So it should be good
news that the fundraising effort has put $100,435 in the bank and has another
$73,000 promised “in matching money,” Weand told the school board
Thursday.
But afterward, she also
confirmed that the man who offered the dollar-for-dollar match had withdrawn
his offer.
“He said not enough
local businesses were willing to make donations,” Weand said. “I know I
sent a letter to ever business in the chamber.”
Weand also credited
local plumber Aram Ecker from convincing the businesses that did make
donations.
“He certainly deserves
credit for that,” Weand said.
But the effort to
install the lights has not stopped.
Weand said an
application for a $50,000 grant has been submitted to the NFL, “and we’re
waiting to hear on that.”
The engineering plans
for the $300,000 have already been completed, so now its just a matter of
raising the money, Weand said.
“Yes, it’s been a long
time, but we’re much closer now,” she said.
The lights were removed from the wooden poles that had held them for decades two years ago because of
safety concerns.
The district had been
warned by engineers that the wooden poles were too old and too twisted to be
considered safe.
When they were removed,
they were cut at half height to allow the loudspeakers to remain mounted on
them, but for two years, Pottstown has had no Friday night football games, a
tradition which many would like to see revived with new lights.
Shirts and yard signs
are still available and can be purchased directly from Weand or through
the school district office on Beech Street.
“We’re getting there and
I am really very pleased with all the money we’ve raised so far,” said Weand.
Contributions can be
mailed to Pottstown School District Administration Building, 230 Beech St.,
Pottstown, PA 19464, c/o Polly Weand Save the Lights.
You also can make a
donation to the Save the Lights campaign at the — http://www.savethelights.org/ — web
site.
Business Manager Linda
Adams confirmed that the money raised is being held by the school district.