Students Raise Funds for Athletic Department

The CCHS Athletic Association, in part thanks to generous donations from booster Mark Ficken, has organized a raffle to support the school’s various sports programs during the month of April. Thus far, the raffle has been a hit. At the time of publishing, over $12,000 has been generated by eager CCHS student-athletes. With 16 days remaining until the final drawing, expectations are high.

Student-athletes can enter the raffle by scanning the QR code from any of the flyers scattered throughout the halls. Students are encouraged to sell as many $10 tickets as they desire, whether it be to family members or friends. At the end of each week, the student who raised the most money will receive a $100 reward, beginning this Friday, April 19, and continues for three weeks. The grand prize of $1,000 will be given to the lucky purchaser of a raffle ticket. Additionally, the sports team with the highest total sales will earn a milkshake party.

Athletic director and organizer Coach Kevin Christmas expressed his excitement for the raffle’s potential. With the proceeds he plans to buy new uniforms for every varsity sports team. Other equipment, like a new pitching machine for baseball or additions to the weight room, could also be purchased if enough is raised. 

Coach Christmas gave advice to students looking to add some money to their bank account. “The way you sell them to your aunts, uncles, etc, is you sit there and you say, ‘Listen, all this money is going back to us.’” For sophomore Joe Macuga, whose older siblings have participated in previous raffles, there is a secret to being successful. “You need to have some patience,” he said. “Wait until the third week, when the excitement around the raffle has died down, to start selling your tickets.” 

Early success from this year’s raffle has created some buzz within the Athletic Department. Though a raffle has been an annual event since 2021—first held with the selling of physical tickets and with different prize parameters—Coach Christmas believes 2024 could be a record-breaking year. Last year, the raffle raked in $28,000. His goal for this year is to surpass that mark and raise at least $30,000. 

Credit: CCHS Athletics