Main Street Vineland Donates Check To New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home From Military Mural Fundraising Campaign
$500 Check Represents Funds Raised in Excess of Expenses
VINELAND, NJ—Main Street Vineland recently donated a $500 check to the New Jersey Veterans Home at Vineland at a formal presentation ceremony which included Main Street Vineland, City, and area military leaders, as well as others associated with the recently-dedicated military mural located in downtown Vineland.
The money donated represented money raised in excess of that which covered expenses for the mural, which was formally dedicated this past Veterans Day. The money was the result of a fundraising campaign to cover expenses over and above funds, goods, and services contributed by a number of sources, including the Cumberland County Cultural & Heritage Commission/ Department of State, THRIVE South Jersey, BB&T, and Ace Hardware.
The mural was the creation of celebrated artist George Perez, who started work last June. Located facing the mini-park on the southwest corner of Landis Avenue and the Boulevard in Vineland, it honors active members of the five branches of the military—the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard—as well as Veterans and POWs. Work by Perez and his assistants lasted throughout the summer and culminated with a formal dedication ceremony on Veterans Day.
Main Street Vineland initiated a campaign on its website and at its various events to seek public financial support for the mural, with the provision that all money in excess of that to cover expenses would be donated to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home.
Main Street Vineland initiated a campaign public financial support on its website and its various events, with the provision that all money in excess of that to cover expenses would be donated to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home.
“What makes this so special is that the money raised for this mural came from people from all walks of life,” said Main Street Vineland Executive Director Russell Swanson. “That makes this project really a mural by the people and for the people.”
Swanson noted that, all told, the mural cost approximately $15,000, which included funds from all sources.
This mural is envisioned to be part of a larger Urban Canvases on The Ave Mural Project, in which certain downtown buildings are being looked at for murals that would add artistic flavor to the downtown—The Ave—and which would add to the richness and flavor of Vineland’s heritage.
For more information on this and all Main Street Vineland events and projects, call the Main Street Vineland office at 856-794-8653, visit the organization’s website at www.TheAve.biz, or visit the organization’s Facebook page.
