The
DigitalSports High School High School Booster Club having been around for
several years was formed to raise money for the school's athletic teams and
sports clubs.
Today,
in addition, it supports the school’s activities and all of the clubs.
The goal
of the club is to be a support group for all of the student activities on
campus. President, Michele Laase, became involved with the Booster Club 6 years
ago when her daughter started playing soccer. Even though she doesn't have any
of children active in sports today, she remains a strong supporter and active
leader of the Booster Club.
The committee members and board meet monthly year
round, working very hard to give their support.
Even with all the hard work
Michele has put in for the club she gives the success of the club to the
committee members, "The women on the committee work so hard all year long,
even with their kids graduating they are still working hard."
The Booster
Club is able to raise around $10,000 to $20,000 a year with the money going
towards medical supplies, plaques and trophies, banquets, and stipends for
coaches and assistant coaches as well as many other uses.
Even with their great
successes the Booster Club is in need of support from the parents. "It is
difficult to get the parents involved with the high school, you don't see the
support in high school as you do for elementary school" says Michele
Laase, "If we could see the parents of the 600 athletes to show up at our
functions, even half of them, we would love to see them show their support."
With about 2,100 students, 600+ athletes and hundreds of students involved with
the High School there are only about 175 parents who are members of the booster
club.
"We aren't even sure if the parents of those students in the school even
know that the booster club is there to support them" said Michele, who
would like to see better collaboration and organization between the parent
support groups in the school and the booster club.
With over $400,000 in budget
cuts this year, and potentially up to $900,000 between the next two school
years, the need for support of the Booster Club is greater than ever. And the
drive for the working so hard comes down to the helping out the students as
Michele stated "The kids that are involved in the after-school programs
are just great."
