Hopewell Baseball
The Benefits of Supporting Sports Organizations and Booster Clubs
Fundraising and Booster Clubs are essential in today’s high school/youth sports.
I realize that some of you might get tired of getting asked to buy hoagies, candles, chocolates, etc. but please consider the big picture and why it’s being done.
These particular sports organizations or high school teams aren’t independently wealthy and in today’s climate, aren’t getting much support from the school district so they need to do whatever they can to raise money.
Case in point, the Hopewell High School baseball team.
I’m sure over the last couple of days, you might have noticed that parents with players on the varsity and junior high teams have begun to let you know on Facebook about the yearly Night at the Races, which is presented by the Hopewell HS Baseball Boosters.
In all transparency, yes, I do have a son that is a member of the Hopewell baseball team. However, it goes beyond that, and I’d like to take this time to explain why and hopefully you’ll get a better understanding of why all of this is done and more importantly, why it’s important to lend your support.
While most of this can be said about all of these different organizations and booster clubs, I’m going to speak on behalf of the Hopewell HS Baseball Boosters.
The sole purpose of this organization is to make Hopewell baseball better now and in the future. 100% of the money raised goes towards the players in some fashion. Let me repeat that- 100%.
It’s not only used for the current team on things such as meals, clothing, equipment, gifts for seniors, but also for crucial items such as field upgrade, field maintenance, facility items such as batting cages, pitching machines, etc.
Equipment and items around the field don’t last forever and need replaced. So or later things needed replaced or redone, therefore, money needs to be raised in some fashion and that’s why the booster clubs are so crucial.
Hopewell has one of the best and most successful programs in the WPIAL and one of the reasons for that is the pride that people the program have to make baseball the best it can be and to put the players in the best position possible to win.
This goes for any team in any sport, if an investment isn’t made into maintaining it and making it the best it can be, the chances of them succeeding and winning aren’t good.
Hopewell High School baseball has enjoyed success because of the commitment many people have shown to maintain its excellence.
Over the next couple of months, you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot about the Night at the Race. Reason for that is that event is the baseball programs biggest fundraiser of the calendar year.
Frankly, this event is the motor for the programs fundraising and gives them the ability to not only take care of the 2024 but for teams in the future.
In order to let you see how important this event and others that go on are, here is what just some of last year’s money raised went towards. Although there are others, I’ll zero in on the team expenses.
JUST SOME OF LAST YEAR’S HOPEWELL HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM EXPENSES:
Indoor Batting Cage: $4,730.00
Jackets: $516.30
Team Apparel: $2,889.00
Bat Bags for new team members: $866.61
Winter Workouts: $800.00
Junior High T-Shirt/Hoodies: $401.00
In Total: Team Expenses Totaled $12,036.86
I can list more expenses that that team incurs during a calendar year, but I think you get the point, running a team is expensive, especially when you don’t have money coming in.
So please, keep this in mind for this upcoming Night at the Races or when any child is looking to sell something. They’re not asking you to buy something because just for the fun of it, they’re doing so because it’s crucial for them and for other teams in the future.
Thanks for reading this rant (LOL) but seriously, if you’re finances allow you to, support these carries clubs and teams when necessary. It strengths the program, allows them to win and as we all know, ‘Winning is Fun’.
