Flock of flamingos helps raise funds for swimmers
BY REBECCA MORTON
Staff Writer

REBECCA MORTON "Surprise! You've Been 'Flocked' " reads the sign that was placed on a Marlboro lawn after a flock of flamingos descended on the property as part of a fundraiser for the Marlboro Swim Club swim team.

MARLBORO - Residents may be "flocked" and find their lawn swarmed with plastic pink flamingos. The flamingos have migrated to the area this summer as part of a fundraiser for the Marlboro Marlins swim team at the Marlboro Swim Club.

Teja Anderson, who is directing the fundraiser, said the "flocking" fundraiser "is popular across the country, which actually makes it hard to get the flamingos. This fundraiser is used a lot for breast cancer awareness, but it really hasn't been used in this area yet."

In the midst of the sea of pink plastic flamingos there is a sign that informs the lucky homeowner, "Surprise! You've been flocked!" The sign lists the options that are available for the removal of the flamingos.

For a $25 donation the homeowner can get the flock of flamingos off his lawn or send the bevy of birds to someone else's yard. Those who chose to "flock" another individual can decide whether they want their name known to the newly flocked homeowners.

Just beware, it can lead to a flocking war between friends.

"We have two homes who keep sending them back and forth," Anderson said.

At the moment there are four families of flamingos working their way around Marlboro. Each flock usually contains a dozen small flamingos and two large ones. One lucky family discovered two flocks of flamingos perched in their yard.

Maureen Rubin and her family were the first to host a group of birds.

"When I was coming up the street, all I saw was pink. At first I thought my husband had planted some azaleas. I knew the fundraiser was starting, but I was still surprised," Rubin laughed. "The kids are very excited about this."

Rubin's children, Alex, 13, Kate, 11, and Douglas, 9, are all on the swim team, but she said the fundraiser is not only for the families of the team members.

The Rubins paid to pass their pink flamingo friends on to a family that is involved in Marlboro Pop Warner youth football. Rubin said she did not know if that family was even aware of the swim team fundraiser. The sign that was left with the birds let them know where their temporary pets came from.

"It's fun and it's catching on," Rubin said.

People who decide they no longer want the risk of plastic flamingos landing on their lawn may pay $15 for flock insurance.

"Only two people have purchased the insurance," Anderson said.

The fundraiser is doing well, with some people actually requesting their yard be flocked, Anderson said.

Part of the money raised by the Marlins swim team will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The swim team is also raising money in the hope of having an Olympic swimmer come and run a clinic for the team.

Between the flamingo flocks and a recent swim marathon, the team has raised more than $4,000.

The flamingos will be around through August. For more information about how to surprise a friend with a flock of flamingos, call (732) 817-1482.