Tercentennial Commission Solicits Seed Money For Celebration

By Jan Howard

The fundraising effort on behalf of Newtown’s 2005 tercentennial celebration has begun.

John Martocci, chairman and chief executive officer of Newtown Savings Bank, chairman of the Tercentennial Commission’s fundraising committee, said this week that approximately $12,000 has been raised to date through letters he sent out in March to the corporate community in Newtown and surrounding towns. The fundraising committee’s goal for this first fundraising effort is $15,000.

“We doing very well,” he said. “But I told them I’m coming back for more.” He said 15 businesses have responded to date.

“All I was trying to do was raise some seed money,” Mr Martocci said. “I was soliciting people to give money up front.” He said startup money is needed for stationary and other supplies prior to other fundraising efforts as well as to purchase items that would later be sold as tercentennial commemorative items, such as T-shirts, caps, and historical books.

“If we’re going to sell things, we have to pay for them,” he said.

Mr Martocci said he is looking for two types of membership as a result of this initial mailing, a donation of $500 for founder members and $250 for charter members. He said Newtown Savings, Union Savings, Savings Bank of Danbury, and People’s Bank donated $1,000 each toward the effort.

He noted that Curtis Packaging has donated time and expertise in designing the tercentennial logo. “I give them a lot of credit for that,” he said. Members of the Tercentennial Steering Committee agreed last month that Curtis Packaging should be included as a founder member for their in-kind contributions.

Mr Martocci said he is also receiving donations from local clubs and organizations as a result of presentations by Tercentennial Steering Committee members.

He said he would solicit sponsors for the tercentennial ball scheduled for January 1, and a picnic and fireworks display planned for August 2005, noting in that way money raised from ticket sales would go to the Tercentennial Commission to help with expenses for other tercentennial events.

Mr Martocci said he hopes he will be able to get some place where the names of sponsors can be displayed.

Mr Martocci said he would like to net $20,000 above the cost of the ball so that people attending the various events would not have to pay for admittance.

Mr Martocci said letters seeking sponsors for the ball and fireworks would be sent out in June and again in September.

In this way, he hopes to have enough money for a down payment for the hall and fireworks and to purchase commemorative items.

Mr Martocci estimates that costs for the entire celebratory year would be about $250,000. If this is not raised, however, he said the committee might have to eliminate some events.

He said State Rep Julia Wasserman is championing the tercentennial’s cause at the legislature. He is preparing a letter citing in-kind services that would be supplied by the town and local groups that is required by the state.

Mr Martocci is seeking additional members for his committee. Current members, besides Mr Martocci, are Barbara Phillips, Terri-Ann Martocci, Kathy Geckle, Maryanne Murtha, and Joanne Dempsky.

Donations for the tercentennial celebration may be sent to Newtown Tercentennial Inc, c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.