Sponsorship Money Rolling in for Summer Concert Series

West Deptford is off to a fast start in raising money through sponsorships for its summer concert series at RiverWinds.

According to numbers from recreation director Greg Ley, the township has already received commitments for $17,100 worth of funding from vender fees and corporate sponsors. That amount is just over half of all of the money the township received in 2012. Last year, the township received a final amount of $33,750 from vendor fees and sponsors.

Ley said the township hopes to continue to raise money. At a recreation advisory committee meeting last week, he encouraged board members to get local businesses to donate money to the concerts. He also said that the mayor's sponsorship letter for the concert has gone out.

The township committee approved the 2013 summer concert series schedule at its Feb. 7 meeting. There was some discussion about the concert series not being able to cover its cost and taxpayers footing some of the cost for security. The cost of the bands is about $36,000. Other expenses, such as police coverage at the events, cost approximately an additional $7,500.

The 2013 summer concert series will take place on 13 consecutive Fridays during the summer, starting on May 31 at the RiverWinds Amphitheater. Botto's Italian Line Restaurant will provide the food for the concert series again this year.