On Tuesday, May 29, the Red Bank Regional (RBR) Athletic Foundation will host a kick-off reception for area businesses and friends of RBR. The event, which icludes canapés and refreshments, takes place at 7 pm at the Two River Theatre main lobby at 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, NJ. Special guest speaker will be Coach Mike Rice, the head basketball coach for Rutgers University.
The main goal of the campaign is to bring lights to the RBR football field, something enjoyed by the great majority
of high schools in the county. The lights would not only benefit football night games, but other sports including soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. It could also enable the district to host profitable tournament games. Current daylight play limitations has also reduced the overall hours that RBR players can practice, particularly in the fall and winter seasons, vis-à-vis their competitors in their sports divisions. RBR’s Athletic Director Del Dal Pra estimates that RBR athletes practice four to five hours less than their opponents per week.
RBR Athletic Foundation President Cathy Reardon states, “RBR is a very competitive academic school with incredible
curriculum choices in the arts, sciences, technology, AP and IB programs etc… Our student athletes also work very hard to excel. Athletics could be the heart and soul of some students’ high school experience. We believe putting lights on our fields will give our kids a chance to be more competitive and increase a sense of community for our school and sending districts. In view of the district’s fiscally tight budget, The Athletic Foundation is working hard to
raise funds to rectify this inequity. To this end, we hope that local business people and other friends of RBR will join us on May 29 at the beautiful Two River Theatre to learn more about the Let There Be Lights campaign.”
