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With a goal of making summer recreation programs accessible to all the city’s youth, Asbury Park Mayor John Moor and the City Council have launched the “Mayor’s Rodeo for Recreation Challenge.”

“Everyone has been asking me about having a Mayor’s Ball but I’m not really a tuxedo person,” Moor said. “When I learned that there was not enough money to give scholarships to all the children that wanted to participate in last year’s summer program, we began working to create a fundraising event that would be casual and fun.”

According to city officials the Recreation had to turn away over 50 children last summer.

The country-themed fundraising event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. April 21 at the Stone Pony, located at 913 Ocean Avenue.

Featuring the Monmouth County-based country band After the Reign, the evening includes a special performance by the Lakehouse Music Academy youngest performers.

“Everyone has been supportive,” Moor said. “The Stone Pony and Madison Marquette have been a lot of help with the organization.”

The six-week summer camp programs are administered by the municipality’s Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Board of Education. The program not only provides variety of activities for students during the summer months but also works as a summer work program for many of the city’s teens.

Established in 2009, the city’s Recreation Department partners with local agencies to provide over 30 programs, activities and resources for the youth, including PAL, Pop Warner, and Little League. The summer program features supervised trips to Funtime America, Medieval Times, Funplex, and the city’s beach and boardwalk.

The Asbury Park Board of Education sponsors breakfast and summer enrichment classes in the morning that are followed by the municipal funded lunch and afternoon recreation.

Administered by city employees Leesha Floyd and Cassandra Dickerson, the Mayor’s Rodeo will feature a one-hour open bar with passed hors d’oeuvres, a country-themed buffet, and dessert for $75 per person.

An event journal is being created, with the following ad packages available:

 Cowboy Sponsorship Package $2500 includes: prominent sponsor recognition on all related promotional items including, but not limited to APTV’s (website and Cablevision’s Channel 77), Asbury Park Press, all City press releases, Save the Date E-Blasts, recognition on the city’s website, ad journal, facebook event page and marquee;  opportunity to speak at the Rodeo for Recreation; inclusion in all event signage at the event; company name listed on the recreation summer camp t-shirts worn by each participant; a table of ten at the Rodeo for Recreation. This sponsorship level sends ten children to summer camp in 2016.

 Horseshoe Sponsorship Package $1500 includes: ½ page ad in journal; inclusion in all press releases, Save the Date E-Blasts, and city’s website and facebook page; four tickets to Rodeo for Recreation event and sponsor recognition on select promotional items. This sponsorship level sends five children to summer camp in 2016.

Pony Express Sponsorship Package $750 includes: recognition in ad journal; inclusion in all press releases, Save the Date E-Blasts, and city’s website; two tickets to the Rodeo for Recreation event and sponsor recognition on select promotional items. This sponsorship level sends two children to summer camp in 2016.

 Howdy Partner Sponsorship Package $350 includes: one ticket to the Mayor’s Rodeo for Recreation; honorable mention in select promotional items. This sponsorship level sends one child to summer camp in 2016.

Checks may be payable to: Asbury Park Recreation Trust Account, 1 Municipal Plaza Asbury Park, NJ 07712 Attn: Leesha Floyd, Recreation Director. For more information, contact Leesha Floyd at 732-502-5759 or Cassandra Dickerson at 732-502-5755.

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