Released by Medford Celebrates, Inc.
Medford Celebrates, Inc. (“Celebrates”) and Medford Township have jointly announced plans to stage, on July 3, the township’s traditional Independence Day celebration and fireworks, which were discontinued in 2010 after budgetary shortfalls and cutbacks.
Celebrates, a 501©(3) nonprofit corporation, has advised the township that it has solicited sufficient funds to enable the township to stage the event at no cost to the municipality.
Celebrates was founded in early 2011 by 13 Medford residents to raise funds and public support for major Medford Township public events requiring township services. Its primary goal was to raise the money needed to restore the traditional fireworks display.
According to President Bob Egan, a large share of the costs of staging the event will be covered by substantial donations from ShopRite of Medford and Wells Fargo Bank.
“We are fortunate to have received donations of varying sizes by a number of local businesses and individuals, but ShopRite and Wells Fargo have really stepped up to help us out,” Egan said.
In addition, legal services were donated by Archer & Greiner, P.C. and accounting services were donated by the firm of Padden Cooper Lawson Denn Drewry LLC.
At the May 10 meeting, the Medford Township Council lauded the efforts of the Medford Celebrates trustees.
“The annual Independence Day fireworks celebration was a true community event that brought all of Medford together. While the township was regrettably compelled to cancel the fireworks due to budget limitations, we are thrilled that the hard work of this group of residents will restore this wonderful event at no taxpayer expense,” Mayor James “Randy” Pace said. “The council’s appreciation is also extended to all the local businesses, corporations and non-profits who have invested in and supported efforts to restore this regionally renowned event.”
The Independence Day Celebration will be held in Freedom Park on July 3, weather permitting. July 5 is the rain date. It will feature many activities that marked the event in the past, plus two new wrinkles. First, YMCA Camp Ockanickon of Medford will sponsor and run a number of activities for children 2 to 12. Second, as a result of a donation by Miller/Coors Brewing Company that was needed to make the
fundraising goal, beer will be sold in a beer garden, with the sales proceeds benefiting Celebrates.
The addition of this feature is a one-time trial, with safeguards in place.
Christopher Schultz, township manager, said the Independence Day Celebration typically draws 35,000 to Medford in the past, and he would expect roughly that number to return this year
The Celebrates trustees ask anyone interested in serving as a trustee or assisting with events and activities to email info@medfordcelebrates.org or to call Egan at (609) 519–0841.
