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Cafaro makes large donation to Howland stadium project
By Kalea Hall
NILES
Anthony Cafaro Sr. stepped out of retirement Thursday afternoon to present a $100,000 check in support of a new Howland community stadium on behalf of the Cafaro Foundation.
“This is a small token of our involvement in, investment in, appreciation in and commitment to Trumbull County and, in particular, Howland [schools],” Cafaro said.
The donation is the largest one for the Howland Community Stadium Foundation. It will go toward the $650,000 first phase of the project that includes the replacement of the grass field with turf. A total of $400,000 has been garnered from private donors for the project, and an additional $200,000 has been pledged. The entire project is three phases and has a price tag of $1.85 million.
“We hope to start this summer and have it ready for kickoff in fall,” said Kevin Wyndham, president of the foundation and 44-year season- ticket holder for the Howland football team.
The stadium is used by not only the football team, but other sports teams, the band, physical education classes and spring sports training.
“The infrastructure, the field, the utilities are all suffering,” said Kevin Spicher, Howland superintendent. “We want it to be an arena for the community. It’s part of our vision for the future.”
Cafaro presented the check to the foundation in Center Court at the Eastwood Mall Complex with students, township officials and school officials in attendance.
He assured the crowd that although the Cafaros are associated with the city of Niles, the Cafaro Co. is a part of Howland, too. Taxes from the entire complex go to the Howland School District, and part of the complex is actually in Howland Township.
“We are extremely proud to be a part of the Howland community,” he said. The Cafaro investment in Trumbull County also can be seen with the relocation of the company headquarters that is expected to be completed by early next year. A 100-room Hampton Inn and Suites also is slated to be open next year on the site where the Eastwood Expo Center is located.