SPOTLIGHT |
| © 2009 Berkeley Athletic Fund Berkeley High School • 2223 MLK, Jr. Way • Berkeley, CA 94704 |
| 2007 was the first year for the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame. We are now accepting nominations for the 2010 celebration in early May 2010 |
| Support the Restaurants that supported the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame SOOPS Looney BBQ Doggie High |
| Berkeley Athletic Fund: Twenty-Four Years of Support for Berkeley High School Sports In 1985 public schools in California were reeling as the full impact of Proposition 13 hit local school budgets. At Berkeley High School the pre-Prop 13 athletic budget averaged $125,000 per year. In October, 1985 the BUSD announced that to meet its revised athletic budget of $50,000, nine teams would be dropped and all bus transportation eliminated for the spring season. A group of Berkeley High School parents vowed to prevent this catastrophe. A meeting was called on October 30, the hat was passed, and $2,000 was collected at that meeting. Parents wrote a fundraising letter and organized a raffle. Through the efforts of parent Barbara de Janvry, TRIPS OUT TRAVEL donated the grand prize of a trip to Hawaii. The fundraising campaign collected more than $22,000, enough to preserve the athletic program intact and to keep the buses rolling that spring. The group of parents who had averted the immediate crisis for the BHS athletic program: Pam Bartko, Laurie Capitelli, Alice Gruber, Becky Rice, Lee Bevis, Marion Chabot, Barbara de Janvry, Sue Self, Tom Burns, Betty Davis, Janice Lawrence, Elizabeth Sklut, Judy Calder, Jim Edgar & Sue Pownall decided that an on-going coummunity support group was needed for BHS Athletic Program and under the leadership of Jay Welsh, the Berkeley Athletic Fund was established. In addition to maintaining the scope of Berkeley High's athletic program, one of the group's early goals was to fund the resurfacing of the athletic field with Astroturf. Riddled with potholes and so heavily used that the grass could never be adequately maintained, many believed the field was a hazard for teams playing there. In 1995, after ten years of lobbying and under the guidance of then-Athletic Director Lloyd Higgins, the turf was finally installed with funds provided by Measure A funds. Even the new gets worn out. The Astroturf was replaced in 2007 with the newest in outdoor turf, improving the play and saving on injuries. For over 25 years BAF has been raising funds for athletics at Berkeley High School. In 2007, BAF started the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame, honoring BHS alumni. The induction ceremony is held every year. This year it is May 2, 2009. Please join us for the fun. This year BAF will be holding the second annual Golf Tournament to go along with the Hall of Fame on Friday, May 1st. It is fast becoming BAF's most successful fund raising event. Traditionally, the money collected has been used to pay for uniforms and equipments for BHS teams. In 2004, the athletic budget was cut - all freshman teams, some assistant coach stipends and some transportation. BAF stepped up and has been contributing $20,000 a year to BHS to keep the program intact. As of February, 2009, it is expected that all of the transportation budget will be cut for next year, potentially over $80,000. As we wade through our options, your donations become even more important to the program. Please consider donating your time and/or money. Go Jackets! |
| Won’t you join this vital and exciting committee? For more information please contact Manish Doshi, email manish_baf@comcast.net |
Bill Gaebler Athletic Director 510 644-8723 |