FOR INTERNAL USE                                                                                                  December 2, 2005 

'TIS THE SEASON TO GIVE FOR SURPRISE DONOR AT TOWN OF CARY OFFICIAL TREE LIGHTING

WHAT:           Five-figure donation to Oasis at Town of Cary Tree Lighting Ceremony

WHEN:          Saturday, December 3, 2005

                        6:45 p.m.

WHERE:        Cary Town Hall

316 N. Academy St .

                        Cary , NC

 WHO:            A local real estate developer will present a five-figure donation to Oasis – the Town’s utility assistance program – on behalf of local developers.  Following the presentation, the surprise donor will join Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister and the Town Council to officially kick-off the holiday season with the lighting of the tree.

BACKGROUND:

Oasis is a program designed to help those going through financial hardship with their Town of Cary utility bill.  The program is administered through a partnership between the Town and Christian Community in Action (CCA), a local non-profit organization that helps people in need get back on their feet.  The Town accepts one-time or regular donations from utility customers and passes all the money to CCA. The money can only be used for a Town of Cary utility bill or for plumbing repairs to fix leaks.

DIRECTIONS:

Cary ’s Town Hall complex is located at the 300 block of North Academy Street —between Chatham Street and Chapel Hill Road —in downtown Cary .  The tree is located in front of the Town Hall complex.  Media should turn onto Wilkinson Avenue and travel behind the Town Hall campus to access parking spaces on Ambassador Loop; please do not park in the police lot.  Staff will be on hand to help direct you.  

In case of rain, the tree lighting ceremony will be held in the Herbert C. Young Community Center gymnasium next to Town Hall on the corner of Ambassador Loop and Academy Street .

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