FRAMINGHAM, MA – As June approaches, the Framingham Summer Concerts on the Green are more in jeopardy than ever before.
While the concerts are run under the auspices of the Town of Framingham by Jim Egan, Director of Town Building Services, the funding is through donations. The bands, set-up expenses, and personnel are all paid for by donations. The Framingham Auxiliary Police donate their time to keep people attending the concerts safe by providing crossing guards.
While in past years, there was a funding gap, bands were scheduled and arrangements in place, as enough funds were donated to round off the total needed once an appeal went out. This year, the response to an appeal for donations has been minimal from the beginning. An appeal in the MetroWest Daily News, and through the framcom email list didn’t spark an outpouring of support as in years past. A couple of thousand dollars has been raised, when $ 35,000 is needed. The bands have been on notice that the concerts are probably not happening.
The concerts have made Framingham a special place to be in the summer. Friends and families, businesses, politicians, churches, non-profits, town fathers, and political candidates smooze, relax, campaign, and fundraise, and enjoy people watching and the music.
The concerts are fun, relaxing, entertaining, joyous, free, and needed to uplift people’s spirits in these stressful times. If you want them to happen this year, please help. Donate, ask your company to donate, and ask business friends and businesses that you know to donate.
Send your checks to: Town of Framingham – Concert Fund, 150 Concord St, Framingham, MA 01702. Donations will be returned if the concerts are not held.
Businesses who donate will have their banners displayed during the concerts as well as be given credit on the concert flyers and in any publicity and advertising.
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