Saturday marked another record-breaking dinner and auction for the Pilot Point Booster Club, with the organization bringing in $66,110 through the event.
The revenue goes to support the programs throughout the Pilot Point ISD athletics department, helping the Bearcats and Lady Cats to continue to grow individually and as teams.
'The bigger the programs get, not only football but also basketball, baseball, tennis, all the sports, the bigger they get, the more students we get here, hopefully the bigger the auction's going to get so we can get all these kids stuff that they need to excel at sports,' Pilot Point Booster Club President Chris Carr said.
He expressed his appreciation for not only all of the volunteers who helped but also two Chads in specific— Athletic Director Chad Worrell and auctioneer Chad Chance.
'Both Chads helped out tremendously,' Carr said. 'Coach Worrell kind of helped in the pregame part of building up to it … and gave some good advice from previous places he's been and some new things that we did. And then, of course, Chad Chance—he's the best around. You can't beat that. We're lucky to get him every year.'
Toward the end of the evening, the Booster Club put one of Worrell's suggestions into action in the form of a reverse auction.
'You have an item and nobody knows what it is until that item comes up, and you basically bid money on someone else getting that item,' Carr said.
The first 'winner' of the item was Jacob Stuckly, with a toilet planter, complete with a Whitesboro Bearcats flag, installed in his yard Sunday morning, which brought $1,100 in for the Booster Club.
'That was something new to break some of the monotony of the auction stuff,' Carr said. 'It took a little extra time, and it was kind of fun.'
The top selling item was the quilt made using football jerseys and cheerleading uniforms, bringing in $3,900.
Some of the other big earners included concert tickets and game tickets for college and pro teams.
There was also a lastminute add-on of a private concert by Shane Hamilton, who performed at the event, which went for $2,500.
'If you ever get the chance to go see Shane Hamilton play, go do it,' Carr said. 'He was really freakin' good.'
The club leadership will work with Worrell to determine the areas of need that they can support with the proceeds from the dinner and auction, as well as from the sale of the football field banners and program ads.
Those interested in advertising opportunities with the club can contact pilotpointboosterclub@ gmail.
com.
Preparing for the dinner and auction took a team of volunteers who solicited businesses and community members for donations, as well as those who decorated around the Star at the Lone Star Lodge and Marina.
'It's so cool to see this amount of people come out for really one cause, all the Pilot Point athletics,' club Vice President Stephanie Mohindra said. 'We have a great athletics program. It's rich in history, and it always has been.'
Worrell, who also serves as the football head coach, was grinning from ear to ear all night at seeing the way his hometown turned out to support the student athletes. 'Pilot Point supports their kids and programs and athletics,' he said, adding later, 'Pilot Point is a special place. Coach [G.A.] Moore always said that: 'Pilot Point is a special place with special people.' And it is.'
He also noted that he was thrilled to see the mix of people present.
'We're going to continue to grow, and we're going to welcome new people and … kind of bring them in, wrap our arms around them and make them family,' Worrell said. 'But seeing the people that have been here for generations is special also.'
Superintendent Dr. Shannon Fuller enjoyed watching the community turn out for the kids.
'I'm so proud that the boosters have put so much work in,' she said. 'They have been planning this for months and months to make sure that our students have what they need. I'm very appreciative. And then to see the community come out and just fellowship and have fun together, I think it just starts the year off in such an inspiring and just fun way.'
