In order to help offset impending budget cuts, the Balers
Backers Athletic Organization donated a check for $40,000 to the
San Benito High Athletic Department last Saturday at the annual
Baler Summer Nights fundraising event at San Juan Oaks Golf
Club.
HOLLISTER
In order to help offset impending budget cuts, the Balers Backers Athletic Organization donated a check for $40,000 to the San Benito High Athletic Department last Saturday at the annual Baler Summer Nights fundraising event at San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
“We worked really hard the last couple of years to get that for the athletic department,” said Kristen Para, vice president of the Baler Backers. “We’re really glad we could contribute.”
Although it falls short of the $100,000 hole the athletic department is in, the Balers Backers’ donation last Saturday certainly filled in a sizable chunk of the void.
However, Athletic Director Tod Thatcher said in August that if additional funds aren’t raised within the upcoming months, a cut of $100,000 could mean a cut to all freshmen sports at the high school as well as a significant cut to junior varsity sports.
With the $100,000 cut from the district’s contribution toward athletics part of a larger, $1.8 million districtwide cut announced earlier this year, Para said the Balers Backers were glad to help in the donation process, even if the organization’s initial purpose was to help pay for those “above and beyond” items for the school’s 23 athletic programs.
The organization has already announced its next fundraising venture. Teaming up with the Tiffany Ford dealership in October, the Balers Backers will host “Drive for Ford” at the high school, a fundraising effort that will generate donations based on the amount of people who test drive a Ford vehicle.
The Balers Backers will have a booth at the San Benito County Fair from Oct. 1-3 promoting the event.
Summer Nights, a dinner-and-dancing event that included a meal, no-host bar, a silent and live auction and raffles throughout the evening, is considered the Baler Backers’ largest fundraiser of the year.
The night had a “Hollywood Glamour” theme, with celebrity look-a-likes and paparazzi leading into the event, the latter of which were over-excited members of the Associated Student Body.
“It was a good event, to not have to worry about budget cuts and just have a good time,” Para said.
