Article from the Tribune of the People

Opinions
The Tribune of the People
The People’s Editorial

Novi Athletic Boosters working hard to support your kids, and the results show

September 17, 2008 -There is a dedicated group of people in Novi who work quietly behind the scenes year-round with just one goal in mind – helping Novi’s youth.

The Novi Athletics Boosters are the ones who organize concessions at Novi High School sporting events. They publish the sports programs, organize spirit wear, provide scholarships to deserving Novi student-athletes, and much more.

Over the past three years, the state’s budget cuts have forced cuts to school funding. In turn, Novi’s Athletic Department has had their funding cut. In fact, their funding from the school’s general fund has dropped from $686,000 in 2006 to $458,000 for 2008. Folks, that’s a decrease of $228,000.

Parents stepped in, and through “pay-to-play” fees contributed $167,000 last year. The Novi Athletic Boosters helped even more, raising an amazing $223,000 last year, up from $147,000 in 2006. Nearly all of those funds went to help Novi High School Athletics, or pay for such things as game day programs, concessions, and scholarships.

We the People are pleased we have such a fine group in Novi, working diligently behind the scenes to support Novi Athletics. We are even more pleased that they stepped up and raised more money as the school’s funding was cut over the past couple years. They don’t get nearly enough credit for all they are doing to help Novi’s kids.

One thing is quite clear to us – it’s people like the Novi Athletic Boosters who make Novi such a great place to live.