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Booster club hosts meet the team night
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Grace Mangapora (right) helped support the Canfield Gridiron Club’s annual Meet the Team Steak Fry fundraiser with her brother, Mason, a member of the eighth-grade football team.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Steve Angelo (left), Darrin Rhoads, Dan Sabol and Lee Benson (right), members of the Canfield Gridiron Club, served as grill masters for the club’s Meet the Team Steak Fry fundraiser Aug. 20.
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Junior year members of the Canfield High School football team conducted a punt, pass and kick contest on the football field with members of the Little Cardinals.
By ABBY SLANKER
Steaks were sizzling on the grill during the Canfield Gridiron Club’s annual Meet the Team Steak Fry fundraiser at the Canfield High School cafeteria Aug. 20.
The Canfield Gridiron Club is the parent booster club for the Canfield football teams. According to Chris Cole, president of the club, the fundraiser is the biggest of the year and proceeds help to meet the needs of the seventh-grade through varsity football programs.
The menu also included potatoes, corn, salad, cake and beverage. Kaleel Brothers donated a portion of the food.
Cole said he hoped to serve more than 800 people this year.
“This is the place to be in Canfield today,” Cole said.
Each football squad, from seventh-grade to varsity, took shifts during the dinner, including bussing and cleaning tables. Throughout the day, each team, along with their cheerleaders, were introduced to family and friends on the football field, with the varsity team being introduced at a rally at the end of the fundraiser.
Members of the varsity squad also conducted a punt, pass and kick contest on the football field with members of the Little Cardinals.
“I wanted to get the varsity members of our team interacting with the young football players,” Cole said.
Parent members of the Canfield Gridiron Club also volunteered in all aspects of the event, from working in the kitchen, to doing dishes, selling Canfield Cardinals apparel and cooking the steaks outside on the grill.
“This event is the result of the hard work and blood, sweat and tears of the parents. And we couldn’t have done it without committee chairman Joe Reinthaler,” Cole said.
A silent auction, Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle were also held. The Chinese auction included 57 baskets with donations from each football squad, cheerleaders, football families and local businesses, including Lowe’s; Trolios; Komara Jewelers; About Beauty Hair Salon; Sweet D Bites; Anzevinos, Come Stay and Play Doggie Daycare; Sheetz; DuCut/Tru Value; Adamas Jewelry and Gifts; Creekside Fitness; Farmers National Bank and Home Savings Bank.
The silent auction included such items as signed football helmets, signed photo plaques, signed mini helmets and signed jerseys.
“Redemption is the theme of this year’s football program. We had an off-year last year and we are ready to redeem ourselves. Our goal is to get from the cradle to the grave. We want to get the community involved and make this year a real fun time. Canfield football games are the largest community gathering behind the Fourth of July and the Canfield Fair. We want to get a real atmosphere going and we can use everyone’s support,” Cole said.
The varsity team’s home opener is Sept. 2 against Canton South.
The Canfield Athletic Boosters is sponsoring a Game Time Ultimate Tailgate Party at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at the St. Michael Family Life Center. The Ohio State-Nebraska football game will be shown on a giant screen.
There will also he a corn hole tournament, a 50/50 raffle, block pool, a CHS all sports raffle, LCR, “Bird Pong,“ and other “card” games. One attendee will win an iPad.
Tickets are $35 for the ultimate taligate buffet and there will be a cash bar.
Proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit all athletic programs at Canfield High School and fund the Dick Weiss Scholarships awarded annually to two scholar-athletes.
For more information, call the Canfield High School athletic office at 330-533-5341.