BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
JACKSON – Funds raised in the 2005 Mayor’s Golf Tournament have been distributed to schools. The golf tournament took place in October. The distribution of the funds was made during the Township Committee’s April 10 meeting.
“When I first participated in [this event], we had started by giving the local PTAs checks,” Mayor Sean Giblin said. “We realized the financial constraints of the local PTAs and PTOs and different organizations who are involved.”
Giblin said that as the 2005-06 school year is coming to a close, the organizations can use the funds now for end-of-year activities or place the funds in their budget for the 2006-07 school year.
Former mayor Michael Broderick was asked to distribute the checks.
“Every two years we do a Mayor’s Golf Tournament,” said Broderick, who chaired the 2005 event. “In the future, maybe we can do this every year because it really generates a lot of funding. It’s very well attended.”
Last year the event raised $86,000 in donations and through an auction.
“It all goes to charity,” Broderick said. “We’re very proud of that and it’s a very acceptable venture for this committee and for this township.”
He said it is privilege to distribute the money to local PTAs and PTOs.
“They do with what they have and we hope to increase that year after year to help them because it all goes [back] to the children,” he said. “I’ve seen some of their work and it’s just wonderful. It brings a warm feeling to your heart to see this money going to good use.”
Checks were distributed to the Crawford-Rodriguez PTA, the Goetz PTA, the Holman PTO, the Johnson PTO, the McAuliffe PTA, the Rosenauer PTA, the Switlik PTA, the Elms PTA, the Jackson Memorial High School PTA, the St. Aloysius PTA, and the St. Veronica’s PTA.
“When [the new] Jackson Liberty High School has a PTA or a PTO we’d be more than happy to add them to the list of donations to be made next year,” Broderick said, adding it was his privilege to be mayor during the tournament last year and to work with all of the people and raise the large amount of money.
Committeeman Michael Kafton said the money is raised for a good cause. He said there is still money left in the fund which he believes should be distributed. Among the groups that could use assistance, he listed the Optimist Club, the Jackson Women of Today, the Jackson lacrosse team, the Ocean County Humane Society, the Jackson Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, Caregivers of Ocean County, Jackson softball, Jackson football and the Knights of Columbus.
Kafton was told that attempts were made to contact several of the organizations on the list and that additional attempts will be made so they can receive funding.
“Excellent. They could use the money, too,” he said.