IMA SPORTS

As anyone associated with high school athletics can tell you, fundraising might only trail grades in the classroom and preparing for games as the most important thing for a program.

With an idea of the experience he wants to provide for his players and the price tag associated with it, new Maumee girls soccer coach Matt Koop knew his team would have to generate the funds somehow. He didn’t want to go back to the parents to ask for more money, and he didn’t want to do the same old online digital fundraiser.

Instead, the Maumee girls and boys soccer programs will host their first Panthers at the Pitch Movie Night at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 2 at Kazmaier Stadium.

Tickets for the event are $10 each, and the night includes live music, games, prizes, raffles and a 50/50 drawing. The movie “Wonka” will be shown at the stadium, starting at 9:15 p.m.

“I thought this would be a great way to engage the community at large while simultaneously earning the money we need to raise,” Koop said.

The idea originally was as a benefit for the girls program, but Koop also realized hosting an event this big would take volunteers and planning. Chad Kain, the boys soccer coach, came on board to help make the evening an even bigger success.

“Once we had both programs working together to raise the money, the parents really stepped up and took things over,” Koop said. “Coach Kain and I are pretty competent at coaching soccer but admittedly not the best fundraising coordinators, so getting the parents to help plan the logistics and the players to promote and sell tickets is really what brought this to fruition.

“Now that we have the coaches, players and parents all involved in the planning and execution of this event, this promises to be a successful night and potentially the start of an annual tradition.”

The goal for the evening is to raise $15,000 between both programs. Koop said he expects several hundred people to attend.

Organizers are also looking for local business owners who would like to donate items for the silent auction. They’re also accepting monetary donations. Anyone interested in donating can contact Koop at mkoop03@gmail.com or 419-345-6338.

“Thus far, the response from the community has been fantastic,” Koop said. “We have a long way to meet our goal, but we believe that with the effort the players and parents are putting in, we will get there.”

You can purchase tickets through any Maumee High School soccer player or one of the coaches. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com