Donation brings legitimacy to fundraising push at South Elgin HS

The South Elgin High School Boosters' ambitious plan to finance a stadium solely with private donations is looking less like a pipe dream and more like a realistic goal.

The boosters' fundraising effort just got a big shot in the arm with a $250,000 donation from the Wisdom Family Foundation and Wisdom Adhesives of Elgin. The boosters announced the donation this week.

Parents and community members in the booster foundation hope the large donation will bring legitimacy to their $3.2 million fundraising campaign and encourage others to give.

"With a large donation, we can tell people, 'Yes this can happen,' " said Mike Bersani, vice president of the boosters and co-chairman of the stadium effort. "This is a reality. Hopefully it will encourage others to jump on board as well and help us complete our goal."

The boosters hope to raise $500,000 to complete phase one of the project, which will include home bleachers, a scoreboard, natural turf and a brick pathway leading from the school parking lot to the stadium entrance.

With the recent donation, the club is more than halfway toward its goal. If everything proceeds according to plan, phase one should be complete by fall 2011, Bersani said.

Right now, Elgin and Streamwood are the only U-46 high schools that have their own field. South Elgin currently plays home games at Streamwood's Millennium Field.

The boosters stress that the planned facility would not only serve football teams but would also host soccer matches, band practices and competitions, track meets and community events such as the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. No public funds will be used for the stadium, according to the club.

To find out more about how to donate, visit sehsboosters.org. Donations are tax-deductible.