In an attempt to meet a gap of more than $70,000, Save Our Athletic Programs, a nonprofit organization that raises money for high school sports within the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, is again reaching out to businesses and individuals. The group, which began last summer, said earlier this week they are at the half-way point to meeting their goal.
“The school district has committed to having these sports, so whether or not we raise the money, the district is going to have to pay these bills, but that’s not fair to the district,” said Sharon Dunlap, chairwoman.
Dunlap said that the school district would have cancelled sports altogether this school year, but instead kept it going with the help of SOAP, hoping the community would come together to raise the money needed.
Find out what's happening in Suisun Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Additionally, the district gave its sports programs a donation at the beginning of the year that was, at the time, very helpful. Dunlap said that people saw that the school district helped, however, and donations went down considerably thereafter.
“When the district gave us the one time money, it gave the community the impression that the district had the money for sports, but that was not the case,” Dunlap said.
Find out what's happening in Suisun Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Dunlap added that if each family in Fairfield and Suisun came together and donated $20, SOAP would meet their goal each year. Still, she stays enthusiastic and determined that SOAP will meet its goal.
“As long as we have some ideas, as long as we have people that keep showing up, we’re going to keep trying,” said Dunlap.
SOAP’s next big event will be a Golf Tournament on April 2. SOAP plans to send letters to businesses as well, encouraging sponsorship of holes on the golf course or donations to support the 144 players the tournament hopes to include.
SOAP member Gail Wilson said that businesses that help keep sports in the district, help themselves as well. Wilson, whose son plays football and baseball at Armijo High School, said that families are more likely to move to communities that offer sports programs, so when sports go, so will the families.
“We’re just not going to get the families to move here to Fairfield, some families will be moving out, and we want it to be a desirable place for people to shop and do their business,” said Wilson
Wilson said that her son has played sports all four years that he has attended Armijo, and is currently a senior. She is deeply vested in making the same opportunities that were available to her son, available to others.
“I’ve benefited from this program, that’s why I’m here and why I believe so strongly in it,” said Wilson.
Wilson said that monetary donations will be extremely helpful to the program. To make a donation, send it to: Save Our Athletic Programs, 2490 Hilborn Rd., Fairfield, CA 94534.
For more information about SOAP, including their upcoming golf tournament on April 2, call Sharon Dunlap at 707-548-5974.
