Union Beach Mayor is Double Winner, Thanks to Upper Saddle River Mayor

With a drop in a bucket and by putting himself in a “hole,” Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith helped two charitable organizations – the  Raine Foundation and the Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association – each will receive a $1,000 donation in his name. Mayor Smith won two “Charity of Choice” prizes from New Jersey American Water at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors in April by entering his business card in a raffle and also by having his picture taken on the company’s 3D artistic floor display.

For years, New Jersey American Water has offered mayors at the conference the chance to drop their business cards in a bucket to be randomly chosen for one of three $1,000 prizes to be donated to the winning mayor’s charity of choice. This year, an additional $1,000 donation was offered to the mayor who got the most Facebook “likes” of him or her pictured with New Jersey American Water’s virtual main break.

When standing on the art, the mayor appears to be standing in a trench while a New Jersey American Water crew repairs a leaking water main. The 3D art is the centerpiece of a campaign to raise awareness about the urgent need for water infrastructure replacement and to give the public a glimpse of the complex maze of water infrastructure under their feet.

Nineteen mayors participated in the month-long Facebook photo contest, with Mayor Smith trading the contest lead with Upper Saddle River Mayor Joanne Minichetti. Mid-way through the voting , with Union Beach still rebounding from the impact of Super Storm Sandy, Mayor Minichetti ceded the contest and encouraged her supporters to vote for Mayor Smith. 

"I learned that Union Beach was devastated by Super Storm Sandy and that their elementary school was damaged to the point that, months later, the children were still attending classes in a nearby town,” said Mayor Minichetti. “I realize all projects are important and that all mayors try their best to help their towns. But right now Union Beach needs all the help they can get. So I asked everyone to vote for Mayor Smith and the $1,000 will be put to good use in Union Beach.”

The $1,000 Mayor Smith donated to the Raine Foundation of Hazlet, NJ will help the organization with its mission of helping communities recover from the devastation of Super Storm Sandy and provide necessary goods for families who have met unfortunate circumstances. By supporting the Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association, the mayor’s $1,000 prize will help the association build 10 playgrounds in New Jersey dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.

New Jersey American Water Government Affairs Manager will present the checks to Mayor Smith at Union Beach’s June 20 council meeting.

“On behalf of Union Beach, I would like to express my gratitude to New Jersey American Water for making it possible for these two worthwhile organizations to receive these gifts to help families who really need it,” said Mayor Smith. “Mayor Minichetti was very gracious in her actions and that giving spirit is what will help all the communities along the Jersey shore come back stronger than ever.”