TNLL raises funds one sign at a time

TNLL raises funds one sign at a time

A local little league is looking to hold down the cost of registration by raising funds through advertising.

Signs, 2×4 feet in size, advertising local businesses now adorn the outfield fences at the Throgs Neck Little League. 

The league currently has 32 advertisers; the businesses that have sponsored teams.  But now the league is looking beyond team sponsors for help.

“We are hoping for ideally over 100 advertisers,” said Frank Eisele, the league secretary, noting that the new field sponsors would receive a 12×15 inch sponsor plaque, like those given to the team sponsors.

The decision passed by the board of directors to help parents who are facing rising costs in other facets of their lives.

“The parents are getting killed with mortgages, school fees, gas,” Eisele commented. “This can be a tremendous revenue stream that will help ease their burden.”

The league is feeling the cost crunch this year, too, spending over $1,000 a week on gasoline to feed a generator that produces the power for the lights that illuminate the fields at night. 

“If we had to use Con Ed, we probably wouldn’t be able to have night games,” Eisele remarked. 

Last summer, TNLL attended an All-star tournament in Sayville, NY, where they got the idea for signs that wouldn’t be perceived as eyesores. 

“The Pelham Bay Little League used to have signs, 8×3 feet, but we felt there were too many colors, very unsightly,” Eisele commented. 

“Our new signs, they’re not gaudy,” said Eisele describing the blue signs with white lettering.  “It looks neater in one color.”

The Ideal Sign Company, at 538 Wales Ave in Morrisania, produced the signs.

“Their workmanship is very good,” Eisele said.  “They’ve done a lot of work in the neighborhood.”

The first signs went up 2 weeks ago, coinciding with the beginning of the little league season, and will seen by thousands throughout the year.

“The sign is up 24/7 all year round,” Eisele said.  “It’s great advertising.  It would make me feel good to support a local merchant knowing they’re taking care of people in the neighborhood.”