To the editor:

On behalf of the RESTORE our Stadium Committee, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the very successful second annual NYSA Jamboree. We were blessed with a bright blue skies and dry weather — amazing! NYSA graciously allowed all gate donations and food booth sales to benefit RESTORE and we took in more than $5,400! It was a wonderful family day for all.

Special thanks to Colleen McElhinney, Laurie Naughton and Stephanie Walsh, NYSA In-Town co-directors, who planned, organized and ran the whole event, plus Kevin Winn, equipment director. Kevin was clearly the MVP of the event, without whose tireless work on Friday and over the entire weekend — lining the fields and handling pickup, delivery, setup and then breakdown of the goals, the dunk tank and all other equipment for the event — this event literally would not have happened.

However, there were many more people involved in this event in different ways: Jay Iannini, outgoing in-town director who started this event last year and continued to provide his advice and guidance as we planned the second annual. Jay, Jessen Wehrwein, NYSA president, and Sean Harrington, NYSA coach, who were the emcees of the day. Deb Merrill, travel director, who secured all of our referees and worked the event. Julie Gerraughty-Rubino, PR/marketing director, who handled pre-event publicity. Shawn Bleau, education director, who ran the Tots portion of the event and rallied several student players to help at the event and give the coaches a run for their money at the coaches' game! Oregano's, Gold Sponsor of the Jamboree, who also supplied the pizza for the event, and other corporate donors: New England Coffee Company, Frito-Lay, Amesbury Skate and Sport and Kindercare on Daniel Lucey Way, who provided free face painting all day.

Thanks also to the student athletes at NHS who volunteered to man the voluntary collection stations. We were proud to have representatives from football, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls LAX, NHS National Honor Society and even a few middle school kids. This event would not have been successful without the 40 parent volunteers from NYSA who volunteered in the food booth, grill and other areas from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as the parent and student volunteers at the RESTORE information table. And a very special thanks to Martine Isabel, who knows everything about the food booth, since she has been running it for years for youth football, and was my "go-to person" for the day.

See you next year!

Laurie LeBlanc

RESTORE our Stadium