Jawonio's Charity Challenge Game Rescheduled

Despite the cancellation of the Rockland Boulders game originally set to raise money for Jawonio last week, the organization has been invited back to Provident Bank Park for their 2011 Charity Challenge game on Monday, August 15^.

The 2011 Charity Challenge is a promotional program in which Active International, a global leader in corporate trade, has teamed up with the Rockland Boulders to benefit charitable organizations in Rockland.  

"It’s important that the business community, non-profits, and individuals work together for the betterment of our whole community,” says Joe Allen, Senior Vice President of Employee Communications and Community Affairs at Active International. “We took a lot of the non-profits that we work most closely with and those are the ones that are involved in the Charity Challenge for year one.”

Over the past few months, due to weather conditions, Jawonio, a program for people with special needs, has been faced with various obstacles. “The flashflood last month totally destroyed our Nyack Studio Arts Program,” says Jill Warner, Jawonio’s CEO.

Fortunately, none of the 15 young adults with special needs who participate at the site or the experts and artists who participate with them were there at the time; however, all of the artwork, supplies, and equipment that go into making the program a success was lost.

“Every cent that’s raised from this game will go to help to rebuild a space with all of the special equipment that we had there and the artwork of people that have taken part in the studio arts program,” says Warner. “We’re very excited about getting those guys back into a space." 

As Active International has done with all of the other charitable organizations taking part in the Charity Challenge, they will be matching funds raised from percentages of ticket sales and concession sales for Jawonio.

“For us to have the opportunity to raise money through having a fun time and watching a ball game," says Warner, "...that is what it’s all about.”