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BRIDGETOWN - The Oak Hills Athletic Boosters have
surpassed their goal of raising money to install synthetic turf with
help from the Cincinnati Bengals and the National Football League
Youth Football Fund.
Bengals kicker Shayne Graham joined team mascot "Who Dey" and
Ben-Gals cheerleaders to present a $250,000 check Tuesday at a
student assembly at Oak Hills High School.
The grant, announced by the Bengals and the NFL Youth Football
Fund, will help to install a synthetic playing surface and
scoreboard at Dennis Betz Stadium on the Oak Hills High School
campus.
The NFL Youth Football Fund is a nonprofit foundation established
by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
It was the second major contribution in a week. John Maher, a
member of the Oak Hills Class of 1972, contributed $100,000 to the
Home Field Advantage fund Feb. 27.
Those major contributions bring the fundraising total to more
than $700,000 and set the stage for the turf to be installed by Aug
1.
When the Oak Hills Athletic Boosters started fundraising last
summer, athletic director Jan Wilking estimated that it could take
two years to raise the money.
"We have a seven-member committee who quite honestly exceeded
everybody's expectations," Wilking said. "They're phenomenal people.
It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one gets the
credit."
The project is estimated to cost $680,000. Additional money
raised will be used for other upgrades at the stadium.
"All of the funds are nonschool tax dollars. They've all been
privately raised," Wilking said.
The field will be named Rutenschroer/Maher Field, after Maher's
former head football coach, Wil Rutenschroer of Mack, and Maher's
parents, Al and Mary Jo Maher of Delhi Township. Now a home builder
in the Nashville area, Maher cited them as the major influence on
his life.
Besides football, the field will be used for track and field
events, baseball, softball, youth football programs, middle school
teams, girls' and boys' soccer practice, marching band and the
Oakettes, the school's nationally recognized drill team.
"It's such an impact for the entire athletic program to have that
first-class, first-rate facility," Wilking said.
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