Passion, Focus, and the Help of Like-Minded Companions

Well, they did it.  In just over one year, a small group of passionate individuals rallied together, rolled up their sleeves, and raised over a half a million dollars to completely renovate our outdoor athletic facilities--new bleachers, scoreboard, fencing, press box, and an all-weather track.

It was February of 2010 when our Booster Club president Kim Hennigar, our AD Ron Dodd, and I met in my office and Kim said, "Yeah, we can take on this project."  From there, as committee member Troy Christiansen said, "it took off."

There were high points in the fund raising like the local bank and insurance agencies donating thousands of dollars, then a plateau, then Paul Adams donated $50,000, then another plateau, and last night at our board meeting, Guy Olson and his daughter first presented a check for $12,000 in memory of Ron Olson.  Ron was a friend of mine and a reporter for the local paper; he passed away a few years ago and our board decided recently to name the new press box after him--a fitting honor for a good man who loved N-K.

And the Worth County Development Authority--the non-profit arm of the casino--presented a check for $175,000 to the fundraising committee and the board.  With that tremendous boost, the goal of $507,000 was met and exceeded.

As I sat dumbfounded by the news, I thought back to that day over a year ago and marveled at the transformative power that any committed, future-thinking, and good-hearted group of people can harness.

It was a small group that came up with the all-weather track idea a few years ago.  It was a small group that agreed to make it happen and seek volunteers.  It was a small group that met at Signature's last spring to hear more about this idea and volunteered to help.  It was individuals and small groups that amassed over $300,000 in donations and pledges to bring us to the point we reached before last night's board meeting.

And it was the same small group who believed years ago that they could "grow Worth county" who pushed us over the top in fundraising by donating $175,000.

Dan Reeder, chair of the WCDA board, said it best when he stated, "This project drew our attention because [the Athletic Complex Committee] raised so much money on your own already, with hard work, good leadership, and effective organization.  You proved that this is a viable goal."

I was again reminded of my own belief that with passion, focus, and the help of like-minded companions who are committed as well, absolutely anything is possible.  From the math club joining together to raise $100 for the project to the family that saved $300 to put toward the project to the WCDA board that donated $175,000--together these individuals and groups of supporters made this dream a reality.  One that will benefit generations of students at Northwood-Kensett Schools.