450 People Attend Fundraising Event; Donate $13,000

The Portage Athletic Foundation “Steppin’ Out” at the State Theatre attracted approximately 450 people raising more than $13,000 for Portage School District athletics, with about $10,000 coming from the silent auction. PAF thanks the more than 50 area businesses for donating auction items.

“It was great to see so many Portage School parents, even from rival sports teams, working together in such a fun way for the students,” according to event organizers. “How powerful we can be together.”

Entertainment was provided by the B&E Band. The PAF is planning another event like this next year on Feb.14, ’09. Meanwhile, the next PAF event is the annual Golf Outing at the Moors, Aug.11.

PAF Donates $56,000 to District

Since its inception in 1981, the Portage Athletic Foundation (PAF) has contributed over $400,000 in support of Portage student-athletes. This past year, PAF has donated a total of $56,000 to Portage Northern and Portage Central high schools, West, Central and North Middle Schools and Community High. 

During this years football game between Portage Northern and Portage Central, Portage Athletic Foundation Co-President’s Jeff Chrystal and Brian Schmall presented Athletic Director’s Larry Edlund (Central) and Chris Riker (Northern) with two checks for $20,000 each for the schools athletic programs.

It's been a great feeling and motivation to our board to see that these funds have helped support so many things.  Portage Northern has already purchased new wrestling mats and Central has purchased a shooting machine for basketball, training table for the trainers and touch pads for swimming.  In addition to that, $8,000 was given to the middle schools and community high for much needed wresteling mats and other sports equipment.  PAF also purchased two defibulators for the high schools, as well as pays for the athletic awards for the high schools each year.

The main source of these funds come from an annual golf outing held each August at the Moors Golf Club.   We couldn't do this without the support of our local community and businesses.  People have been very generous, knowing the budget shortfalls and are willing to lend a hand and help out our kids.   Co-Presidents Schmall and Chrystal and their board are working on a second fundraising event for February, providing continued and hopefully expanded support toward Portage Athletics.

 Board members include;  Jeff Chrystal, Brian Schmall, Terry Patterson, Sharon Bennett, Beth Covey, Karen Jarrad, Ed Stinson, Brian Sweeney, Janet Tagett, Connie Livingston, Julie Sandmeyer, Ron Kimbrel.

16th Annual Golf Outing is a Success

PAF held its 16th Annual Golf Outing at the Moors Golf Course in August, raising $32,000 in an all-time high for this annual event. PAF thanks its 140 sponsors:

Gold Sponsors

Adams Remco, Ameriprise Financial-McLaughlin & Miedema, B.A.S.I.C. Human Resource Connection, Bowers Manufacturing Company, Frederick O. & Marisa T. Brown Fund of the Kal. Comm. Fdn., Chemical Bank, Gould, Stinson and Gray, PC (Ed Stinson, Pat Gary, CPAs), Shirley & Si Johnson, Kalamazoo Ophthalmology, KalBlue ReproGraphics, Kimbrel Family, KSS Enterprises-Tom Hill, MOL-SON, Inc, The Moor’s Golf Club, Morgan Stanley-Mark Sandmeyer, National City Bank, Portage Cleaners & Laundry, Portage Commerce Bank, Schupan & Sons, Inc., Signature Associates-Jeff Chrystal, Tim Welke, Treystar, Wester Dental Care, and John A. Wolf & Assoc., Inc.

Silver Sponsors:

Bemis Corporation/Brian & Bernie Schmall, Bermo Enterprises, Mark and Toni Jones, Ken W. Grabowski, DDS, Keystone Community Bank, Kingscott and Associates, Connie and Pete Livingston, Tom & Dotti McCoy, Modern Woodmen of America, Physical Therapy One, Rathco Safety Supply, Inc, Jeffrey J. Riggs, DDS, Robert W. Baird & Company-Kurt Droppers, Mark and Janet Tagett, andTMP Associates, Inc.

Bronze Sponsors

Atlas Die, LLC, Tom and Sharon Bennett; Chambers, Steiner & Sturm, PLC; Fanfare Sports and Entertainment, First Image, Fred W. Oppel, DDS, Gardner Management Group, Hoekstra Roofing Company, Dick and Kathy Howland, LVM Capital Management, Paul Knight, Daniel S. Maudlin, DDS, Meyer C. Weiner Company, Tom & Cindy Noverr, Terry Patterson & Amy Garber, Optimum Health Chiropractic-Craig Stull, Portage Rotary, Pau Paw Rentals and Sales, John and Sue Rath, Kent and Susan Ray, David and Kathy Rice, Bill & Caryl Rimmke, Robert S. Schaefer, MD, Dan and Kim Stewart, Scott Stromstra, DDS, Trestlewood Pediatrics, Larry & Marti Ulmer, and Webster Electric.

Major Contributing Sponsors

Jim Barnum, Bacchus Wine Cellars, Belle Tires, Big Apple Bagels, Bronson Athletic Club, Citizen’s Bank-Matt McDade, Mr. Comstuble, EMA Catering and Concessions, FA Sports, Golf Pro Services, Great Harvest Bread, Hungry Howie’s Pizza, KSS Enterprises, Noodles & Company, Office Max, Panchero’s, Putter’s Family Fun Center, Schupan & Sons, Inc., and Village Inn.

Contributing Sponsors

1 st Source Bank, Greg Murray-AFT. Inc., Ambatti Flowers, Ample Pantry, Beaner’s Gourment Coffee, BDN Industrial, Bilbo’s Pizza, BJ Sports, Blue Dolphin, Brann’s Steakhouse, Celebration Cinema, CiCi Pizza, Climb Kalamazoo, Cold Stone Creamery, Cookies by Design, Dolce Salon, Erbellis Italian Grill, Full City Café, Gander Mountain, Hannapel Home Center, Healthcare Midwest, Heavenly Ham, Intestate Office Interiors, Kalamazoo College USTA, Lazerland Family Fun Center, Lee’s Famous Chicken, Lo Do’s Restaurant, MacKenzie’s Bakery, Main Street Pub, Mancinos, Mattress Mart, MC Sports, Metropolitan Title, Millennium Restaurant Group, Pappy’s Pizza, Primerica-Dan Hartley, Rebel Apparel, Red Robin, Rene Lange, Portage Central High School Athletics, Portage Northern High School Athletics, Repetitions, Ritter’s Frozen Custard, Mark Rozek, Scott’s Sports Card Store, Studio 24 SalonSpa, Lindsay Tarpley, The Courthouse Athletic Center, The Craftsman Chop Co., The Teacher’s Center, The UPS Store, Video Hits Plus, Dick Wakefield, Water Street Coffee Joint, Gina Woods, and Z Café.

A Legacy of State Champions

Since 1932, varsity teams at Portage Central and Portage Northern have captured an impressive 45 state titles in athletics, debate and forensics, and this extradordinary legacy of state champions continues to grow.

Portage Central varsity state championship teams include: Mens Basketball 1932; Mens Cross Country 1956; Softball 1977; Forensics 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001; Womens Soccer 2000; Mens Tennis 2001 and 2007; and Mens Baseball 2002.

Portage Northern: Womens Tennis 1976, 1977; Forensics 1981, 1985, 1989, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Womens Volleyball 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999; Softball 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002; Mens Track 2000; Mens Soccer 2000, and Debate 2005, 2008.

PAF Board Members

Sharon Bennett
Jeff Chrystal
Karen Jarrad
Ron Kimbrel
Connie Livingston
Terry Patterson
Julie Sandmeyer
Ed Stinson
Brian Schmall
Brian Sweeney
Janet Taggett
Patti Welke

Honorary Members:
Judy Acker-Smith
Dick Wakefield

Advisory Committee:
Ric Perry
Larry Edlund
Chris Riker

Community Sign Project

PAF sponsored the Community Sign Project, which erected two new signs on Centre/US 131 and Oakland/Milham honoring the 43 state champs throughout PPS history.

PAF policy on State Championship signs.

The PAF, established in 1981 and governed by a community board of directors, has contributed more than $380,000 for high school and middle school athletic programs. The PAF is a 501c3 non-profit. Contact information for the PAF is P.O. Box 235, Portage, MI, 49081.