MANVILLE: MHS alumni raising funds for new sign

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Alumni of Manville High School are helping to raise funds for a new digital school sign. The old sign in front of MHS needs to be replaced and the alumni have come up with a great fundraiser to help.
   Lou Fischer (Class of 1978) along with Mark Gregor (1977), Ed Komoroski (1978), Dr. Jim Brunn (1977), Frank (1977) and Karen Jurewicz (1977), school Superintendent Dr. Johanna Ruberto and Steve Venuto are on the Fund Raising Committee.
   ”Dr. Ruberto and I have been tossing the idea around for over a year now. We discuss a few ideas and this sort of worked best. The Buy-A-Brick Program falls in line with what a Boy Scout from Troop 193 was doing with his Eagle Scout project. It would continue to improve the area around the front of the school, and would help us achieve the final goal,” said Mr. Fischer. The total cost of the project is approximately $30,000.
   The new digital sign will be used for informational purposes by not only the school system but also for Emergency Management Services, Manville Borough and the Police Department, the Recreation Department and the Senior Citizens of Manville. It will become an information center for the entire town.
   The Buy a Brick Program will thank the people willing to help out by purchasing a brick while supporting the school in getting a new sign. The Buy –a-Brick program will run from January to April 9.
   Mr. Fischer and the committee are working hard trying to get the word out.
   ”The advertising will be done through the school website, Facebook, newspaper articles, a personalized one-to-one marketing campaign for potential bigger donators, generic letters being sent to all local business and, if possible some sort of banner at the school showing our progress,” he said. “We will also being attending all senior citizens’ luncheons and events, as well as providing letters to join to all local organizations. We have also tried to locate contacts from previous graduating classes and help reach out to alumni.”
   The cost of purchasing a brick is $135 for individual sponsors for one name and year or, memory of … with 30 characters or two bricks for $200. To be a Silver Sponsor will cost for one person, in memory of … with 150 characters for a business, group or organization or a family. A Gold Sponsor, with a bigger stone, for one person, in memory of .., for a corporation, group or organization, or a Friend of Manville will be $1,000.
   A Grand Sponsor will pay $2,500 for a bigger stone, recognition on April 9 and will be part of the unveiling ceremony. Also, donors can just send a gift to the new digital sign and they will receive Spaghetti Dinner Tickets. This is a pre-sale only, $25 for four tickets.
   All checks should be made to: Manville High School BOE Digital Sign Fundraiser and mailed to 410 Brooks Boulevard, Manville 08835.
   Mr. Fischer noted that, “Although the size and color has yet to be determined the size of the block will be proportionate to the size of the donation.”
   Another fundraiser also in the works is a spaghetti dinner planned for April 9, according to Mr. Fischer.
   ”We’ve had many spaghetti dinner fundraisers for various groups within the school at the VFW Post Hall for years. Knowing the sign was falling into disrepair, and knowing that Manville has no informational sign of any kind it was apparent that this needed to happen. The dinner is the unofficial end of the fundraiser. Although we will still accept donations after April 9, the dinner will allow us to take a look at how we’re doing, thank the people who went over and above to make this a success and continue our tradition of this annual event.”
   The spaghetti dinner will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Manville. Four presale tickets are available for $25.
   Mr. Fischer is hoping that the community will help support this fundraising effort.
   ”An undertaking as big as this can never be a success without the help from everyone who likes this town, lives in this town, graduated from this town, works in this town or has been a success in this town,” he said. “We need everyone’s help, and appreciate every donation. We urge everyone associated with Manville, from the organizations and volunteers, to our vendors and friends from surrounding towns to chip in and make this a success.”
   For more information about the fundraiser visit Facebook (Manville Digital Sign Fundraiser) or the Manville School District website, www.manvilleschools.org. or www.MyManville.com. All the sites will be continuously updated with current information. Or contact Mr. Fischer at (908) 625-1997or by e-mail at [email protected].