Who are we?

The Northern Highlands Sports Association is an organization comprised of parents and community members from Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Upper Saddle River, and Saddle River.  We are dedicated to providing supplemental financial support for the student athletes and coaches of all sports programs at Northern Highlands.

Since its foundation over 20 years ago, the Association has donated approximately $500,000 to Northern Highlands sports in the form of equipment grants and scholarships to our student athletes.

Examples include:

• Scoreboards and dugouts
• Batting cages and radar gun
• Lightning detectors
• Pep rallies and award ceremonies
• Ball machines and training equipment
• Goals and shelter benches
• Trophy cases and banners
• Medically adapted golf cart
• Gymnasium sounds systems
• Protective eye and head gear
• Ice and pool time
• Video taping and editing gear
• Safety mats and trainer's supplies

The Sports Association has the full support and backing of the Northern Highlands Administration and the Board of Education for all fundraising efforts for the Field of Dreams renovation project.

The Sports Association is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.  The organization itself has already committed over $50,000 to the Field of Dreams project.

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What is the Field of Dreams?

The Field of Dreams is a proposed renovation of the existing stadium field. The upgrades will include improved drainage and installation of state-of-the-art synthetic turf.  The result will be a multiple purpose, weatherproof athletic field with all-season use capability.

The new turf is nothing like the Astro Turf of years gone by.  The new surfaces are similar to real grass in texture and softness, are more uniform, have better shock absorbency, and wear better and longer.  The benefits of synthetic turf over natural grass are many.  Most importantly:

• All weather capability increases overall use opportunities
• Safer, more uniform surface for team practices and games
• Significant reduction in field maintenance time and costs

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Why do we need it?

The existing grass stadium field at Northern Highlands falls far short of meeting the quality and demands of our ever-growing student population, our extremely popular marching band program and the rigors of high school athletics in today's competitive environment.

Our 1,350 students compete for limited gym space year-round.  The deserve better! A turf field will provide an opportunity for physical education classes to take place outside on warmer days, regardless of recent rainfall.

Our 100 student marching band currently practices in a busy parking lot amid traffic and potholes. They deserve better! A turf field will enable them to practice on a safe, uniform, lined surface.

Our athletes are at a competitive disadvantage with the existing field. Poor conditions limit practice time on all fields, force game cancellations and create safety hazards. Several teams had to travel hours every week to "borrow" turf fields from other schools for practice amd games because our fields were muddy and unplayable. Our teams have little familiarity with turf field conditions which leaves them unprepared for county and state tournaments routinely played on synthetic turf fields.

The poor condition of our fields was recently featured in an article in the Bergan Record (Oct. 6, 2006) "...both teams having difficulties negotiating the brutal Northern Highlands field. players slipped and fell on the soggy ground and had trouble setting the ball on the pock-marked grass."They deserve better!

In addition, the new turf field will provide an attractive, convenient facility to host outdoor school events, such as graduation.

Northern Highlands is one of the last high schools in Bergan County without a turf field. Our rivals have synthetic turf:

	Ramsey	Indian Hills	River Dell	Waldwick
	IHA	Don Basco	Demarest	Ft. Lee
	Ramapo	Old Tappan	Mahwah	Pascack Valley
	St. Joe's	Bergen Catholic	Tenafly	Ridgewood

Northern Highlands deserves better!

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What is the timing?

The timing for the field revovation project is very ambitious. Our plan is to begin the renovation in the Spring of 2007. If we are able to raise the necessary funds by then, we will have a new field open for the Fall of 2007 season or earlier.

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How can I help?

Please join us in making the Northern Highlands Field of Dreams a reality. Your tax-deductible contribution will go to fund the renovation of the stadium field. Any extra funds raised will be used to support all sports programs at Northern Highlands.

The Sports Association intends to privately raise the necessary funds over the next few months through this appeal and other fundraising efforts. Your support is crucial! We have set suggested levels of contribution shown below. Any contribution, however, will be most appreciated. All gifts will be recognized in a special way upon completion of the field.

Field of Dreams Contribution Levels:

$20,000 or more - Platinum
Personal plaque on "Wall of Recognition", family lifetime pass to Highlands athletics

$10,000 - 19,999 - Gold
Name on "Wall of Recognition", two lifetime passes to Highlands athletics

$5,000 - 9,999 - Silver
Name on "Wall of Recognition", family season pass to Highlands athletics

$2,500 - 4,999 - Black
Large paver in "Circle of Recognition", family season pass to Highlands athletics

$1,000 - 2,499 - Red
Small paver in "Circle of Recognition"

$250 - 999 - Booster
Walkway paver

$1 - 249 - Friend

If your employer has a charitable gift-matching program, please include a copy of the completed matching form with your check.

Click here to donate

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