The USD #298 Track Fundraising Committee got a big boost from an anonymous donor when a $25,000 injection of cash was received by committee treasurer Jim Metz early last week.
“After hitting what seemed like a bit of a plateau a couple months back members of the committee were finally able to kind of relaunch our efforts heading into the fourth quarter of 2023 and the coverage ahead of last week’s concession stand at the junior high volleyball tournament generated significant interest in the project,” Metz said. “After following the progress on the fundraising thus far, a person with ties to the community reached out and pledged $25,000 to the project and delivered the money just a couple days later.”
The committee’s concession stand at the junior high league volleyball tournament was also a considerable success, grossing just over $1,700 thanks to the sale of dozens of hot dogs, Sloppy Joe’s, Frito pies and more. Adding to the success of the concession stand was the donation of food and supplies from the Bank of Tescott, Citizens State Bank & Trust Co., Steve and Marion McReynolds, Deb Smith at Mity Mart, and Renee Crenshaw, along with help serving food from volunteers like Becky Rathbun, Sara Rosebrook, Mariann Padayo, and members of the fundraising committee. Additionally, several customers at the stand made additional donations of cash to bolster the total raised.
“The concession stand’s proceeds, a recent donation of $500, together with the $25,000 anonymous donation now puts the total funds
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raised at $395,359.52,” Metz said. “While there’s just over two months left in 2023 the committee remains very optimistic the $500,000 goal can be reached by the end of the year.”
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 foreshadow a fantastic 2023 for the track project.
A February meeting with Sam Fisher of Fisher Tracks resulted in a bid submission to the USD #298 Board of Education in March. Board acceptance of the bid in April helped narrow the committee’s 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.
Together with generous major donations from the The Bank of Tescott ($15,000), Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. ($5,000 in 2023), and the Lincoln Lions Club ($5,000), grants from the Post Rock Community Foundation, along with a $50,000 pledge to be paid over the next three years by an anonymous donor, coupled with committee members reaching the $80,000 goal to generate a $40,000 match of Lincoln County ARPA funds, and an $80,000 injection from the City of Lincoln, the track renovation fundraising effort heads into the home stretch with nearly $400,000 in cash and pledges.
“The process has been inspiring,” committee chair John Baetz said. “People continue to come forward wanting to preserve the track for future generations. It’s very gratifying to see how many people care about maintaining this important facility.”
For more information contact any committee member or message us 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.
