WATERBURY — A family event in October at Quassy Amusement and Waterpark will benefit the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund and keep the financial momentum building toward the 2021 fundraising season.
The Middlebury amusement venue will stage a “Wings & Things” meal happening Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. A portion of the proceeds will assist the Campership Fund.
“Quassy has long supported the Campership Fund to help send underprivileged children to camp,” said Quassy President Eric Anderson. “We look forward to a fantastic weekend as this event will be special in that it will include lunch and rides for all ticketed guests.”
The lunch will include three kinds of chicken wings, two sides and a beer or soda. A sandwich selection may be substituted for the wings.
Presale tickets are $26 per person and include the lunch with beverage, plus an all-day ride wristband. Visit quassy.com and use the promo code FALLWINGS20 to purchase tickets.
Wings & Things will conclude Quassy’s weekend operations for its 2020 season.
Ron Gustafson, Quassy’s director of marketing and public relations, said the park usually opens in April, but had to delay until June because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
“It’s been a challenging year for anyone in the business climate,” he said. “But we’ll try to give the Campership Fund a little bit of a boost. Every little bit helps. And the park has been supporting the Campership Fund longer then anybody can remember.”
Donations to the Campership Fund’s 2020 campaign have reached $167,194, easily exceeding the goal of $165,000 set by the fund’s all-volunteer board of directors in the spring. The 72 eligible youngsters who attended participating area camps during the pandemic-affected summer camping season cost $38,646 in tuition fees.
All sincerely appreciated contributions not used this year will be applied to the 2021 Campership Fund campaign, assuring it will start with a solid revenue base when projections and plans are formulated next spring by the board and the United Way of Greater Waterbury, which handles the eligibility and application process.
Families who receive SNAP benefits or meet federal poverty guidelines, and with children ages 5 to 18, living in Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury, are eligible to apply for Camperships.
Meanwhile, civic clubs and church groups, large and small businesses, individuals, schools and philanthropic entities can continue to make donations to the cause, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit program, as contributions are graciously received year round.
Special events, such as Quassy’s pending final fling weekend, also boost the Campership Fund coffers year after year.
Contributions may be sent to Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, 389 Meadow St., Waterbury, CT 06722.
Donations recently received amounting to $200 included:
• Mr. and Mrs. Vasco and Michelle Silva, Waterbury, in memory of our son Christopher Renkun Jr., Sept. 28, 2011, $100
• Mr. and Mrs. James M. and Donna C. Bowes, Southington, in memory of Sandra Cutrali, $100