May 27, 2008 

Dear Smithfield Resident: 

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of playing high school football under the lights on a Friday night – or watching your child play under the lights. As you may be aware, the Town of Smithfield is seeking to put lights at the Smithfield High School football field to make this experience a reality on a regular basis for the school’s football players, soccer players, and others. To that end, the Smithfield Friday Night Lights Committee has been established under the auspices of the Smithfield High School Parent Council/Booster Club, a not for profit, 501c3 corporation. 

The Friday Night Lights Committee’s vision for the facility includes lights, a snack bar and restrooms. We estimate that the total cost of the project will be about $300,000. 

We have been successful in securing a $150,000 appropriation from the town’s impact fee account, funds collected from the construction of new homes in Smithfield and intended to be used primarily for recreational purposes. We are working to raise the remainder through corporate and individual donations so that the project can be completed. 

In the past several years, there have been home-and-away Friday night football games, and later Saturday night soccer matches, between Smithfield and North Smithfield, played under temporary, donated lighting. Permanent lights are being added as part of the construction of new fields at North Smithfield High.

That leaves Smithfield still in the dark, unless the Friday Night Lights fund drive does its job.

These night games have been a wonderful experience for the players, their families and fans from both towns. It has been an experience the players will remember all their lives. Nights like these are what being a community is all about.

Today, I write to you in my capacity as Chairman of the Friday Night Lights Committee to ask for your financial support. Other members of the FNL Committee are Smithfield High Principal Daniel Kelley, School Committee Chairwoman Virginia Harnois, School Committee member Erin Donovan, President of the Parent Council Deborah Buffi, Loreen Parente, Treasurer Parent Council, girls’ soccer coach Robert Squillante, head of school maintenance John Obiurka, football coach Chris Branch and athletic director Tony Torregrossa.

We recognize that these are difficult financial times, but hope that you might be able to support this worthy cause. Any donation you could make would be tax deductible. 

Please mail your donation to the Smithfield High School Friday Night Lights Committee, care of Smithfield High School, 90 Pleasant View Avenue, Smithfield, RI 02917. And please feel free to call me at 233-2602 if you have any questions or would like to discuss other ways to help with this worthy cause.

Thank you, in advance, for your support. 

	Sincerely,
	Senator  John J. Tassoni, Jr. Chairman SHS Friday Night Lights Committee

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