They held car washes and comedy nights. They are organizing raffles and auctions. And they are asking everyone from friends and employers, to local government officials, to donate whatever they can. As of July 19, the parents, coaches and leaders of school sports clubs that make up the newly formed Plainedge Parents Athletic Club had raised a total of $112,870 to help restore Plainedge High School's interscholastic sports teams.

All sports programs and some after-school activities were cancelled after voters twice rejected the district's proposed budget of $59,949,303, which would have increased spending by 8.38 percent and taxes by 6.93 percent.

At the school board meeting July 13, the district announced definitive dates by which the money must be raised, with the bill for fall varsity sports, approximately $95,000, due July 22. The board also presented the Plainedge Parents Athletic Club with a gift of $105,000, to be applied to fall and spring sports programs.

With this money from the school, plus a $47,000 donation from Senator Kemp Hannon, and the funds raised by the parents, fall and spring sports will be reinstated, said parent Theresa Schaeffer, who is spearheading the fund-raising efforts with John Hanrahan.

However, she added, they are still working tirelessly to reinstate all winter sports programs, which are not on the table from the board. "We are still feverishly working to raise the money we need," Schaeffer said. "We are just still going 150 percent full speed ahead." The parents have until Oct. 14 to pay for winter sports.

Help has come from all directions. Legislator Dave Mejias pitched in to help wash cars July 16 and 17 at John H. West Elementary School, with all the proceeds from the event going to save Plainedge sports.

On July 20, the Long Island Lizards and Starbucks teamed up to raise money for the Plainedge Parents Athletic Club and the American Cancer Society by holding a charity auction at the Starbucks in Levittown.

"We are working tirelessly to achieve our goal to raise all the money needed to restore sports in Plainedge," said Hanrahan.