Caldwell Chief softball players of all ages have been hard at work trying to raise $20,000 to meet a matching donation challenge made by the Rotary Club of the Caldwells in June. The girls, together with "Friends of Caldwell Softball", a group of local parents and coaches, have been running concession stands at tournaments, selling engraved pavers to local businesses and families, and raising money from members of the community. The young athletes were surprised by West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta when he joined them in a recent effort at Shop RIte.
Another Caldwell Chiefs stand will be set up at Shop Rite Liquors, 478 Bloomfield Avenue, on Saturday, September 1 from 10-2. The group is hoping that the generosity shown by the community for this cause will be continued. Friends of Caldwell Softball has already made an initial donation of $1000 to the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education. The money was used to fund a required topographical study of the field and an architect’s rendering of the new dugouts. An additional $7000 has been raised so far, putting the girls at approximately 40% of their goal.
In their continued support of the youth in our community, The Rotary Club of the Caldwells issued the matching donation challenge to help build new softball dugouts for the JCHS Varsity Field. Rotary has pledged a gift to the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education for half the cost of constructing new dugouts, up to $20,000, if other members of the community donate the balance.
This field is used not only by the high school teams, but also by the Caldwell and West Caldwell T-ball teams, 4th, 5th. 6th, 7th and 8th grade recreation teams, and 10 year & under, 12U, and 14U travel teams. That's hundreds of girls in the softball program every year. Unlike the baseball dugouts, the existing softball dugouts have no roofs, walls or floors. The new dugouts will have roofs for protection from the sun, rain and fly balls, as well as cement floors so the girls are not sitting with their feet and equipment in puddles when it rains.
Those interested in helping the softball players get new dugouts can make a donation in person, on line, or by mail. 6" x 9" pavers can also be purchased and personalized with up to four lines of text with 16 characters per line. They will be installed on the walkway leading to the field's bleachers. The cost of an engraved paver is $150. Gifts of any amount are welcome and every dollar donated will help. Gifts $500 and over will be considered sponsorships and will be commemorated with an inscription on a plaque to be hung on the dugouts. Local businesses and organizations that wish to show their support as sponsors will be recognized.
Gifts can be made on line at www.dugouts.eventbrite.com or mailed to Friends of Caldwell Softball, c/o Valley National Bank, 15 Roseland Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006. "Friends of Caldwell Softball" has secured a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor, so all gifts may be considered charitable contributions. For more information, please email Thefriendsofcaldwellsoftball@gmail.com.
