History of the Red Raider Booster Club

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The Harvey Athletic Boosters Club work with the Board of Education, superintendent, principals, teachers, and students in promoting and developing any and all undertakings for the betterment of the Painesville City Schools and its students (including but not limited to athletics).

The Red Raider Booster Club, a 501 (c) (3) entity, was established in 1976 to raise money for student athletes at Harvey High School and Walnut/Hobart/Heritage Middle School. The main source of fundraising was a weekly bingo game.

From 1976 until 2012 weekly bingo game raised well in excess of $1,000,000. The money raised went to pay for athletic equipment, uniforms, pre-game meals, trophies, banquets and coaching clinics, a four-year $1,000 college scholarship and various other items needed to run athletics in the district.

Also, this fundraising kept the district from implementing any “Pay to Participate Fees’ for the student athletes. In addition to these items the booster club raised in excess of $300,000 that was donated back to Painesville City Local Schools so the district could build a mezzanine in the gymnasium for the new Harvey High School.

In 2012 Harvey Booster Club made the decision to close the bingo game. Several factors weighed into this decision. From 2003 through 2005 the bingo profit was in excess of $100,000 but was showing a steady decline of around 20% during that time period.

From 2006 until 2012 the bingo profits never exceeded $100,000 and the boosters showed a decline every year with the most significant decline being 60% in one year. The last year the bingo game was open, 2011-2012, the boosters netted just over $6,000 in a 50-week schedule. This equates to around a $100 per week bingo profit. The main reason for this decline in bingo revenue was from the rise of the Internet Sweepstake Stores and the opening of the casino in Erie, PA followed by the casino here in Cleveland.

In 2012, the boosters made the decision to look at other fundraising opportunities. The boosters just completed the 10th Annual Reverse Raffle. The projected net profit from this event will be around $15,000. We also depend on money donated from our sponsors who make a one or two year committment to our student athletes.

All of this money will go directly back to the athletic department to continue to purchase the necessary items to keep the athletic programs running.

The Painesville City Local School District is a very diverse, unlike any other district in Lake County. The district consists of 70 percent minority students as well as an 88.5 percent Economically Disadvantage Rating by the Ohio Department of Education.

Without the support of the booster club and the generous contributions of the event sponsors, the student athletes would lack the required equipment they need to compete without paying a significant “pay to participate fee” that would be extremely cost prohibitive for the families of the district’s athletes.

We love and appreciate your financial support, but we’d also welcome your involvement. If you are interested in helping in any of the following projects, please fill out the information on our “contact us” tab and in the subject line indicate the area you would like to help out in.