By Ellie Smith
Features Editor
Every year, the Westford Academy Athletic Boosters Club raises thousands of dollars through various fundraisers to provide for the sports teams at WA. Many people are unaware of how much the Boosters help to provide for the school and what the teams do with the money raised.
According to the Boosters’ website, “the Athletic Boosters Club is a non-profit organization that raises money to support the athletic programs at WA.”
With the money the Boosters raise at various events and fundraisers, the money is typically used for trophies, banners, varsity letters, awards and necessary equipment for teams. In total, about $30,000 is raised in the various fundraisers.
A main focus of the Boosters is to raise money to award deserving senior athletes with scholarships. Last year, 39 scholarships of $600 were awarded to athletes in the class of 2014. The Boosters also host the Annual Senior Athletic Banquet where the seniors are awarded their scholarships.
One of the main fundraisers the Boosters organize in order to raise money to provide student athletes with scholarships is the canister drive in early September. All fall sports teams are required to participate in the drive where athletes travel around Westford requesting donations.
“Support for our fundraisers comes from both WA parents and WA athletes. Our first fundraiser of the school year is the scholarship drive,” said Boosters President Kathy Mockler-Harris. “All fall athletes participate in ‘canning’ to raise money. We raise between $7000-8000 typically.”
In 2011, the Boosters made a significant donation of $10,000 towards the Westford Community Fields Project to contribute to the construction of the turf field recently built at WA. The money donated was raised through the “New England Patriots vs. the Westford Community” basketball game, held in June, as well as the Boosters’ annual golf tournaments.
Members of the Boosters also run the concession stand at sporting events such as football and night games in the fall, and basketball games in the winter. About $4,000 are raised per year with the snack shack.
In addition to the annual fundraisers, the Boosters are also hosting an event called the Winter Blues Party where an auction or raffle is held. The raffle usually raises about $5000 dollars.
However, the largest fundraiser is the Patriots basketball game in the spring which typically brings around $13,000.
All of the money raised is used for the benefit of the athletes and athletic programs. A specific amount is not allocated per team, instead coaches are able to submit a request for any items necessary to play a sport.
“All of the money we raise goes directly back to the students and the athletic programs,” said Mockler-Harris. “Any coach can submit a request through Dan Twomey for additional team needs that are not covered in the athletic budget. Both Billy Bombaci and Dan also make requests for things that would benefit the athletes in general.”
Although the Boosters does help provide many teams with the necessary supplies, teams also individually hold multiple fundraisers to provide for their teams.
The girls’ basketball team helps to raise their own money. With clinics for fifth to eighth grade players and a pre-season tournament for local high school teams, the team raises about $5,000 per year.
“Half of the money is used to pay for the salary of the varsity assistant coach. His salary is not covered by the school budget. The other half goes to team gear, [including] practice jerseys, tee shirts, etc. We buys some things for all three teams, and some things for just varsity and jv, and some for just varsity,” said coach Russell Coward.
Both girls’ volleyball and boys’ basketball raise several thousand dollars per year through youth clinics. The money is used for team gear and the annual banquet.
The football team also raises a portion of their own money through the Annual Alumni Golf tournament and the parent support group. The money raised is used for football supplies and gear for the players.
Field hockey raises $2,000 to $3,000 dollars per year through a youth field hockey clinic held in August in which varsity players run the skills clinic. The team also made a connection with a local restaurant where the team receives 20% off of a person’s bill if they mention WA field hockey when ordering. The money they raise is used for necessary equipment, end of year banquet, and renting indoor turf field space if their practice is rained out the day before a game.
Field hockey coach Cheri Fischer feels that fundraising is an important team bonding activity that brings the team together.
“I think fundraising is a great team bonding activity for the girls,” said Fischer. “If their parents paid for everything that would be a huge burden on their families and would not give them the ownership over the fundraising that they need to have. Fundraisers like the clinic are also a great opportunity for the girls to meet the middle school players and the incoming freshmen.”
