---

Des and the Swagmatics will headline the April 19 return of the Mayor’s Rodeo For Recreation, being held at the Stone Pony.

First held in 2016, the event is the brainchild of Mayor John Moor, who has said he decided to opt out of the traditional Mayor’s Ball for a less casual evening in supports the City’s Summer Recreation Program.

The six-week program, held in conjunction with the Asbury Park Board of Education, was established in 2009. Breakfast and lunch is served, and educational morning sessions are followed by afternoons of fun, including supervised trips to Funtime America, Medieval Times, Funplex, and the local beach, to name a few. Older city students are hired to serve as junior counselors, thereby providing them with summer employment.

“When I learned that there was not enough money to give scholarships to all the children that wanted to participate in the summer program, we began working to create a fundraising event that would be casual and fun,” Moor has said.

The premiere rodeo raised over $40,000, funding the program for a total of 600 kids in 2016 and 2017. Moor is hoping the April 19 event will do the same – raise enough money to fund scholarships through the 2019 season.

This year, the country-themed evening, complete with a fireworks display, will honor Asbury Park Press Publisher Tom Donovan, Triumphant Life Church’s Traci Akins, and Johnny Mac House of Spirits owner Mary Christine McGillion.

The evening begins with a 6 to 7 p.m. open bar and buffet style fare. Tickets are $85, available  via Ticketmaster, The Stone Pony at City Hall, located at 1 Municipal Plaza,or at at the door on April 19.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities and table purchases, contact event organizers Leesha Floyd at 732-502-5755, Cassandra Dickerson at 732-502-5759, or visit the city’s website at cityofasburypark.com.

————————————————————————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---