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Breakfast earns Holly City Family Center $1,375

By KRISTI FUNDERBURK
The Daily Journal
March 23, 2009

MILLVILLE -- The stacks of pancakes and piles of bacon served Sunday morning will help the Holly City Family Center continue to thrive several months after it almost closed.

Employees hosted a breakfast benefit at the American Legion building on Buck Street. It was one of many fundraising efforts center officials started last fall to generate more revenue for the recreation facility on East Mulberry Street.

"All our staff works them, and we get a lot of members who support us," center director Janet Reeves said. "This is what we have to do to keep things going."

The center almost closed last summer be-cause of a growing, irreconcilable spending gap.

But the center's fate turned when it received two years' worth of funds to keep it open.

Eight months later, Holly City Family Center is finally on stable ground, according to fitness coordinator Andrea Vanaman.

"Last July they were going to close us, but, since then, we're steadily going up," she said.

On Sunday, employees served 238 breakfasts in four hours, earning the center $1,375 from the buffet and raffle, Reeves said.

Donna Pio, an on-and-off member for 30 years, enjoys swimming classes at the facility.

"I like every aspect of it. The people are so nice. They are very welcoming and very helpful, and you make new friends," Pio said, motioning across the table to her swim class peer Mary Jane Catalano.

The two women attended Sunday's breakfast and often support other fund-raisers that help the facility.

"It's just a good place to socialize," Catalano said. "It's really like a family."

The center's first fundraiser was a dinner in the fall. Reeves hopes to turn the fall dinner and spring breakfast -- both of which she deemed successful -- into annual fundraisers.

Center officials also have raised money from organizing tours of the Wheaton mansion, and plan to organize a sub sale later this spring.

The facility has roughly 1,500 memberships, which include both individuals and families.

The center made a profit of $15,701 in January and, as of February, projected an annual profit of roughly $27,000 if the center continues to attract new members and if future fundraisers succeed, Reeves said.

Besides keeping the facility open, the revenue will pay for new equipment in the weight room, a few rowing machines and a new treadmill, carpet in the cardio room, and circuit training equipment for women, she said.

	Press Release About Us > News & Press Releases > Press Release Breakfast earns Holly City Family Center $1,375 By KRISTI FUNDERBURK The Daily Journal March 23, 2009 MILLVILLE -- The stacks of pancakes and piles of bacon served Sunday morning will help the Holly City Family Center continue to thrive several months after it almost closed. Employees hosted a breakfast benefit at the American Legion building on Buck Street. It was one of many fundraising efforts center officials started last fall to generate more revenue for the recreation facility on East Mulberry Street. "All our staff works them, and we get a lot of members who support us," center director Janet Reeves said. "This is what we have to do to keep things going." The center almost closed last summer be-cause of a growing, irreconcilable spending gap. But the center's fate turned when it received two years' worth of funds to keep it open. Eight months later, Holly City Family Center is finally on stable ground, according to fitness coordinator Andrea Vanaman. "Last July they were going to close us, but, since then, we're steadily going up," she said. On Sunday, employees served 238 breakfasts in four hours, earning the center $1,375 from the buffet and raffle, Reeves said. Donna Pio, an on-and-off member for 30 years, enjoys swimming classes at the facility. "I like every aspect of it. The people are so nice. They are very welcoming and very helpful, and you make new friends," Pio said, motioning across the table to her swim class peer Mary Jane Catalano. The two women attended Sunday's breakfast and often support other fund-raisers that help the facility. "It's just a good place to socialize," Catalano said. "It's really like a family." The center's first fundraiser was a dinner in the fall. Reeves hopes to turn the fall dinner and spring breakfast -- both of which she deemed successful -- into annual fundraisers. Center officials also have raised money from organizing tours of the Wheaton mansion, and plan to organize a sub sale later this spring. The facility has roughly 1,500 memberships, which include both individuals and families. The center made a profit of $15,701 in January and, as of February, projected an annual profit of roughly $27,000 if the center continues to attract new members and if future fundraisers succeed, Reeves said. Besides keeping the facility open, the revenue will pay for new equipment in the weight room, a few rowing machines and a new treadmill, carpet in the cardio room, and circuit training equipment for women, she said.