Transporting and setting up a temporary stage, an acoustical shell and a top-quality outdoor speaker system — not to mention the entire corps of Philharmonic musicians — to and from half a dozen outdoor venues around the New York region is an expensive undertaking, and one whose costs are not fully covered by local government.

To help support the Concerts in the Parks, the Starr Foundation has given the Philharmonic a $250,000, two-for-one challenge grant — and now the orchestra is looking to the public to help meet that challenge.

Donations of any amount are warmly welcomed, and in special appreciation for gifts of $250 or more (here's where the "give you a seat" part comes in), the Philharmonic will reserve a pair of seats for the donor in the VIP seating area for the Central Park concert, conducted by Andrew Davis with guest soprano Measha Brueggergosman, on July 17.

A complete schedule of the New York Philharmonic's 2007 Concerts in the Parks, which include performances in all five boroughs of New York City and on Long Island, is available here. To help the orchestra meet the challenge grant for this summer's park concerts, visit this page at the Philharmonic's web site, www.nyphil.org.