>ntranig Aslanian, Esq.<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Uscher, Quiat, Uscher & Russo, Atty\u2019s-at-Law \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Educational & Behavioral Health Services \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>Sports Time<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
====================================================<\/p>\n
Fort Lee Soccer League \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Fort Lee Girls Basketball League\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Fort Lee American Little League \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Fort Lee National Little League<\/b><\/p>\n
Fort Lee Jr. Boys Basketball League \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Fort Lee Girls Softball League<\/b><\/p>\n
Fort Lee Jr. Bridgemen Football League \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Fort Lee Babe Ruth League\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
=====================================================<\/p>\n
The Fort Lee Community should be very proud of this support for our student athletes.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0GO BRIDGEMEN!<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For many years, fundraising for Fort Lee High School Sports teams in Fort Lee has consisted of selling candy (not the healthiest method), selling athletic gear, primarily t-shirts and sweatshirts; and having athletes sit with \u201ctin cups\u201d (figuratively) in front of Shoprite and the A& P, soliciting donations.\u00a0 \u00a0Selling candy probably had a 25% return, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=149"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":150,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149\/revisions\/150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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