Luncheons spark interest in endowment fund

Sat, Oct 31, 2009    to del.icio.us

The Gene Rothi Memorial Athletic Endowment Fund sponsors have added a promotion to stimulate interest and funding for the athletic endowment fund.

Another bi-weekly luncheon will be held next Wednesday at Day's Inn. Grand Haven High School student coaches and athletes, both boys and girls participating in GHHS sports, will be featured at the event.

The luncheon is open to anyone, with food served by Longneck's restaurant. No reservations are required, "just show up," Roger Jonas said.

The cost of the lunch is $12 and $5 of that is tax-deductible.

A special thanks again goes to Wal-Mart for another $2,000 donation to the fund.

The Rothi Fund was established three years ago to provide athletic enhancements and opportunities for GHHS students. Support is given for all grade 7-12 athletic programs for boys and girls, and to increase facility usage by community residents and development of intramural programs.

"There also are recognition and award programs, and professional development for coaches included in the funding," Jonas pointed out.

In the past two years, the Rothi Fund has provided grants for soccer, football, wrestling, swimming and weight-training programs. Jonas said the larger the fund growth, more funds will be available for grants from interest money received.

The directors originally set a goal of $1 million to run a good program to help talented athletes who may not have scholarships or enough funds to participate in college sports. Presently, there is $150,000 in the fund, far short of the $1 million goal.

A talk show format is used for the luncheons with Eric Kaelin, general manager of radio station WGHN, as the moderator. It will be taped and broadcast the next day over WGHN (1370 AM).

The first luncheon featured Mike Farley, varsity head football coach at GHHS, with student Jordan Goetz; and Greg Russick, girl's cross country coach, with student Sarah Kovacs. Aaron Dean, boy's soccer coach, with student Will Morlock; and Casey Jensen, girl's swimming coach, with student Currin Hall, greeted luncheon guests at the second one.