The Beachwood Athletic Boosters held a ‘Night at the Races’ fundraiser on Saturday evening, May 3 in the luxurious environment of Beachwood’s Porsche dealership to support Bison athletics and to engage the community. 

Approximately 170 people attended the event and paid the $40 admission fee.  

Attendees were given the opportunity to purchase $5 vouchers to be used on horse race betting. If they won, they could cash in or use it to buy more betting vouchers. The boosters also held a live auction. 

Athletic Director Ryan Peters explained the purpose of the Bison Athletic Boosters. 

“The mission of the boosters is to promote the growth and success of the Beachwood City Schools Athletics, while encouraging school and community spirit, and to aid and support the Beachwood City Schools with special projects pertaining to the athletic programs and facilities,” he said.  

Boosters President Khaz Finley explained that the club’s support of Bison athletes is not just financial. 

“We want our student athletes to feel appreciated and know that the community is behind them, and we want the coaches to also see that the boosters have their teams and their priorities at the top of the line,” he said.

According to boosters Treasurer Mike White, profits from concession sales, membership revenue, sponsorship and fundraising, and interest from investment accounts all contribute to an average annual income of between $30,000 and $45,000 for the boosters. 

White points out that the $8,800 profit from the Night at the Races event will supplement the money already raised for their next project: a new training facility located outside of the auxiliary locker room. 

He explains the challenges Beachwood athletes face due to the lack of an efficient weight room. 

“It’s such a massive disadvantage for our student athletes, not just physically but also socially and mentally,” he said.

White emphasizes the social benefits of a larger and updated training facility for future athletes to utilize. This project has been at the forefront of the booster’s projects list.  

While the boosters have held fundraisers in the past, the last Night at the Races event was over seven years ago. 

Finley explained that profitable fundraisers help the boosters build a solid foundation to execute their goals of giving back to the athletic programs, from youth through high school, to help with uniforms, trips and training opportunities. 

The event also brings the community together.

“[Night at the Races] gives us a large platform to [bring] the community together in a very fun atmosphere… and bring awareness that the boosters are still active,” he said.

The boosters prioritize equity in distributing funds. 

“Whatever money the boosters make from concessions and membership is divided up at the end of the year into all of the team accounts equally,” White said. 

“No team is above another,” Khaz said.

The money is distributed by a committee within the boosters. 

“The money sits there until a team requests funds,” White said. “They can do this in two different ways: they can request team funds, which is money that is sitting in their bank account, and there are other situations where teams need some help so they ask the boosters to [donate] them some money.” 

With all that the boosters do for the community, it’s important the students do their role. 

“The students’ role with the boosters is to [encourage] their parents and family members to get involved and help the mission of the boosters,” said Peters. “Students should also show their appreciation for the boosters.”

The boosters leaders are thrilled that the Beachwood community showed up for the Night at the Races event.

“We live in a small community, but it’s a mighty community and we want to make sure we keep everyone engaged,” Finley said.