County Fair to Help Raise Money Once Again

The is just around the corner.

Scheduled for Aug. 6 to Aug. 12, the event brings people from throughout the region who are looking for fun, food, rides and more.

But one mainstay of the fair is the Charity Challenge program. You know those buckets and water cooler containers you see at the front of the fair? Well, last year that program raised what eventually became part of $28,000 in donations made to a variety organizations, including to Middlesex County Schools first aid squads and fire departments and groups affected by Hurricane Irene, by the fair association.

The program, which is returning this year, gives more than 70,000 fair visitors each year the opportunity to support a variety of non-profit organizations across Middlesex County.

The program provides eligible organizations with a container near the main entrance to the fair with a description of their cause. At the close of the fair on Sunday, the organizations are invited to retrieve the funds collected throughout the week. The organization with the most money wins an additional $500 through the program’s sponsor, Bonamici, Colletti, Solitario and Tierney CPAs of Spotswood.

“For nearly 75 years, the Middlesex County Fair Association has supported farmers, students and organizations across the greater Middlesex County area,” said Alan Habiak, president of the Middlesex County Fair Association. “Through this program, the fair provides county residents with an opportunity to participate in their community—one of the core elements of our mission—and help to make Middlesex County an even greater place to live and work.”

During fair week each year, the association also conducts a Disability Awareness Day, which provides disabled county children with entry to the fair, fair rides, popcorn, and snow cones at no cost.

As it has since 1994, the association plans to distribute thousands of dollars again in 2012 to community organizations that serve its mission.

Organizations that are eligible for the Charity Challenge program are encouraged to download an application form and view the complete rules at www.middlesexcountyfair.com.