Credit Card Program Awards Grants to Local Groups

Hillsborough credit card grants totaling $2,400 will be used for equipment and props for the Hillsborough Junior Raiders, the Hillsborough Rockettes and Boy Scout Troop 89.

The Credit Card Advisory Committee awarded latest round of credit card grants on Tuesday The grants are the third round awarded this year, having had an application deadline of Oct. 15.

“We wanted to get this presentation in before the year’s end; we felt it important that we receive the grants in a timely manner so we could disburse funds,” Don Simmons, head of the Credit Card Advisory Committee, said. “It was our goal to get out as much money as possible before the year ends.”

The Hillsborough Rockettes, a tap group consisting of senior citizens, will use the $1,000 it received toward costumes and props for its performances. The group performs at various nursing homes, assisted living and adult care facilities in Somerset County.

The committee also awarded a $1,000 grant to the Junior Raiders Football organization, to be used for kids’ football helmets. According to Simmons, the helmets allow the township group to comply with the state’s new concussion laws.

“Being a baseball umpire and having had four concussions in about 10 years, I understand what it means to have the proper protection,” Simmons said. “The money that’s going for these helmets is going to be able to provide the protection that these young football players are going to need when they go out on the field.”

The committee also awarded $400 to Boy Scout Troop 89, which the troop will use to buy new tents. The tents allow the troops to continue its monthly camping trips, according to the troop.

Groups interested in the funds completed an application process in and outlined the purchases it would make using the funds.  The advisory committee reviews the application and chooses the recipients based on the purchases each would make.

Originally started in 2001 as the Hillsborough Township credit card program, the program allowed individuals to sign up for a special township credit card.  The first ended in 2005, however, Affinity Federal Credit Union took over the program in 2008, according to the township.  Under the current program, a portion of the usage fees on the card are donated back to youth, non-profit, and senior citizens groups in the township, through the Hillsborough Credit Card trust fund.  The township’s Credit Card Advisory Committee determines the organizations that will receive the funds.

“We get a great deal of satisfaction out of doing this because the youth groups and the senior groups around town benefit from this committee,” Simmons said. “