Collection totals for the week ending April 28th (and including Sunday the 29th) Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hi Gang – tomorrow is the ending date for the full match of $5,000.00 as offered from Campus at Greenhill.

The final $1,509.00 needs to be collected by the end of the day tomorrow to qualify for the whole match.

As of today’s collections at Holy Trinity Church, which netted us $262.00, we are just $60.00 short.

I am guessing that in the mail tomorrow we will make the number. I’ve been getting about $50.00 a day on average for checks mailed to me so as long as we have a high day we should be golden.

Presuming the full match in total and all the deposits on hand, we will enter May needing to raise just $5,000.00 dollars to reach our goal of $30,000.00 by the May 25th deadline.

I will keep you posted and update you at the end of the day on Monday (I’ll try to do it before I go to the Wallingford Town Council Budget meeting). 

$322.00 more to go; two days left to get there for the April Matching Campaign from Campus at Greenhill

With just this morning's collections remaining (plus whatever arrives in the mail on Monday) we are pretty close to coming in with the final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00 From Campus at Greenhill

We have collected $1,187.00 this past week and we need just $322.00 more.

I know we can do it.

I will be a Holy Trinity Church this morning with Barbara Kapi from 9:30AM to around 12:30PM or so.

If we get the match in full (as I believe we can) we will need just about $5,000.00 more over the month of May to make our $30,000.00 fundraising goal for the 2012 event.

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting as we enter the final month of fundraising in May.

If you can help out please let me know.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to us if you’re not going to be around this weekend:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Sunday Morning UPDATE - Fundraising for the final weekend in April for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Today is Sunday the 29th

I’ll be back at Holy Trinity this morning with Barbara Kapi from 9:30AM to around 12:30PM or so.

Today is the last day your donations are going to be backed by the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just the weekend remaining we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting as we enter the final month of fundraising in May.

If you can help out please let me know.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to us if you’re not going to be around this weekend:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Please consider stopping by this morning if you can to drop off your donation – we need to have it on hand by the end of the day on Monday April 30th to have it count as part of the funds collected for the matching donation pledge.

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Saturday Afternoon UPDATE - Fundraising for the final weekend in April for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Today is Saturday the 28th – I will be out front of Holy Trinity Church starting at about 4:30PM this afternoon for an hour or so with Barbara Kapi from the fundraising committee collecting your donations.

On Sunday the 29th I’ll be back at Holy Trinity with Barbara from 9:30AM to around 12:30PM or so.

These collection efforts this weekend are going to be backed by the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just the weekend remaining we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to us if you’re not going to be around this weekend:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Please consider stopping by this weekend if you can to drop off your donation – we need to have it on hand by the end of the day on Monday April 30th to have it count as part of the funds collected for the matching donation pledge.

Anything mailed on Saturday may not reach us in time.

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Saturday Morning UPDATE - Fundraising for the final weekend in April for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang today is Saturday the 28th – I am going to be at the Wallingford Landfill from 8AM to about noon or so and then I will be out front of Holy Trinity Church starting at about 4:30PM for an hour or so with Barbara Kapi from the fundraising committee collecting your donations.

On Sunday the 29th I’ll be back at Holy Trinity with Barbara from 9:30AM to around 12:30PM or so.

These collection efforts this weekend are going to be backed by the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just the weekend remaining we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to us if you’re not going to be around this weekend:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Fundraising for the final weekend in April for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang today is Friday the 27th of April and we have a couple of volunteers that are at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts right now (from 2:30PM to around 5PM / 5:30PM or so); if you’re interested in supporting our cause please consider stopping by today.

Tomorrow – Saturday the 28th – I am going to be at the Wallingford Landfill from 8AM to about noon or so and then I will be out front of Holy Trinity Church starting at about 4:30PM for an hour or so with Barbara Kapi from the fundraising committee collecting your donations.

On Sunday the 29th I’ll be back at Holy Trinity with Barbara from 9:30AM to around 12:30PM or so.

These collection efforts this weekend are going to be backed by the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just the weekend remaining we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to us if you’re not going to be around this weekend:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Fundraising on Friday April 27th for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – we have a couple of volunteers that are again supposed to be at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts from 2:30PM to around 5PM / 5:30PM or so; if you’re interested in supporting our cause please consider stopping by today.

There are just three days left now to the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just the days remaining we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know.

Also – as was mentioned, if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Fundraising on Thursday April 26th for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – we have a couple of volunteers that are supposed to be at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts from 2:30PM to around 5PM / 5:30PM or so; if you’re interested in supporting our cause please consider stopping by today.

There are just four days left to the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just four days left we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know.

Also – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Collection totals for the week ending April 21st Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

We have formally wrapped up week number three of the matching donation effort from the Campus at Greenhill and there are just six days remaining.

In March, Campus at Greenhill became the Fireworks Fund naming convention sponsor by making a $10,000.00 donation to the effort. 

In April, they have upped the ante by offering an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just six days left we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

 

This last week of April is going to be tough; my father will be away for vacation at the end of the week; that leaves us with just me collecting on Saturday mornings.

I have had a couple people come forward to offer to assist later this week so I am hoping that with that support we can drag in the last of those donations for the full match.

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know. 

Also – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to: 

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri 
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492 

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Donation collecting Friday April 20 for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hi Gang – my father will be out at Sonic of Wallingford today from noon to 4PM taking your donations for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration

Saturday April 21st we will be collecting again at the Landfill and the Recycling Center.

Please consider supporting us – if you have the chance to swing by please do.

If you do not have the chance you can always send in your donation:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

If you’re going to consider supporting us now is the time – 10 days remain on the Campus at Greenhill citizen donation matching effort – they have made an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00

Donation collecting for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Good morning everyone.

Today is Wednesday April 18 and my father and I will be collecting at the Dunkin Donuts on Route 5 (I will be at the South Colony location and Geno will be at the North Colony location across the street from the Shop Rite / Sears Hardware plaza) until around 9AM or so

Tomorrow (Thursday) we will be collecting at Yalesville Dunkin Donuts from 7AM to 9AM.

Friday April 20th we will be at Sonic of Wallingford on Route 5 from noon to about 4PM.

Saturday April 21st we will be collecting again at the Landfill and the Recycling Center.

Please consider supporting us – if you have the chance to swing by please do.

If you do not have the chance you can always send in your donation:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

If you’re going to consider supporting us now is the time – 12 days remain on the Campus at Greenhill citizen donation matching effort – they have made an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00

Thank you again for all the support – let’s make the 2012 event the best Wallingford has ever had!

Collection totals for the week ending April 14th Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

As I gear up to head out this morning Monday April 16th to do a little collecting at the South Colony Dunkin Donuts (I have the week off from work this week) we have formally wrapped up our first 15 days of the matching donation effort from the Campus at Greenhill

In March, Campus at Greenhill became the Fireworks Fund naming convention sponsor by making a $10,000.00 donation to the effort.

In April, they have upped the ante by offering an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00

Last week, the week ending April 14th, we collected $1,158.00. That plus last week’s collections of $1,395.00 means we are sitting at $2,553.00.

Half way to the full $5,000.00 match at the half way point in time – perfect!

The last two weeks of April are going to be the toughest as my father will be away for vacation; that leaves us with just me collecting on Saturday mornings only for those two weekends.

I have one new volunteer that contacted me and I am psyched but I could use a couple more.

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting – especially during those two weeks.

If you can help out let me know.

Also – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Wallingford’s Fireworks - Pie in the sky?

As published in the Record Journal, Friday April 13, 2012

Implicit in this editorial headline is that some things in life are culminations of things hoped for but which remain unrealized.

Alas and alack, in Wallingford’s case, funding for its annual Fourth of July fireworks remains orphaned from its rightful place as an integral part of municipal budgets. Were it not for assiduous private fund-raising efforts primarily by Town Councilors Craig Fishbein and Jason Zandri, the town’s night sky would remain dim at this designated time of national and local celebration.

In yesterday’s edition, we reported that Fishbein, a Republican, and Zandri, a Democrat, founded the nonprofit Wallingford Fireworks Fund in 2010 after the town dropped funding for the show from its budget.

As illustrated atop today’s page by editorial cartoonist Kevin Markowski, this bipartisan, town-spirited duo has butted heads with Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. during planning for this year’s nonpartisan celebration. To wit: Democratic Town Councilor John Sullivan observed, “We have two sides working toward a common goal. They need to sit down, communicate and work together.” (This should be accomplished sans rancor outside of council meetings.) The news account referred to above detailed legitimate questions of town support (including funding and oversight) for various functions throughout fiscal years. Whether intended or not, it’s easy for degrees of animosity or confusion to arise relative to what should be perfunctory, clearly delineated matters of town governance.

At the end of the day, however, we’d urge full restoration of fireworks funding. Donors to fireworks private funding are, presumably, Wallingford residents and taxpayers. As such, perhaps they’d be quite willing to pay a proportionately miniscule increase in taxes to accomplish the goad. On balance with the entirety of Wallingford’s annual budget, it’s a small investment in an overwhelmingly appreciated display of civic esprit de corps and national spirit. Make it fireworks in the sky. Save the pie for Thanksgiving.

“Councilors miffed at how Wallingford fireworks celebration is being handled”

Just a quick follow up regarding this story as it unfolds and as it gets reported in the paper. I personally am much more miffed with how the TOWN of Wallingford proper (read – administration) is handling this issue than anything else.

I have relatively little issue with the Parks and Recreation Department or any of the town departments at this point.

Once in a while there might be a little communication “slippage” and that is normal for such a large moving thing that gets orchestrated like a fireworks show by any town department that handles dozens of events going at any given time.

I also have to try to follow up between work in New York City, work on the Council, fundraising for the Fund and reading a bedtime story or two to my kids so things slip on my side of the fence as well.

All that being said, there are things that could be done to make this easier and smoother and I am actively going to work on that for 2013.

My focus right now and for the remaining seven weeks (or so) is getting Wallingford her 2012 show.

That transcends me personally and anything else going on.

This is Wallingford’s show; put back together by the people after the town did away with it.

That comes first.

Follow up from the Town Council meeting regarding the Fireworks Fund

Can't say I was surprised at the outcome; it was pretty much as I expected but I was certainly going to try.

For additional details that I do not outline below you can read the story in the Record Journal - Councilors want say on fireworks, but they’ll have to meet with mayor

Mayor Dickinson made the commentary during the discussion – “I am not sure what you were told” regarding my question about the amount of time needed to schedule the overtime manpower and that was why I asked the department heads there – so I could ask these questions of them in front of the Mayor so that there was no misunderstanding and I assure you there wasn’t.

I ended up needing to call them prior to the Council meeting to question them on the phone; I did request them at the meeting but given the schedules they are under this week with budget hearings the remainder of the week they requested to handle matters over the phone if possible and I agreed in the interest of simplicity and trying not to add burden to them. If that works against me, and the facts somehow become distorted, I’ll never let it happen again

Fool me once… 

I asked each department head – Police Chief Dortenzio,  Fire Chief Struble and Director of Public Works Henry McCully how much lead time they needed to arrange all their manpower for the fireworks event and each one said the earliest the process begins is two weeks out from the event. I asked the same question multiple times in multiple ways and responded to answers with clarifying comments so I know there were no misunderstandings.

I will go back to the Mayor about that and ask that we get a deadline extension for the money to be delivered to the town to Monday June 11th - that's 27 days before the event which gives The Fund an additional 16 days to collect money and get the funds to the town.

The departments indicated that the manpower effort takes no more than 14 days – this basically gives them twice that lead time (short one day).

I’ll let you know how I make out. I’m sure it is going to be somewhere along the lines of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

I’d like to be wrong about that because when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object it usually means there is an “endless transfer of energy” that is otherwise wasted and should be put to better use.

Regarding the vendor selection – it’s been made; I am going to call Park and Rec today to confirm and to ask why the Hamden vendor wasn’t chosen and why we went with the New Hampshire one but since the Fund has no say there’s little more I can do short of holding the funds for the show hostage to “get our way” which I will not do.

It’s not the Fund’s money it’s the peoples’ money and they want a show and I will make sure their donations are well represented at the event.

We’ll make the 2012 show worthy of all these pre-show fireworks in the political arena and top it off with a 4th of July celebration that is the best Wallingford has ever seen. (Cross your fingers for no rain).

REMINDER - Town Council item regarding the Wallingford Fireworks Fund THIS Tuesday April 10 at 6:30PM (meeting start time).

The item is #6 on a very short agenda: 

Discussion and Possible Action to establish and adopt a formal process for the selection of a vendor for the Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Councilor Jason Zandri 

If you can make the meeting in support of the Fund and the Wallingford Fireworks it would be greatly appreciated.

The full agenda can be found via http://jasonzandri.blogspot.com/2012/04/agenda-town-of-wallingford-connecticut_09.html 

The meeting starts at 6:30PM on Tuesday April 10 and I would presume it would not go past 8:30 (I actually expect the whole meeting to go no longer than that.)

Again – if you can come in support and bring a few people with you that would be great; they don’t have to speak or anything (or if they want to they can) but just a few at the meeting is a world of good help as it shows a base of support.

Thank you.

Collection totals for the week ending April 7th Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

PICTURED - Stephanie Clock Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator from Gale Development Services / Campus at Greenhill and her family along with Jason Zandri and three of his four children.

So we have completed the first full week of collecting as part of the matching donation effort from the Campus at Greenhill and I am excited to report that my father and I collected a total of $1,395.00. That means the actual total for the week is going to be $2,790.00 as the Campus at Greenhill will be making an equal match.

Our collected totals in deposit are now $18,929.00 with seven weeks remaining for the 2012 collection effort.

The last two weeks of April are going to be the toughest as my father will be away for vacation; that leaves us with just me collecting on Saturday mornings only for those two weekends.

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning standing around collecting – especially during those two weeks.

If you can help out let me know.

As mentioned prior – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Town Council item regarding the Wallingford Fireworks Fund THIS Tuesday April 10 at 6:30PM (meeting start time).

The item is #6 on a very short agenda:

Discussion and Possible Action to establish and adopt a formal process for the selection of a vendor for the Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Councilor Jason Zandri

If you can make the meeting in support of the Fund and the Wallingford Fireworks it would be greatly appreciated.

The full agenda can be found via http://jasonzandri.blogspot.com/2012/04/agenda-town-of-wallingford-connecticut_09.html

The meeting starts at 6:30PM on Tuesday April 10 and I would presume it would not go past 8:30 (I actually expect the whole meeting to go no longer than that.)

Again – if you can come in support and bring a few people with you that would be great; they don’t have to speak or anything (or if they want to they can) but just a few at the meeting is a world of good help as it shows a base of support.

Thank you.

Collections wrapping up for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund for the week ending April 7th.

PICTURED - Stephanie Clock Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator from Gale Development Services / Campus at Greenhill and her family along with Jason Zandri and three of his four children.

 

Collections wrapped up this morning (Saturday April 7, 2012) to top off the first full week of collecting as part of the matching donation effort from the Campus at Greenhill

In March, Campus at Greenhill became the Fireworks Fund naming convention sponsor by making a $10,000.00 donation to the effort.

In April, they have upped the ante by offering an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00

I don’t have all the donation counts in for the weekend yet as my Dad still has his money from collecting this week to get over to me but my best guess would be we collected close to $1,200.00 (which is effectively what we need to average each week to get the maximum amount from the pledge offered).

The last two weeks of April are going to be the toughest as my father will be away for vacation; that leaves us with just me collecting on Saturday mornings only for those two weekends.

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning standing around collecting – especially during those two weeks.

If you can help out let me know.

Also – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

PRESS RELEASE - CAMPUS AT GREENHILL “UPS THE ANTE” for the WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND

A GALE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WWW.WALLINGFORDFIREWORKS.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jason Zandri at (860)614-6069

Craig Fishbein at (203)265-2895

Stephanie Clock (of Gale Dev.) 203-626-2120

CAMPUS AT GREENHILL “UPS THE ANTE” for the WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND

(Wallingford, CT) – The Campus at Greenhill continues its support of the Wallingford community and the Fireworks Fund by upping the ante with a pledge to donate another $5,000.00 as part of a Wallingford Citizens matching donation effort for the month of April. During the month of April, Campus at Greenhill will match all donations large and small made by the residents of Wallingford up to a total of $5,000.00.

The developers of "Campus at Greenhill" got the Wallingford Fireworks Fund off to a huge start in March by helping to “prime the pump” to kick off the March collection efforts by making a $10,000.00 donation and becoming the Naming Convention Sponsor for the 2012 event.

Gale Development Services sees this additional effort as another opportunity to further thank the Town and people of Wallingford for their ongoing help and support that has allowed for Campus at Greenhill to recover from the challenges it faced. Today, Jason Zandri and Craig Fishbein of the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, Inc. together with Joseph Peters of Gale Development, proudly announce this new pledge for the month of April.

Jason Zandri said, “I am very excited about receiving this additional pledge coming from Campus at Greenhill. I think it is fantastic that they wanted to help out more and to try to do more than “just” giving additional money to the fund. In doing so as part of a Wallingford Citizens matching donation effort, they are including all the residents as part of the donation effort by matching all of their donations dollar for dollar up to $5,000.00 in order to continue with the effort to reach the $30,000.00 fundraising goal for the 2012 event before the deadline at the end of May.”

Craig Fishbein additionally thanked Gale Development once again for giving back to the community and recognizing the need for this heartwarming tradition to continue.

Monies collected by the fundraising committee at the Wallingford Stop and Shop, the Wallingford Dunkin Donuts locations and collections at the Wallingford Landfill and the Wallingford Recycling Center are all eligible for the match as well as all checks sent to the fund by mail during the month of April.

After decades of annual firework shows in Wallingford, in 2010, The Wallingford Fireworks Fund, Inc. was established by Zandri and Fishbein after the Wallingford Town Council refused to fund it in its budget for that year. Most of the fundraising to date has been grassroots, with a handful of volunteers standing outside of the Wallingford Stop & Shop as well as the Wallingford Dunkin Donuts on multiple days soliciting donations. There have also been some corporate sponsors in years past, with the largest prior donation being from Choate-Rosemary Hall in 2010 for $5,000.00 and New Life Church with their $2,500.00 donation in 2011.

The Wallingford Fireworks Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, recognized by the IRS. Its Tax Id# is: 27-2576599. Donations can be sent to Wallingford Fireworks Fund, Inc. c/o Jason Zandri, 35 Lincoln Drive Extension, Wallingford, CT 06492. Additional information regarding the fund’s efforts can be found on its blog at http://wallingfordfireworks.blogspot.com/

Gale Development Services, LLC, is a research-driven development firm, focused on improving its client's business by delivering the world's most flexible, user-centered, and sustainable buildings. Gale International formed Gale Development to manifest a shared vision that there was a better way to create intelligent, high performance buildings.

Friday collections for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – For today Friday April 6, 2012, my Dad will be collecting at the NORTH colony Dunkin Donuts and I will be at the one in Yalesville with Stephanie Clock and her family. Stephanie is a Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator for Gale Development Services, the group responsible for funding the Campus at Greenhill $10,000.00 donation. Please stop by and say hello and make your donation to the Fund.

Campus at Greenhill has also “upped the ante” by providing matching funds to all donations in April up to a total of $5,000.00 – every donation you make ends up being twice as much in April due to this so give generously and double your impact.

Also, later in the day on Friday from 2PM to about 6PM I will be collecting at the Wallingford Stop and Shop so if you miss us in the morning at Dunkin Donuts feel free to stop by in the afternoon and see me.

As always, you can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in as well:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule)

Wallingford company makes second donation in as many months to fireworks fund

As published online at MyRecordJournal.com Thursday April 5, 2012

Russell Blair | Posted: Thursday, April 5, 2012 7:54 am

WALLINGFORD - The nonprofit fund established to save the town's Fourth of July fireworks celebration the last three years has received a commitment for another $5,000 donation from the owners of a local office complex.

Gale Development Services, which owns the Campus at Greenhill, located on Leigus Road, will be matching $5,000 worth of donations received during the month of April. Last month, the company donated $10,000 toward the cause. Funding the celebration is estimated to cost about $30,000. The deadline for raising the money is the last week of May.

The Wallingford Fireworks Fund was created in 2010 by Republican Town Councilor Craig Fishbein and Democrat Jason Zandri after the town dropped funding for the celebration from its budget.

"I am very excited about receiving this additional pledge coming from Campus at Greenhill," Zandri said. "I think it is fantastic that they wanted to help out more and to try to do more than just giving additional money to the fund."

For more information about the fireworks fundraising efforts, visit www.wallingfordfireworks.blogspot.com

Thursday and Friday morning collections for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – I’ll have that big announcement I promised later today.

In the meantime, we are collecting this morning (Thursday April 5, 2012) at the SOUTH Colony Dunkin Donuts (my Dad is there) until about 9AM

Tomorrow, Friday April 6 he will be at the NORTH Colony Dunkin Donuts (near Shop Rite / Sears Hardware plaza) from about 7AM to about 9AM.

I will be over in Yalesville at the Dunkin Donuts on Main Street (Route 150) starting at 6:30AM. I am going to be there with my two older kids and with Stephanie Clock and her family. Stephanie is a Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator for Gale Development Services, the group responsible for funding the Campus at Greenhill $10,000.00 donation. Please stop by and say hello and make your donation to the Fund.

Donations this month will have an additional bang for their buck and I can let you know more about that later today.

Also, later in the day on Friday from 2PM to about 6PM I will be collecting at the Wallingford Stop and Shop so if you miss us in the morning at Dunkin Donuts feel free to stop by in the afternoon and see me.

As always, you can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in as well:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule)

Big news coming tommorow....

Stay tuned...

REMINDER - Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration fundraising committee meeting TONIGHT Tuesday April 3, 2012

Just a quick reminder that there will be a Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration fundraising committee meeting TONIGHT Tuesday April 3, 2012 at Gaetano’s in Wallingford.

For all the additional details please see yesterday’s blog post.

Hope to see you there!

Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration fundraising committee meeting: Tuesday April 3, 2012

The Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration fundraising committee will meet on Tuesday April 3rd at 7:30PM at Gaetano’s in Wallingford.

The meeting is open to anyone that wishes to attend. You can come to observe or to find out how to informally help us out (one task, one off, etc.) or you can choose to join up and help us out regularly.

We are planning to discuss at the meeting our current collection levels for the fund as well as the announcement that is going to hit tomorrow (keep an eye on the blog) and how we are going leverage it over the next 30 days.

If you can come on Tuesday April 3rd at 7:30PM at Gaetano’s we’d love to have you join us for the brainstorming.

For those of you that cannot make the meeting but who may still want to help, we are still collecting at Dunkin Donuts in town and we need people to man the shifts.

My father and I are still out collecting each weekend; if you can stand out to collect all or part of the time on Thursday or Friday mornings at any of the Dunkin Donuts locations please let me know. We try to go for 6:30AM to 9:30AM but even if you can only take part of a shift that is better than nothing.

This upcoming weekend being a holiday weekend we are also going to be out at Stop and Shop on Friday afternoon – we received permission from them to stand from 2PM to 6PM so we can use a hand there as well.

As always, you can help out just by making a donation and / or by spreading the word to your friends and neighbors. Since 2010, the Wallingford Fireworks Celebration has been 100% funded by donations from everyday citizens of Wallingford – the only way it continues is with your backing, support and donations.

Your tax deductible donation can be sent to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule)

Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration collection totals for the week ending Saturday March 31, 2012; we now stand at $17,534.78

With the totals in from the collections this week (stymied by the rain on Saturday) we still had a decent week and now our totals for the collection drive stand at $17,534.78.

Even when you remove the $10,000.00 we received from Campus at Greenhill in mid March when they came on board as the Naming Convention sponsor, $7,534.78 is a great start.

In 2011 we already had the Dinner Fundraiser (it was held on March 18) and our totals stood at $8,110.27.

For this year we were able to have the dinner later in the season (as we did in 2010) – it is scheduled for THURSDAY MAY 24 – so tickets have yet to be sold and tallied into the totals like they were already at this point last year.

I am hoping to have a couple of additional BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS this week so stay tuned,

I am planning to post a blog update each morning around 8:30AM so be sure to check back in.

2012 is quickly turning out to be our best funding year as the donations are streaming in strongly and we are quite likely to have the largest fireworks display for a show held in Wallingford.

If you want to help out and keep the momentum going please consider donating now, send your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).