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CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. The Chappaqua Turf Committee (TCTC) will be taking its fund-raising to the next level after setting a firm September deadline to begin the process of installing the field at Horace Greeley High School.
The non-profit organization will need to reach $1.2 million in donations in order to have the field ready by next spring, said Jim Nottingham, TCTC member and Greeley Sports Boosters chair. The group has raised more than $800,000 in donations from 175 families.
To hit the mark in the next 10 weeks, TCTC has hired a professional fund-raiser to help focus its efforts. The group believes it missed many fund-raising opportunities during the school year and may begin holding golf outings, car washes, dinners, and more.
"We have so many ideas sometimes it's hard to chase them all down," said TCTC member Jeff Scheine.
Scheine said the focus for the group going forward will also include spreading awareness and debunking misconceptions people have about the field. He said many believe the field will only be used by the football team, but said it will be open to other male and female sports as well.
TCTC members believe they have not done a good enough job reaching the community outside of the school's varsity sports programs, and hope to make the field a true community collaboration.
"We would love to have it paid for by 500 families ... , Scheine said.
TCTC will begin holding public meetings more often in order to get the community involved. The group held an informational meeting Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Horace Greeley academic commons, and will meet at the same time and place on July 2. Nottingham said the meetings will have no set agendas and will take any questions from the public.
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