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WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS Parks
Supporters Are Looking for a Few Good Friends Everybody
needs friends and Westchester’s parks are no exception. In a major new
effort to enhance and preserve the County Parks system and provide new and
innovative funding sources to support the parks, the Friends of
Westchester County Parks, Inc., today launched an aggressive fundraising
effort, Friends of County Parks President Judy Matson and County Executive
Andy Spano announced today. An online
membership and contribution program, which includes a Pennies for Parks
campaign and a Tree Trust and Memorial Bench Fund, is part of the effort
to stimulate public participation, interest and support of County Parks
and to provide people who love parks to be a part of their preservation,
Matson said. “The
Friends of Parks has a long tradition of supporting the parks,” Matson
said. “But the newly-formed Friends Board wants to do more --we want to
heighten awareness of the value of our parks and raise money to help pay
for the enhancement projects that are According
to Matson, the funds raised by the Friends will pay for programs and
improvements in all County Parks -- like the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla
– and will ensure that they will be endure in perpetuity. County
Executive Andy Spano thanked Matson, who is also Director of Corporate
Contributions for Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc., for taking on the enormous
responsibility as President of the Friends and he commended the new
Friends Board for their enthusiasm and dedication to County Parks. The County
Executive noted that Fujifilm has adopted Kensico Dam Plaza as part of the
County’s Adopt-a-Park program and has planted an entrance garden and
tree grove at the park as part of their contribution. “I’ve
often said that Westchester’s parks system is one of the finest in the
country,” Spano said. “With many of our parks over 70 years old
and more than three million visitors using them every year, now,
more than ever before, the money raised by the Friends will go a long way
in paying for enhancements without affecting the taxpayer.” “I credit
the Friends for recognizing that we can no longer rely on taxes alone.” Joining
Matson and Spano at Kensico Dam Plaza to kick-off the Friends’ Pennies
for Parks campaign were 15 third-graders from the Columbus Elementary
School in Thornwood. Each of
the students donated their pennies and deposited them in specially-created
donation boxes and coin canisters which will be distributed in parks and
other locations throughout the county. Columbus
Elementary is the first school to come forward to support the Pennies for
Parks program. Next fall the Friends will be reaching out to other schools
and organizations to support the Pennies concept, encourage them to
support their community and become future Friends. Matson
said that through the Pennies for Parks campaign and other fundraising
initiatives, the Board has set a goal to raise $1 million over the next 12
months. “One million dollars may seem like a lofty goal, but I am
confident that we can do it,” Matson said. “It’s only 100 pennies
per resident,” she said. Matson
highlighted some of the initiatives that will get underway this summer. Online
Membership A new
website, www.friendsofwestchesterparks.com has been developed to solicit
memberships and contributions to the Friends. Annual memberships range
from $25 for an individual Friend to a $10,000 Best Friend. The one-year
membership provides admission to parks, discounts on county-sponsored
activities and other benefits. It also unites members with an organization
of people who are interested in making a difference in the future of the
parks. Parks
Tree Trust and Future Forests Fund The Parks
Tree Trust and Future Forest Program was established to raise funds for
the care and maintenance of the millions of trees that grow in Westchester’s
parks, playgrounds, golf courses and campgrounds.
Several funding options are available from
a cash donation to the Maintenance Endowment fund to a $1,000 Memorial
Tree that can be planted in memory of a loved one, along with a memorial
plaque. The
Kensico Dam Plaza Enhancement Fund As “Westchester’s
Central Park,” Kensico Dam Plaza is an ideal location for in-line skating,
walking, playing ball, attending a concert or ethnic festival or just
spend some quite time. This fund will help support the replacement of the
80-year- old trees that line the walkways and are in poor health and other
park improvements. An endowment will be established to ensure the ongoing
enhancement of the park. The
Friends of Westchester County Parks, Inc., is a 501©(3) not-for-profit
organization. Its board is comprised of 18 members who represent the
corporate, academic and business communities. Members are Executive
Committee President, Judy Matson, Fuji Photo Film, U.S.A., Inc.;
Vice-President, Elizabeth Bracken, Thompson & Bender; Secretary,
Salvatore A. Celona, P.E., Baker Engineering; Treasurer, Christopher R.
Frawley, Hudson Valley Bank; Executive Director, Kathleen O’Connor,
Parks, Recreation & Conservation Staff Liaison; Board of Trustees:
Howard Arden, John Behler, Ira Birnbaum, Katherine Carsky, S. Lawrence
Feit, Herman Geist, Esq., James J. Houlihan, Norman Jacknis,. Ph. D.,
Thomas Kelly, Ph. D., John Kirkpatrick, Esq., Thomas F. Secunda, Ellen
Koelsch and Parks Commissioner Joseph Stout, Ex-Officio. All
donations to the Friends are tax-deductible.
For more information on how to become a Friend or make a
contribution, call (914)864-7048.
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