Elkville-Trico Little League Football Night Raises $7,600
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Saturday's "Made in America" fundraiser at the Elkville Community Center raised $7,600, banking enough money to launch the first ever Elkville-Trico little league football program on Feb. 28.
Program spokesman Robert Cavitt was overwhelmed by the response. Organizers thought their $4,000 goal would be a challenge. Landing $7,600 was like a touchdown on kickoff.
Everything sold at the live and silent auctions was made in the U.S.A.
Cavitt said he got on the ABC World News with Diane Sawyer website which has a list of Made in America companies.
He got over 50 companies to donate items to the auction.
The goal is to start the Elkville area's first little league football team for kids 10 to 14 years old and to reverse poor football records in the high school program.
Coach Zach Schumacher said kids entering high school football are excited but have no experience and lack confidence. He hopes the little league program changes that.
Approximately $4,000 has already been spent on equipment, but another $3,000 was needed. All told, the league now has about $10,000 in the bank.
Cavitt said parents in both the Trico and Elverado districts have given generously.
"We won one game last year, the first game of the year, the first time in 23 years," said Cavitt.
He said everyone was so excited by that win it inspired he and Schumacher to launch the little league program.
Participation in the trivia game cost $100 for a table of up to 10 people. The live auction began at 8 p.m.
A stainless steel smoker valued at $700 brought $450. A butcher block table valued at $650 sold for $300. A 10-gun storage cabinet valued at $400 sold for $225. Byron Wink donated a picnic table. Jack Harris donated an original piece of artwork. A total of over 60 items Made in America were donated to the auction.
Doerr Auction Service donated its time to the evening.
The flag football season starts Feb. 28. Practice for the tackle season begins in July.
For more information on the Little League football team or to sign up your child, contact Zach Schumacher at 618-521-9909.