News

CAF gears up for Sept. 19 gala

Tuesday, September 09, 2008, 1:21PM

By TRACY NESS
Independent Press

THE CHATHAMS -- The Chatham Athletic Foundation (CAF) will hold its third annual fundraising gala on Sept. 19 at the Madison Hotel.

Last year over 400 people attended and the event raised more than $150,000 for the CAF mission to fund field improvements and other athletic programs in the borough and township. Local borough and township government officials, along with state Senator Tom Kean and Assemblymen Jon Bramnick, attended the festivities.

This year's gala will feature gourmet dining stations and open bar, live music and dancing, silent and live auctions as well as casino style gaming. In addition, CAF will be raffling off a Cougar-blue Vespa fully loaded with all accessories. Tickets are $275 per couple or $137.50 per individuals and can be purchased online at the foundation's website www.chathamathleticfoundation.org.

The CAF was founded in 2005 forming a unique partnership with both the Chatham Borough Council and Chatham Township Committee to share the costs of redeveloping or upgrading both towns' existing field space. The borough took the lead in 2006 with the redevelopment and synthetic turfing of a large multi-sports field at the Lum Avenue complex. That field now supports Chatham players from elementary schools and the High School for sports that include soccer, lacrosse, softball, baseball, football and field hockey.

Next up is a project in the township. "The hope is that it will be the redevelopment of the Shunpike field complex including field upgrades, better drainage, and some synthetic turf," said Tom Winter, president of the CAF. "Like Lum, this complex supports multiple sporting activities. Additionally, this facility is larger than Lum thereby providing increased opportunities children to take advantage of the space." The Township Committee has had discussions with the Department of Environmental Protection to determine what the possibilities might be for such a project given the fact that there are wetlands near the site. A progress report should be available in the coming weeks.

In addition to the field projects, the CAF provided $4,000 to the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute's Concussion Center to help create a concussion awareness program for all Chatham Recreation kids at least 10 years old. The grant covers a portion of the costs of the program for children in the recreation program to receive an ImPACT test, which is a computerized test that sets a baseline for a player. This program is being run with help from Chatham Township resident Dr. Jack Knightly, who is the program director for the Concussion Center.

Other CAF grants included money to support the creation of a multi-sports recreation room in the Township municipal building; the refurbishment of wrestling mats for the recreation wrestling program and a new pitching machine and supplies for the girl's recreation softball team.
More information on the CAF's efforts and upcoming plans can be found on its website.

© 2011 Chatham Athletic Foundation

Email: theboard@chathamathleticfoundation.org