Game On! Glen Rock's August Fundraiser Canceled by Town

A key fundraising date in a non-profit group's hopes to has been stymied by officials, but Game On! Glen Rock organizers are nonetheless looking forward.

, scheduled for Aug. 18, is no longer on the borough's event calendar. The fundraiser, planned for , was expected to draw a crowd of 3,000 or more to partake in games, yoga, salsa dancing, a wiffle ball tournament. A beer tent and food truck were also expected for Family Fun Day.

"As you know by now, the town unexpectedly canceled the event because of a lack of cooperation from the Dept. of Public Safety," Game On! Glen Rock Chairman Michael C. Stewart wrote in a Facebook post on July 14. "Hundreds of hours of planning time and thousands of fundraising dollars (spent) later we are still poised to raise 6 figures in fundraising dollars this year. Between the car & watch raffle, and the extraordinary Casino Royale Gala we are optimistic that we will have a successful fundraising year."

Glen Rock Mayor John van Keuren declined to comment on the issue Wednesday night. A report on northjersey.com quoted GO!GR vice president Mark McCullough as saying public safety officials had "legitimate" concerns (said to be traffic and weather-related), but called them "exaggerated."

Game On! has to build two baseball diamonds that share space with a lined field, as well as another dedicated soccer-type  with field lights on Doremus Ave. Stewart told the council in December he had hoped to raise $1 million in 2012.

The next big GO!GR event is scheduled for Oct. 18. Organizers hope a night of gambling, grub and a top band will entice donors to toss the dice. The Casino Royale Gala, a $100 formal affair, will be held at The Venetian in Garfield. Billy Joel-connected vocalist Matthew Friedman and Uptown Sounds will perform.

The raffle winners of a fully-loaded 42 mpg 2012 Chevy Cruz (MSRP – $23,995) and a his-and-her Omega watch set (valued at $10,000) will also be announced on Oct. 18.

McCullough told northjersey.com the group remains committed to the cause in spite of the August setback.

"It will take six months or years – we have tremendous support from the residents," he said.

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