Fundraising effort for facility improvements feature personalized tiles
The Whitewater High School Soccer program, Whitewater Community Foundation and Jeff Behrens, WHS athletic director, recently announced a $30,000 fundraising campaign for the high school’s soccer complex in honor of the program’s 20th anniversary.
The focus of the fundraising campaign will be to support construction of multi purpose equipment storage, concessions and a press box building as well as other soccer facility improvements including an outdoor team classroom that will benefit the district’s student-athletes for years to come.
“The district committed $30,000 to the soccer complex and completed necessary improvements to its infra-structure, including the installation of concrete sidewalks to the field entrance, improved bleacher seating, replaced perimeter fencing and future electrical upgrades,” Behrens said.
“The soccer program will now be fundraising an additional $30,000 to enhance the teams’ facilities and do so by selling commemorative tiles to be installed on the future multi-purpose building,” he added.
The goal for raising the $30,000 is Dec. 31, with construction to begin in the spring of 2015 prior to the start of the girls season.
The WHS soccer program is working with a Wisconsin based company that specializes in gift tiles, gift bricks and fundraising. The concept of using a tile to be adhered to the proposed building is new to Whitewater and chosen because of the tile’s durability, appearance and ability to be installed on the building, thus creating a long-lasting tribute to donors.
An ideal tribute to recognize past, present and even future soccer players or just for the love of the game of soccer there will be three levels of giving by purchasing one, or more, of three types of custom engraved tiles.
The Whippet Regulation tile, a 4-inch by 8-inch tile with three lines of engraving is available for $100.
The second option, the Whippet Overtime tile, is an 8-inch by 8-inch tile with six lines of engraving for $200.
Last but not least, the Whippet Conference tile is an 8-inch by 8-inch tile with Whitewater Soccer shield logo and three lines of engraving for $300.
Individuals, organizations or companies wishing to purchase a tile may do so by visiting the program’s secure website, www.whitewatersoccer.donationbricks.com to select and create their custom, engraved tile.
On the website, there is also an option to print an order form and mail payment to Whitewater High School Soccer, 534 S. Elizabeth St., Whitewater, WI 53190.
The soccer program, in a press release announcing the fundraising effort, expressed gratefulness to the Whitewater Community Foundation for its role as the fiduciary agent of all donor funds.
Additional donor opportunities, such as corporate gifts or in-kind contributions will also be welcomed and interested parties should contact either Jeff Behrens at (262) 472-8105 or Dan McCrea at (262) 492-7978 to make such inquiries.
The beginning of soccer at Whitewater High School can be traced back to the spring of 1994 when the girls team debuted and compiled a 4-8 record under the direction of first year head coach Ken Macur.
The boys’ program, also coached by Macur, debuted the following fall and compiled a 0-10 record. Since the inaugural year of 1994 more than 230 Whitewater High School student-athletes have played at the varsity level for Whippet Soccer.
Since ach program’s inception the boys’ team has achieved three conference championships in 2006, 2008 and 2013 and two WIAA regional championships in 2009 and 2012 under the guidance of Rene Menager.
The 2014 girls’ season, coached by Ajet Dauti, was the most successful in the team’s history to date, posting a 12-6-1 record.
