Newtown High School Booster Club Seeks New Members To Carry On Fundraising Tradition

By Andy Hutchison

A big part of success of the Newtown High School athletics programs — in addition to the coaches and players — is the financial support it receives from boosters. The NHS Blue and Gold Booster Club has supported the school’s many teams by raising money for everything from equipment that helps the players win championships to the school’s trophy case.

With the graduation of students, parents who have been involved in the booster club in recent years are moving on as well, creating a need for new blood in the club.

“Over the years, the Blue and Gold Booster Club has been responsible for countless wonderful contributions to the Newtown High School Athletic Department. Through all of the members’ hard work, our athletes have benefited with generous scholarships, field improvements, trophy cases, and so many other donations,” NHS Athletic Director Gregg Simon said. “Like many other support groups, Blue and Gold has been through many changes. The ‘old guard’ has moved on as their sons and daughters have graduated and it would be great if a new group of parents would take over and breathe some new life into this vital organization.”

“We really need people to come forward and take over,” added Steve Gleason, one of the boosters, ready to pass the baton.

The booster club members, including Laurel Butler, Joanne Shpunt, and Janis Solheim, who have been heavily involved in raising money in recent years say they have generated an average of roughly $20,000 each year for nearly the past decade. They have held golf tournaments, raffles, wine tastings, and many other fundraisers.

The boosters have provided yearly scholarships totaling $21,000 since 2001. They have raised $8,000 for the school hockey team which, being a club sport, is almost entirely self-funded. Among the items the boosters have responsible for in the past several years are: stadium flag pole, $2,500; gym sound system and portable system, $3,920; stadium sound system, $1,000; stadium sod, $5,750; lobby trophy case, $3,900; gym scoreboard, $2,500; swim lane line and banner, $1,575; football blocking sled, $1,600; cheerleader mats, $1,500; lacrosse nets and goal, $940; backfield benches, $1,000; cross country tent, $250.

One item that is off the plate for future boosters is staffing the Snack Shack (for which former booster president Mike Kelley is responsible) at the school.

Brian Neumeyer, the school’s boys’ soccer coach is also a culinary teacher and his department is taking over the Snack Shack duties, booster members said. The Snack Shack volunteers have helped bring in more than $10,000 a year, which benefited scholarship programs.

Prospective boosters will make decisions about new fundraising efforts and are encouraged to send an email to info@nhsblueandgold.com for information about becoming involved.