Partnerships and community will revitalize Trenton
As Camden plans to demolish a 6,700-seat ballpark on the Camden Waterfront farther north a better event occurs along the Delaware River.
Yankees DoubleA affiliate Trenton Thunder prepares for a 25th season at Arm & Hammer Park as baseball maintains popularity in the capital city.
Camden, pressed by Gov. Chris Christie as a city on the comeback trail, could not sustain a minor-league baseball team.
Trenton, on the other hand, receives support through numerous partners who understand that cooperation and shared vision can forge sustained success.
The Trenton Thunder silver anniversary includes a partnership with NJM Insurance Group that makes the Trenton-based company presenting partner of the team.
This union sounds ideal as both organizations remain key supporters of Trenton, crucial contributors to the capital city’s revitalization dreams.
“It was the perfect combination of us going into our 25th season and having a partner like NJM over the years where the relationship has continued to grow,” Thunder general manager Jeff Hurley said last week.
“You’re always looking to have a partner like this, but with us going into the 25th season, this was a priority for us to have a corporate partner.”
An unusual partnership created the stadium originally known as Mercer County Waterfront Park as then Republican County Executive Bob Prunetti and Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, a democrat, joined forces to build the stadium.
Prunetti and Palmer epitomized cooperation, a key quality for most successful ventures.
“We wanted to do more with the Thunder because they are such an iconic brand here in Trenton,” NJM CEO Bernie Flynn said.
“They’ve also been so successful and it is such a fun place for families to go. This was a natural collaboration.”
Trenton will move forward when residents and leaders develop a sense of cohesion.
Jackson thanked New Jersey Manufacturers and Trenton Thunder for building a working partnership.
“NJM continues to express its commitment to Trenton and its stature as a good corporate citizen. This underscores my fundamental philosophy of partnering with community, organizations and stakeholders to get things done.”
Both the Trenton Thunder and NJM have invested in numerous endeavors that benefit city and area residents.
Trenton remains in the hunt for a 2018 $25,000 Levitt AMP Grant which receives matching dollars from NJM Insurance Group and the New Jersey Council on Arts.
Tuesday evening, NJM will announce another initiative that underscores a commitment to make a difference in greater Mercer County. Read about this effort in the Trentonian on Wednesday.
By the way, cast your vote for Trenton’s Mill Hill Park site by accessing grant.levittamp.org. Trenton Downtown Association even sends supporters a nice thank you message as positive reinforcement.
The Thunder FUNdraising program helped non-profit groups in the Trenton area raise over $1,567,474 in the last twelve years. The Thunder sell tickets to community organizations at a special rate and the group then sells the tickets at face value. The Thunder then donate one dollar per ticket sold to the largest FUNdraising group of the day (over 300 tickets).
The Trenton Thunder Match Maker program is a way underprivileged children are able to see a game at ARM & HAMMER Park. Season ticket holders can turn in tickets that they are not using to be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Trenton and the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Trenton.
Each season the Thunder teams up with corporations to provide tickets to deserving non-profit groups as part of the Tickets For Kids program. Through the generous efforts of Johnson & Johnson, PSE&G, and other small and large companies, kids from non-profit groups attended Thunder home games this year.
This program allows children to enjoy all the fun surrounding a professional baseball game when they might not ordinarily be able to do so. Since 1996, 67,718 children have enjoyed Thunder baseball because of this program.
Log onto trentonthunder.com for an understanding about how this team impacts the Trenton area off the field.
While city critics point toward the past and find negative aspects about historical misadventures, visionaries understand productive partnerships point Trenton toward future endeavors and successes.
“We’re all about long-term sustainability as an organization that is more than 100 years old that was born and raised in the city of Trenton,” Flynn said.
“The Trenton Thunder organization has the kinds of bones, and that kind of culture that they are going to be here a long time.”
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@trentonian.com. Follow him on Twitter at laparker6.