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Coaches group seeks to shine
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By Howard Roden
Every year a portion of the dues paid by members of the Texas High School Coaches Association goes into a fund that provides financial assistance for student-athletes either permanently injured or who die while playing for their school.
But there are situations that that fund doesn’t cover. Thus, “Our Day To Shine” was created.
Football programs across state – including teams in Montgomery County – will participate in the fund-raising effort this weekend.
Parents and fans attending scrimmages later this week are being asked to contribute a $2 “admission fee” to the THSCA’s Benevolence Fund. The fund was established some four years ago to help those dealing with difficult circumstances.
College Park head football coach Richard Carson was on the THSCA Board of Directors when the Benevolence Fund was created. The triggering incident was the unfortunate death of football player McCollins Umeh, a Klein Collins graduate who died during the summer of 2004 while participating in a voluntary workout at the University of Arizona.
“His family was in need of financial assistance, especially when it came to the funeral expenses,” Carson said.
The THSCA wanted to help, but the group’s by-laws restricted its support to those student-athletes either permanently injured while competing in a University Interscholastic League sanctioned sport and were under the supervision of a THSCA member. The THSCA guidelines also provide “memorial benefits” for the families of athletes who died while participating in a sport.
The THSCA’s support through either one of its funds is not limited to any one sport.
“It has to be something involving a permanent injury or a memorial benefit and the family has to show its financial need,” said D.W. Rutledge, the THSCA’s executive director. “So far, in the four years since we created the Benevolence Fund, we’ve never turned down a request.”
According to Joe Martin, the THSCA assistant executive director, more than 130 high schools have participated in “Our Day To Shine,” generating over $45,000 in public donations. The coaches group has paid out $24,000 from its Benevolence Fund.
“We had a coach in McKinney needing a liver transplant and we were able to help with that,” Rutledge said. “There was a coach’s family in need in help with the medical bills. We’re able to do things like that.”
The THSCA is restricted from making financial assistance to its coaching members from its primary fund.
Through the Benevolence Fund, the THSCA was able to make a “sizable” donation to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.
“’Our Day to Shine’ allows to do a little more,” Rutledge said.
Some of the local teams participating in “Our Day to Shine” program are The Woodlands, College Park and Conroe High.
The Woodlands is asking a minimum $2 donation at all four of its scrimmages, starting with the freshman at 5 p.m. Friday at TWHS ninth grade campus. The Highlanders’ other three scrimmages will be at Woodforest Bank Stadium, beginning at 5 p.m., with the varsity is slated to start at 7 p.m..
College Park hosts its scrimmage against Katy Morton Ranch beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The varsity starts at 7 p.m. at the Cavaliers’ auxiliary field.
The first of Conroe High’s three scrimmages against Huntsville start at 5 p.m. Friday at Buddy Moorhead Memorial Stadium. The varsity scrimmage begins at 7:30 p.m.
“We appreciate what our coaches organization is doing,” CHS head coach Roger Holtkamp said. “It’s wonderful that the public participates in a worth-while effort.”
But there are situations that that fund doesn’t cover. Thus, “Our Day To Shine” was created.
Football programs across state – including teams in Montgomery County – will participate in the fund-raising effort this weekend.
Parents and fans attending scrimmages later this week are being asked to contribute a $2 “admission fee” to the THSCA’s Benevolence Fund. The fund was established some four years ago to help those dealing with difficult circumstances.
College Park head football coach Richard Carson was on the THSCA Board of Directors when the Benevolence Fund was created. The triggering incident was the unfortunate death of football player McCollins Umeh, a Klein Collins graduate who died during the summer of 2004 while participating in a voluntary workout at the University of Arizona.
“His family was in need of financial assistance, especially when it came to the funeral expenses,” Carson said.
The THSCA wanted to help, but the group’s by-laws restricted its support to those student-athletes either permanently injured while competing in a University Interscholastic League sanctioned sport and were under the supervision of a THSCA member. The THSCA guidelines also provide “memorial benefits” for the families of athletes who died while participating in a sport.
The THSCA’s support through either one of its funds is not limited to any one sport.
“It has to be something involving a permanent injury or a memorial benefit and the family has to show its financial need,” said D.W. Rutledge, the THSCA’s executive director. “So far, in the four years since we created the Benevolence Fund, we’ve never turned down a request.”
According to Joe Martin, the THSCA assistant executive director, more than 130 high schools have participated in “Our Day To Shine,” generating over $45,000 in public donations. The coaches group has paid out $24,000 from its Benevolence Fund.
“We had a coach in McKinney needing a liver transplant and we were able to help with that,” Rutledge said. “There was a coach’s family in need in help with the medical bills. We’re able to do things like that.”
The THSCA is restricted from making financial assistance to its coaching members from its primary fund.
Through the Benevolence Fund, the THSCA was able to make a “sizable” donation to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.
“’Our Day to Shine’ allows to do a little more,” Rutledge said.
Some of the local teams participating in “Our Day to Shine” program are The Woodlands, College Park and Conroe High.
The Woodlands is asking a minimum $2 donation at all four of its scrimmages, starting with the freshman at 5 p.m. Friday at TWHS ninth grade campus. The Highlanders’ other three scrimmages will be at Woodforest Bank Stadium, beginning at 5 p.m., with the varsity is slated to start at 7 p.m..
College Park hosts its scrimmage against Katy Morton Ranch beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The varsity starts at 7 p.m. at the Cavaliers’ auxiliary field.
The first of Conroe High’s three scrimmages against Huntsville start at 5 p.m. Friday at Buddy Moorhead Memorial Stadium. The varsity scrimmage begins at 7:30 p.m.
“We appreciate what our coaches organization is doing,” CHS head coach Roger Holtkamp said. “It’s wonderful that the public participates in a worth-while effort.”
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