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Gridiron Club sponsors ‘Meet the Team’
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the eighth-grade football team prepared for their shift at the Canfield Gridiron Club’s annual Meet the Team steak fry fundraiser on Aug. 18. Proceeds from this funraiser went to supporting all teams in the Canfield football program.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Steve Angelo (left) and Brian Kesner (right), members of the Canfield Gridiron Club, served and grilled up some steaks for the club’s Meet the Team steak fry fundraiser on Aug. 18 at the Canfield High School cafeteria.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The eighth-grade football cheer squad attended the Canfield Gridiron Club’s annual Meet the Team steak fry fundraiser on Aug. 18 to show their suppot of the football program and the Canfield football players.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Chris Cole, president of the Canfield Gridiron Club, put in his bid at the silent auction for autographed Tom Brady game shoes at the club’s annual Meet the Team steak fry fundraiser on Aug. 18.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield Gridiron Club fired up the grill for its fourth annual “Meet the Team” steak fry fundraiser in the Canfield High School cafeteria Aug. 18. The Canfield Gridiron Club is the parent booster club for the Canfield football teams.
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.
According to Chris Cole, president of the Canfield Gridiron Club, the fundraiser is the club’s biggest of the year and proceeds help to meet the needs of the seventh-grade through varsity football programs.
The menu included steak, potatoes, corn, salad, cake and beverage. Kaleel Brothers donated a portion of the food.
Cole said he expected to serve 1,000 people this year.
“We are very appreciative of the community‘s support,” Cole said.
Members of the varsity squad also conducted a punt, pass and kick contest on the football field with members of the Little Cardinals.
“We wanted to have our entire Canfield football program involved, from top to bottom,” Cole said.
Parent members of the Canfield Gridiron Club also volunteered in all aspects of the fundraiser.
“Our parent volunteers are phenomenal. They are in the kitchen preparing and cooking all morning. They also did a great job with the silent auction and Chinese auction,” Cole said.
A silent auction, Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle were also available. The Chinese auction included more than 60 baskets with donations from each football squad, cheerleaders, football families and local businesses. Attendees had a chance to win a variety of items, including a basket of gift cards, a gas grill, autographed photographs, Canfield Cardinals spirit wear, an autographed Dane Sanzenbacher Ohio State jersey and a 37-inch flat screen TV.
The silent auction included such items as an autographed Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins jersey, autographed Tom Brady game shoes, an autographed Rob Gronkowski New England Partiots jersey, a Lebron James Upper Deck authentic autographed Olympic jersey, an autographed Jerry Rice jersey and a Josh Cribbs autographed jersey.
“The community really stepped up to help us with both the silent auction and Chinese auction. It was just incredible. As a result, we were able to offer some amazing items,” Cole said.
Commitment is the theme of this year’s football program.
“We want to bring people together this year at the football games. That builds community and we want the entire football experience, from tailgating to watching the games, to be fun for the whole community. From the Little Cardinals to the team members to alumni, we are one big family. Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal.“ Cole said.