Sponsorship Terms & Conditions

Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival Gingerbread House Contest
Presented by Suffolk Lodge No. 60, Free & Accepted Masons

Effective for the 2026 Gingerbread House Contest

These Sponsorship Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) apply to sponsorships of the Gingerbread House Contest presented by Suffolk Lodge No. 60, Free & Accepted Masons (“Suffolk Lodge” or the “Lodge”). By purchasing or otherwise committing to a sponsorship, the sponsor (“Sponsor”) agrees to these Terms.

1. Sponsorship Benefits

Sponsorship benefits are based on the sponsorship level selected and generally include recognition on some combination of event displays, the Gingerbread House Contest website, social media, printed materials, event publications, tickets, or other promotional materials as described on the sponsorship page at the time of purchase.

Descriptions such as “standard,” “enhanced,” “prominent,” “featured,” “largest,” or similar terms describe the relative level of recognition among sponsors and do not guarantee specific dimensions, positioning, frequency, duration, or placement.

Suffolk Lodge reserves reasonable discretion over the design, size, format, location, timing, and presentation of all sponsor recognition.

2. Sponsor Information & Logos

Sponsors are responsible for providing accurate names, logos, artwork, links, and other requested materials in a timely manner and in a usable format.

Suffolk Lodge may resize, crop, reformat, or make minor adjustments to submitted materials as reasonably necessary for display or publication.

By providing a business name, logo, trademark, or other material, Sponsor represents that it has the right to use it and grants Suffolk Lodge permission to use it solely for purposes related to recognizing and promoting the Sponsor's participation in the Gingerbread House Contest.

3. Deadlines & Late Sponsorships

Sponsors must provide required information and artwork by any published or communicated deadlines to receive all benefits associated with their sponsorship level.

Sponsorships received after a production, printing, publication, or promotional deadline are welcome, but Suffolk Lodge cannot guarantee inclusion in materials that have already been produced, ordered, published, or scheduled.

4. Appropriate Sponsorships

Suffolk Lodge reserves the right to decline or cancel a sponsorship if, in its reasonable judgment, the Sponsor, its materials, or the proposed recognition is inappropriate for a family-oriented community event, conflicts with the values or reputation of Suffolk Lodge or Freemasonry, or could reasonably create confusion regarding the Lodge's endorsement of a product, service, political position, or other cause.

If Suffolk Lodge declines a sponsorship before providing material sponsorship benefits, the sponsorship payment will be refunded.

Sponsor recognition does not constitute an endorsement by Suffolk Lodge No. 60, the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York, the Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival, or any charitable beneficiary.

5. Exclusive Presenting Sponsorship

The Exclusive Community Presenting Sponsor level is limited to one Sponsor and is available on a first-confirmed, first-served basis.

“Presenting Sponsor” or similar recognition identifies the Sponsor as a supporter of the event. The Gingerbread House Contest remains organized and presented by Suffolk Lodge No. 60, Free & Accepted Masons, unless expressly stated otherwise by the Lodge.

6. No Guarantee of Attendance or Advertising Results

Suffolk Lodge may provide reasonable estimates or descriptions of historical attendance, community reach, website exposure, or social-media activity for informational purposes.

Sponsorship does not guarantee any particular attendance, impressions, views, clicks, sales, leads, publicity, media coverage, or other commercial result.

7. Event Changes or Cancellation

Event schedules, activities, locations, recognition methods, and other details may be changed when reasonably necessary because of weather, safety concerns, government requirements, circumstances beyond the Lodge's control, or other operational needs.

If the event is postponed, modified, or canceled, Suffolk Lodge may provide substantially similar sponsor recognition through available event, website, social-media, or other channels when reasonably practical.

8. Payments & Refunds

Except where Suffolk Lodge declines a sponsorship under Section 4, sponsorship payments are generally non-refundable once sponsor recognition, advertising, printing, promotion, tickets, or other sponsorship benefits have begun or been provided.

Any refund or accommodation in other circumstances is at Suffolk Lodge's reasonable discretion.

9. Charitable Giving & Tax Treatment

Sponsorship payments support the Gingerbread House Contest and related activities of Suffolk Lodge No. 60. A portion of proceeds from the Gingerbread House Contest will benefit Welcome Friends Soup Kitchen in Port Jefferson Station.

Suffolk Lodge No. 60 F.&A.M. is a 501(c)(10) organization. Sponsorship payments and contributions to the Lodge should not be assumed to be tax-deductible as charitable contributions. Sponsors should consult their own tax adviser regarding the treatment of sponsorship or advertising expenses.

10. Limitation of Responsibility

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Suffolk Lodge is not responsible for indirect, incidental, consequential, or lost-profit damages arising from a sponsorship or the Sponsor's participation in the program.

Suffolk Lodge's total liability relating to a sponsorship will not exceed the amount actually paid by the Sponsor for that sponsorship.

11. Questions

Questions regarding sponsorships, artwork, recognition, or these Terms may be directed to:

registrar@gingerbread-contest.com

Additional program information is available at:

gingerbread-contest.com

By purchasing or accepting a sponsorship, Sponsor acknowledges that it has reviewed and agrees to these Sponsorship Terms & Conditions.