TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Last Saturday, Mar. 6, the Merrill Special Olympics Booster Club teamed up with the Dugout Bar to host a Winter Volleyball Tournament as a fundraiser for the Booster Club. Sunshine and temps in the high 40’s combined to make it a great event, even if volleyball players were wearing winter boots and playing in snow instead of feeling the sand between their toes on the volleyball courts. Six teams played in matches that started at 1:00 p.m., and the participants had a great time.
“We got involved because we have a very big passion in raising money for the community and kids,” said Katie Proft, who owns the Dugout with her husband, Baron. “Playing snow volleyball is something different to do to raise money and changes things up a bit. We raffled off a tv, money from the teams and also did 50/50 raffles. Last year we did a chili cook off, but unfortunately due to the circumstances, we couldn’t do that this year. We were supposed to have a vintage run the weekend before, but it got canceled, so we did a beer pong tournament. We raffled off a tv and a grill for that, so with both weekends we raised $2,900.00.”
The Merrill Special Olympics Booster Club was established in August 2019. “Our mission as a Booster Club is to provide ongoing support to our Merrill Special Olympic teams, coaches, and athletes to ensure beneficial experiences, which includes athletics, character building, and life skills,” said Linda Plautz, member of the Booster Club. She said over the last year and a half, they’ve held fundraising events to help support their organization’s mission, and they’ve used the funds to buy equipment and clothing for the athletes who participate in the Special Olympics. To learn more about the Booster Club, call Becky Meyer, President, at 715.218.4989 or email Bryan Plautz, Secretary/Treasurer, at [email protected].
Mark your calendars now to come out and support the participants at the Special Olympics Regional Track and Field Competition to be held at Jay Stadium on Saturday, May 15. Opening ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m. and competition will start at 11:00 a.m. The meet will involve Special Olympic agencies from throughout North Central Wisconsin.