Thanks to the injection of almost $100,000 in donations in the last two months the USD #298 Track Fundraising Committee is on the precipice of reaching the $500,000 fundraising goal.
“The committee is more optimistic than ever that this project will begin construction in late spring of 2024,” committee chair John Baetz said. “In recent discussions with Sam Fisher, of Fisher Tracks, the veteran track builder said an asphalt provider in Salina has agreed to provide the all-important material for the project and a final bid should arrive at the USD #298 Board of Education office soon. He remained cautiously optimistic the final bid would not exceed the $450,000 to $500,000 range originally discussed, but noted the volatility of asphalt pricing would be the ultimate factor in the final project cost.”
The nearly three-year fundraising effort has generated just over $465,000 to date and is incredibly close to the finish line – pun intended. Donors from both inside and outside the community helped to fuel the race to $500,000.
Between June of 2021 and the end of 2022 the committee raised just over $65,000, but a $51,000 donation in January of 2023 kicked off the year in style and would signal a fantastic 2023 for the track project.
A February meeting with Sam Fisher of Fisher Tracks resulted in an estimate submission to the USD #298 Board of Education in March. The estimate helped the board and fundraising committee narrow the fundraising goal to $500,000 by the end of 2023.
The May Track-A-Thon fundraiser was another big boost to the project.
Track-A-Thon teams raised more than $15,000 from pledges to walkers and together with the donation bucket ($474.27), merchandise sales ($1,040), and proceeds from the Lincoln PTCO Concession Stand ($1,059), the final tally from the event was more than $20,000.
The nearly $100,000 generated in the past two months, coupled with generous major donations from The Bank of Tescott ($15,000), Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. ($5,000), and the Lincoln Lions Club ($5,000), along with grants from the Post Rock Community Foundation totaling $20,000, a $50,000 pledge to be paid over the next three years by an anonymous donor, the $40,000 match of Lincoln County ARPA funds, and an $80,000 injection from the City of Lincoln leaves the USD #298 Track Fundraising Committee just over $34,000 from its goal.
“The finish line is closer than ever and the list of supporters is incredible, ranging from some of the youngest members of our community to alumni who graduated decades ago and everything in-between and beyond,” Baetz noted. “The committee is just incredibly grateful for the support of this project from so many.”
For more information contact any committee member or message them on Facebook at the USD #298 Track Fundraising Committee page.
The USD #298 Track Fundraising Committee can also accept donations online at https://givebutter.com/tz4vyw.
