The Haddonfield Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to improving Haddonfield, invites the community to a Dine & Donate event with P.J. Whelihan’s, at 700 N. Haddon Ave., on Wednesday, Dec. 7 between 5 and 10 p.m. When you order your meal, dining in or taking out, just say you would like to benefit the Haddonfield Foundation, and 15 percent of your food and non-alcoholic beverage purchase will go to the foundation.
“This is a fun, social way to help keep the community as wonderful as it is now,” Haddonfield Foundation board member Joseph Murphy said.
The Dine & Donate event is a first for the Haddonfield Foundation.
Foundation trustee Kim LaMaina Banos knew about P.J. Whelihan’s doing such fundraisers and arranged one for the foundation.
“This is the world’s easiest way to donate,” Murphy said. “(The Haddonfield Foundation) has really helped to bring about things that are wonderful and unique about this town, and, after all, everyone has to eat.”
The Haddonfield Foundation’s mission is to foster charitable giving for public purposes within the borough and among its citizenry to promote, maintain and enhance the community’s quality of life.
“I like that (the foundation) is only dedicated to serving Haddonfield. I think this is a way to help make Haddonfield even greater, and having an opportunity to contribute to your town is a great thing,” Banos said.
Since 1983, with support from the community, the Haddonfield Foundation has provided vital early “seed money” to more than 100 local grassroots organizations and projects. Last year, the foundation gave $22,700 in grants to eight local nonprofits. Those include: the Haddonfield Pick Up Band; the Indian King Tavern Town Criers; the Haddonfield Cultural Events Commission/First Night 2016; the Historical Society of Haddonfield; the Haddonfield Memorial High School PTA; the Haddonfield Community Calendar; the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust; and the Markeim Art Center.
“There is a long list of things that the foundation has helped to fund. It has been involved in all of the cool things in Haddonfield and those that add to the quality of life,” Murphy said.
The grants are made possible through the generous charitable gifts from town residents to the foundation. Every year, a mailer is sent to residents asking for donations.
“We always need money for things. There are so many good ideas and so many things we’d like to help with… and it is great when we can help them, but we want to help them 10 times more if we can,” Murphy said.
To learn more about the Haddonfield Foundation or to make an online contribution, visit haddonfieldfoundation.org.
