August 19, 2011— The Elizabethtown Boys Club recently pledged $50,000 to the Elizabethtown Area Education Foundation’s Investing in Our Children, Our Community, Our Future Capital Campaign. The campaign has a goal of $3,700,000 and was launched to improve the Elizabethtown Area School District’s outdoor athletic fields.

Presenting the check were John Fosnot, Teresa Lonardi, and Paula Rehrer. Accepting the check on behalf of the campaign were Kevin Dolan and Joseph Murphy, campaign chairs. The check was presented at a special ceremony held to kick off the capital campaign.

“The Elizabethtown Boys Club believes strongly that providing our youth with quality and safe recreational programs is important so that they have a positive and lasting impact,” said Spencer Heisey, President of the Elizabethtown Boys Club. “Our pledge to this campaign demonstrates our commitment to the Elizabethtown School District and believes in this initiative and the value that it will add to our community. We have been planning and saving for this project for over ten years with our Annual Bowl-a-rama event. We encourage other community groups and individuals to follow our lead and make a pledge to this valuable and much needed community project.”

The cornerstone of the campaign is the goal of improving the athletic experience for all district students and to provide opportunities for a healthier, more active lifestyle to the greater Elizabethtown community. The campaign funds will be used to install synthetic turf on two fields (Thompson Field and Jane Hoover Field), repair the track and field complex, and replace the tennis courts. The much needed upgrades will help to ensure the fields are safe and accessible to not only district programs but also the many community groups like GEARS and the Boys Club that regularly use them.

The foundation is spearheading the campaign so that private contributions will be used to improve school district athletic facilities with no impact on the district’s millage rate. Chairing the campaign in addition to Dolan and Murphy are Barbara Andrews and Robert Enck. Honorary chairs include Jack Cassebaum, Phil Daubert, Gene Garber, Jane Hoover, and Richard Miller.

Helping with the campaign are nearly 50 community volunteers that are committed to ensuring the $3.7 million goal is achieved. Contributions to the campaign are tax deductible. For more information on the campaign, contact Troy Portser, secretary for the Elizabethtown Area Education Foundation board of directors, at troy_portser@etownschools.org or (717) 367-1521, ext. 1024.

The Elizabethtown Boys Club (EBC) was founded in 1953 as a nonprofit youth sports activities organization. EBC’s goal is to provide access to affordable, quality programs and initiatives that will enable the youth of Elizabethtown and the surrounding communities to grow and mature into productive members of our community, better students, friends and teammates.

The foundation formed in 1989 to provide scholarship opportunities for deserving Elizabethtown Area High School graduates. Over the years, the foundation has evolved to support more than just graduating seniors. The foundation now secures funding and awards monies that enrich and enhance learning in the district.