The Spencerport Sports Booster Club (SSBC) is made up of parents who believe in supporting their children's sporting activities. This club is led by a five person board and hundreds of parents who have given their time working at concession stands during sporting events, fundraising and volunteering their time for a specific sport and for all Spencerport Central Schools (SCS) sports. A few of these volunteers, Jim Sformo, Barb Strine, Keith Rich and Chuck Pennica, have worked diligently in support of the Spencerport Sports Booster Club (SSBC). Sformo has spent the last year completing the interior construction of the concession stands and restrooms at the district's football and soccer stadiums and the ticket booth at the soccer stadium. According to John Pelin, athletic director for Spencerport Central Schools, Sformo's volunteer work has, "Gone above and beyond any expectations we had and he is truly amazing." The exterior construction of these buildings was completed as part of the district capital improvement project, Pelin said. "The exterior of these structures were finished and the Booster Club took on the responsibility of finishing the buildings. Jim took the bull by the horns and coordinated this project, completing most of the work by himself," said Pelin. Sformo's commitment to Spencerport Central Schools and school sports runs deep. He graduated from Spencerport High School in 1977. During his high school years, he played soccer, ran track, and was a member of the high school volleyball and ski clubs. His involvement with sports continued after his high school years, "I coached soccer while I was in college. It was and still is fun to see the kids grow and learn," said Sformo. Six years ago, Sformo and his wife, Janet, along with a group of seven other families, were instrumental in raising funds to introduce boys' lacrosse in the Spencerport sports program. "Our son, Cameron, was playing recreational lacrosse in Chili with other boys from the Spencerport area. The boys wanted the opportunity to play lacrosse in middle and high school. Cameron and his friends went to Mr. Pelin and asked permission to form a team. The boys spoke before the Spencerport School Board and in 2001 were granted permission to start a club but we were required to raise the start up funds for this team," Janet Sformo said. And so began a $75,000 campaign to bring boys lacrosse to Spencerport. Funds were needed to pay for uniforms, transportation, referees and coaches' salaries. "Our first fundraiser was a donut sale held in the village of Spencerport. We ordered 800 dozen donuts and I stayed up all night worrying about how we were going to sell all those donuts," said Janet. "The vans were bursting with donuts, but we sold them all!," said Jim. Other fundraising activities included umbrella sales and lacrosse clinics with professional lacrosse player Tim Soudan. "Some of the varsity lacrosse players from the last school year started out in our clinics and now they are playing lacrosse in college," said Jim. The fundraising continued until the district fully funded the lacrosse program during the 2005-2006 school years. Last year, with the lacrosse fundraising project coming to a close, Jim was asked by the Spencerport Sports Booster Club to lend a hand with the concession booth construction project. He is modest about his contributions. "I just wanted to get it done. I have a passion for woodworking and projects," Jim said. He applauds the efforts of other Spencerport parents, Pat Tata and Dan Englert, for their work completing the plumbing and installation of the grill hood at the football stadium concession stand. The project is near completion. "The plan is that all the projects will be completed by the end of 2006 and be ready for the spring 2007 sports season," Jim said. Barb Strine, booster club treasurer, praises Jim's efforts. "During the lacrosse season, Jim would single-handedly open the concession stand and cook and work for the benefit of the kids. He has helped during many, many soccer games cooking and selling. He has worked tirelessly to get the interior of the football concession stand completed," Strine said. Giving back to the school community Pelin describes Strine as, "A very strong advocate for athletics in SCS." Strine also worked for ten years at SCS as a secretary at Cosgrove Middle School and for six years as a secretary for Pelin in the Spencerport athletic department. When asked why she continues to give her time regardless of the fact that her children have all graduated from school, her reply is simple. "I've always loved sports. My father, Jim Griffin, was one of the founders of the Gates Little League. Sports were ingrained into our family. My parents taught me to give back to the community and so by volunteering with the Sports Boosters, this is my way of giving back," explained Strine. Chuck Pennica is described by Eileen Blakely, another SSBC member, as "Mr. Soccer. Chuck is a quiet, modest man who works behind the scenes on behalf of SSBC," explained Blakely. Pennica joined the SSBS in 1992 when his daughter was a senior and played soccer. "I started to volunteer by working the gates at soccer games," he explained. Pennica was elected to the SSBC board in 1993 and continues to give his time even though he does not have any children attending Spencerport schools. "I've made some good friendships through the Booster Club," said Pennica. He laughed at being described as 'Mr. Soccer,' but said, "I like to volunteer. I have the time to commit and I usually am the first one to be at the concession stands, setting up. I like to be prepared." Blakely credits both Pennica and Sformo for their work in keeping the SSBC concession stands in operation. "Both these guys have worked tirelessly for many years and are key in the running of the stands," said Blakely. Pelin agrees with Blakely's praise for Pennica. "Chuck has been very dedicated to the SSBC in the area of concessions. He purchases many of the supplies and works to man the concession booths at almost every sporting event," said Pelin. Keith Rich, like Jim Sformo, became involved with SSBC because his son was playing a sport not offered by SCS. Rich, along with other parents, worked to get hockey approved by the district and this began his 13 year involvement with SSBC. Over the years, Rich has seen many changes with the SSBC and worked to make them happen. "The district's capital improvement project that was completed a few years ago expanded the district playing fields and also provided the buildings for the ticket booths and concession stands," Rich said. Unlike Pennica and Strine, Rich is still employed; he operates an ice arena in Fairport. Although he does not live within the boundaries of the Spencerport district, he continues to give his time to SSBC, even serving as an officer. "I've always enjoyed being a part of the SSBC and I continue to come back for the meetings," said Rich. "Keith has been a long time president of SSBC. He helped oversee the transition to the new SSBC constitution and to increase SSBS membership," said Pelin. "Barb, Chuck and Keith's contributions to the SSBC, our student-athletes and our school community, are immeasurable. They are volunteers and supporters in the truest sense. They want what is best for our program and are willing to commit untold hours to see this happen. Their value can not be measured and their efforts are truly appreciated," he said. Spencerport Sports Boosters Club December 10, 2006 |
