The Franklin Township Recreation Department's Franklin Thunder Basketball Program received the Ted Kaplan Exemplary Recreation Group/Team Award at the 2006 Governor's Conference for Individuals with Disabilities held at the Ramada Inn National Conference Center in East Windsor, New Jersey on Wednesday, May 24.  The awards were sponsored by the New Jersey Commission on Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities.

The Franklin Thunder Basketball Program is for children ages 8-12 with special needs that attend out-of-district schools. The program teaches the participants the basics of basketball by incorporating fun drills, guest speakers, and games.

The Franklin Thunder Basketball Program has been running for six years and is staffed entirely by volunteers. Many of the volunteers are teenage girls who play basketball on the high school level and have been involved with Recreation Department programs. Coaches John Stone and Bruce Medley have been instrumental in the success of this program.

The "Ted Kaplan Exemplary Recreation Group/Team Award" is bestowed by the Commission upon any recreation group, club or sports team (two or more individuals with disabilities) that implements a unique team activity or activities to enhance the leisure lifestyle of individuals with disabilities through recreation or sports activities.