Group wants 365 reasons to like NJ

EAST BRUNSWICK - You may prefer the miles of white sandy beaches along the Jersey Shore or the mountainous region in the northwestern part of the state.

Maybe you like the quaint eateries in the central part of the state. There may be another reason you enjoy calling New Jersey home. That reason could make you a winner.

Celebrate NJ, a grassroots effort to bring pride to the Garden State, is launching its "365 Reasons to Celebrate New Jersey Campaign." The contest began Tuesday and is open to the public. Details were announced during a press conference at the East Brunswick Hilton attended by Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

"New Jersey is full of wonderful, interesting people as well as beautiful, diverse places," said Karen Hatcher, president of Celebrate NJ. "There are a variety of reasons to feel good about living here. When you feel good about where you live, you feel good about yourself and you tend to take care of what you appreciate. On the surface, this campaign is a fun way to create a positive conversation. It can also connect us in a powerful way to each other and to this place we call home. That's definitely a reason to celebrate."

The idea behind the campaign is to get New Jersey residents thinking about why they love New Jersey, whether it's a place, an event, a community or even a person, organizers said. Those who participate must describe it in 25 words or less. If their reason is chosen as a winner, it could be posted on a billboard sometime next year.

To participate, visit www.celebratenj.org before Nov. 30. The best 365 reasons will be published as part of an advertising and media campaign that will take place on billboards across the state and through radio, television and newspaper advertisements.

A select number of entries will be chosen to participate in feature stories for various publications in New Jersey.