Closing the Funding Gap
Published: November 2, 2008
As we begin the school year many of the children in the Parish also begin the ‘sports’ year. At this writing, basketball practices are in full swing, the basketball and swimming clinics are nearly completed and the boys’ championship swim team will have its first meet of the season. Many of you have or had children in the Sports Program and understand the level of commitment that the children and their parents must have (especially during basketball and swimming season). The commitment is shared by our volunteers, coaches, Sports Committee members and many of our local businesses.
The businesses that sponsor our Program help us to defray the enormous costs associated with our various sports. In the last two months alone, we have paid more than $45,000 to the New York City Department of Education. These fees cover the Swimming Program’s use of the pool at Madison High School on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. It also covers the Basketball Program’s use of the gyms at PS 207 and Marine Park Junior High School on weeknights and weekends. Once the cost of equipment, uniforms, swimsuits, lifeguards, referees and league fees are added in, the cost of these two sports alone will soar to over $75,000. By the time that Baseball, Softball and Tee Ball costs are realized, the number will top $120,000.
Last year we collected approximately $85,000 in registration fees and $4,000 in uniform/swimsuit fees from our families. The $30,000 gap was closed by several successful fundraisers that were organized by the Sports Committee and sponsored by our local businesses. The fundraisers included children’s dances, family ice skate night, apparel sales, 50/50 raffles, team pictures, team sponsorships, the 5K Race and the Golf Outing. The proceeds from the last 5K Race and Golf Outing alone exceeded $20,000. It is simply not possible to achieve this level of success without the consistent commitment of our sponsoring businesses and volunteers.
In the coming days I will be posting a list of all of our sponsors on this website at http://www.goodshepherdsports.org/?page_id=5. I ask that each of you visit the site and continue to support the businesses that support the children of our Parish.
