Cook fundraiser to support school sports

A local charity is hoping a day of family fun will help it bring in money for local schools.

The Cook Memorial Fund is putting on its annual family fun day at Springboro High School on Aug. 12 with a day of soccer, kickball and dodgeball as well as food, games and a silent auction.

With a fair-like atmosphere, the 501(c) charity hopes to raise $20,000 which will benefit the local schools, said Dale Brunner, one of the event organizers.

“It’s part of a pledge we made to the Wade Field Complex,” Brunner said. “In the past we’ve donated to Springboro football, and held a benefit to raise money for the high school band and NWC Soccer.”

The event has drawn significant attendance in previous years, and Brunner noted last year’s dodgeball tournament had over 40 teams of six.

The charity honors Bob Cook, a longtime supporter and volunteer for athletics, who died while on vacation in July 2009. Since then, the fund was initially established to help his family but today supports local sports.

“We raise a lot of money for capital things,” Brunner said. “We’ve given gifts to teachers, we’ve given goal posts for soccer, it depends on the need in the community.”

The fund has been able to donate 85 to 90 percent of the money it raises in events, and is now a registered 501c charity, which is now part of the Warren County Foundation, which supports a variety of causes throughout the county.

“Bob volunteered a lot of his time,” Brunner said. “He did a lot of things for kids’ sports, he was continuously on the field. … Bob was one of us.”

The activities will begin at 9 a.m. and run all day. For more information, go to http://www.cookfamilyfunday.com/default.html.

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