5:10-6.5 Findings, determinations relative to establishment of New Jersey Hall of Fame.

2. The Legislature finds and determines that:

a. New Jersey has given rise to many nationally and internationally known leaders in many diverse areas including the visual and performing arts, music, literature, science, education, sports, entertainment, business, religion, government, military and philanthropy;

b. While the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame has taken the lead during the past twenty years in honoring many New Jersey athletes who have distinguished themselves in the world of sports, it is entirely fitting and proper to establish a broader-based hall of fame project that would allow the State to promote the accomplishments of such individuals who have excelled in many different fields of endeavor in addition to sports;

c. Other states including South Carolina and South Dakota have successfully established and operated their own hall of fame projects for over 30 years and have utilized such projects to not only improve their state's image but to also raise millions of dollars for their respective halls of fame;

d. It is therefore in the public interest for this State to publicly recognize the unique achievements of outstanding New Jerseyans from many diverse fields through the creation of a New Jersey Hall of Fame in order to honor outstanding persons from New Jersey for their contributions in many different fields of endeavor, and to utilize revenues obtained from the New Jersey Hall of Fame events and ceremonies to support the funding of the New Jersey Hall of Fame and to contribute to charitable organizations that directly benefit children in need in New Jersey and throughout the world.

L.2005,c.232,s.2.