Help Open the Pool at the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club

June 21, 2009 - The City of Hoboken's only outdoor pool, located adjacent to the Boys and Girls Club at 123 Jefferson Street, is at risk of staying closed this summer due to city budget cuts. A fundraiser is planned for Tuesday, June 30th from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at Nine, 333 Washington Street to help raise funds to operate the pool for seven weeks. The suggested donation is $25. Nine is offering drink specials and will donate a portion of all sales to the Club.

For the past several years the pool has provided hundreds of kids a fun, safe, and cool place to play during the hot summer months. Parents, kids, and members of the community are deeply concerned about the risk of the pool being closed to kids for all or part of the summer. Traditionally, the city paid the total cost to open and operate the pool (estimated at more than $10,000). This year due to budget constraints the city may not be able to fund the full amount. The Hoboken Boys and Girls Club is rallying the community to help raise the money to plug the gap and open the pool on July 6th.

“We understand the city is under its own budget constraints," commented Scott Delea, trustee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County. "Unfortunately, this is money we just don't have so we are reaching out to the Hoboken community for private donations. If every Hoboken resident donated only 25 cents, this pool would be open for the kids to enjoy this summer." Adds Delea,"If the city is able to fund the full operating costs, the money we raise will be applied to our summer program. Either way, the children of Hoboken will enjoy a fun, creative, and safe summer thanks to the generosity of their neighbors."

Donations may be made online at www.bgchc.org or by sending a check to the Hoboken club located at 123 Jefferson Street. Checks should be made out to Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County. Please write "Hoboken Pool Fund" in the memo. The Hoboken Boys and Girls Club offers a unique and enriching summer program for children between the ages 5 to 14. Members have an opportunity to participate in scheduled trips, arts & crafts, gym and other activities. For more information, contact Jay Garcia, Unit Director of the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club at jgarcia@bgchc.org or call: (201) 963-6443.