FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Walkersville, MD-- On September 18th 2008, the Walkersville High School (WHS) Athletic Boosters will kick off a major capital campaign aimed at achieving a $3.6 million goal for the planned renovation of Lion’s Stadium. The timing is perfect, given that the 32 year-old stadium will be in full roar that evening for the varsity Lions ‘home opener’ football game. Financial support for the project will be raised through tax-deductible donations and sponsorship (individual, private, and corporate) in combination with various community-based fundraising activities held throughout the year. Since Lion’s Pride is also Walkersville Pride, the campaign looks forward to showing our youth, our school, and our town that ‘if we build it, everyone will come and support in some way.’
The first community-wide chances to start turning dreams of a new, true ‘field of glory’ into game-day reality will be held on every night of a ‘home’ varsity football game. Before kick-off time, the WHS Athletic Boosters are hosting a rousing pre-game fundraising party at Lion’s Stadium. Each event (from 5:30-7 p.m. on 9/18, 9/26, 10/10, 10/31, and 11/7) promises to be filled with food, games, music, and fun for the entire family. You don’t need to pay admission and you don’t need to attend the football game to join in the fun. With all proceeds benefiting the Stadium Renovation Fund, participants will not only help our Lion’s kick-off ‘home’ game-nights, but also help our Lions kick-off their fundraising drive. Planned media support (press, radio, and television) will increase the public awareness about these events.
Businesses committed to making a positive community impact have multiple ways to show their generosity, commitment, and support. Sponsors can stand out by helping Walkersville High School attain their goal through: 1) Pledging a tax-deductible financial gift, 2) Participating in the pre-game parties by being a featured vendor, and 3) Donating goods, services, or time to this and/or other future stadium fundraising events.
Lion’s Stadium, which opened in 1976, currently faces mounting maintenance and repair issues, in addition to the functional shortcomings inherent in an aging, outdated facility. The renovation plan is to comprehensively transform the stadium into a premier multi-use facility for both school and community events. By making such changes as new, expanded grandstand seating, synthetic turf, and the school’s first field house, the design will greatly improve overall safety and comfort, increase year-round/all-weather usability, provide proper facilities for 16 different men's and women's teams, and offer fans an enhanced game-day experience like none before. The Frederick County Board of Education, however, cannot fund the needed changes.
The WHS Athletic Boosters is a volunteer, non-profit, hardworking organization formed to support all athletic programs at Walkersville High School. All parents with students who participate in WHS athletics automatically become a booster member. 100% of their fundraising efforts go to providing much-needed equipment, scholarships, transportation, and facilities that are regularly used by our teams and fans. Now they have a stadium to rebuild!
Phil Shortt, President of the WHS Athletic Boosters, provided perspective: “We want to create a place where memories can be shared by athletes, students, fans, and the community. Memories that will be cherished forever. We want to give our kids an athletic complex that will be remembered, not because of poor conditions but, for the celebration of victory on a field of glory.“
For more information from the WHS Athletic Boosters, click here.