The Plainedge Parents Athletic Club, a newly created parents group formed for the express purpose to raise funds to reinstate the J.V. and varsity sports programs for Plainedge High School, is proud to announce that they have raised over $500,000 toward their goal of $571,000 as of Wednesday, Sept. 7.

It is solely due to the extreme hard work of this organization's members that these funds were raised and that sports programs could be restored. It will take more of that same dedication and determination to raise the rest of the $71,000 needed for the remaining spring sports. The group asks for the support and generosity of all the Plainedge High School athletes and their families.

When the Plainedge School District's budget was voted down a second time this past June, the contingency budget called for the cancellation of the entire sports program for the district. Parents of these student athletes, with the help of attorney Tom Sabellico, leapt into action, organized and directed a course of action that successfully resulted in the collection of one half of a million dollars so far.

Family contributions, business donations, a $50,000 grant from State Senator Kemp Hannon, a $5,000 grant from Assemblyman Joseph Saladino, as well as community car washes, car raffles, airline ticket raffles, comedy nights, and old fashioned door-to-door solicitation for donations made up a large part of the monies raised.

The full cooperation of the Plainedge community will be needed for the organization to achieve its goal: The complete restoration of all high school sports in Plainedge.

A 3-year lease for a 2005 Honda Civic is to be raffled off at halftime of the Plainedge vs. Bethpage football game on Saturday, Sept. 17. A community garage sale is planned for Sunday; September 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the John H. West School at Boundary Avenue and Stewart Avenue and a 'Save our Sports' golf classic is to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Hole sponsorships are still available. Raffles to win a 2005 Honda that will be drawn in October are still available.