Community Coming Together Ahead of First Moorestown Night

With less than two weeks to go, now’s the time to buy your ticket for the first (of what organizers hope will be many) Moorestown Night.

Township employee Karen Maltbie, one of several organizers, said “hundreds and hundreds of people,” as well as several businesses, have already committed time, money and/or resources to the event on Sept. 20 at the Camden Riversharks’ Campbell’s Field.

“It’s really coming together,” she said, noting (through ticket and merchandise sales) to support township tax collector Dorothy Samartino’s participation in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in Philadelphia this fall.

“What we’re hoping to do is make this a celebration for those who are going to be there who have survived (breast cancer),” said Maltbie.

Reacting to the outpouring of support for her cause, Samartino said, “I cannot tell you how honored I feel that my friends and co-workers would use this opportunity to show their support for me and ultimately all those fighting breast cancer today and in the future. This has been an overwhelming experience. It’s rather miraculous how something so good can result from something so terrifying. I feel truly blessed.”  

Township clerk Patricia Hunt, another member of the Moorestown Night Committee, said organizers received a number of donations, which they used to buy 50 tickets to the game to distribute to individuals and families who couldn’t afford to go. She said resident Monique Begg helped give out 30 tickets, while the other 20 will be distributed by nonprofit MooreKids.

The committee also used a $1,000 grant provided by the Moorestown Education Association (MEA) to print about 225 pink Moorestown Night T-shirts, Hunt said. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts will go directly to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

The shirts ($8), as well as caps ($15), are on sale at the and at the . The MEA will also be selling some of the shirts in the schools.

“(Education association president) Lisa (Trapani) and the MEA have just been a godsend in this process,” said Hunt. “I cannot say enough about Lisa’s organizational skills, enthusiasm and community spirit.”

In addition to the game itself, organizers have plenty of other festivities planned for Moorestown Night:

• Pre-game and in-game activities/contests including a dunk tank, face painting and, between innings, a tug of war between local public figures.
• will perform musical numbers from the upcoming fall productions of 42nd Street and Annie Warbucks.
• Performances by the varsity cheerleaders, pep band and dance squad.

The Moorestown Night Committee has also arranged to provide transportation to the stadium. Two buses will leave from the Moorestown Library at just after 5 p.m. on the 20th. It’s $2 for a round-trip ticket. You can sign up for the bus at the library or at the township offices.

Festivities will get under way shortly after 6 p.m.

Tickets ($11) for the game can be purchased through the Riversharks website. Go to www.riversharks.com and click on “Enter Code Here,” type in “Moorestown.” If you wish to contribute to Samartino’s walk, type in “SGK” and $5 will be given back by the Riversharks to the walk.