Number of Participants: 22
Hours Donated: 20
Value of Time Served: $3,718
Event Amount Raised: $2,650
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Girls Soccer
Date: October 13, 2022
Location:
Winchester High School
Skillings Road, Winchester
MA
About:
The captains and team decided at the beginning of the season that their main charity game for the season would be dedicated to Donna Gildersleeve who was a Winchester Health and PE teacher for 45 years, and a trainer at Winchester High School for 30. Her last 4 years she was Assistant AD but she was probably most known for her unending caring on-site – in all weather – at Winchester sporting events.
The main event was a bake sale with a few raffle baskets. Almost all players (22 Varsity players) baked or prepared something and repackaged it in singles for the sale.
The awareness began in the summer when they chose the event. Was posted on their calendar, then they posted it on their personal and Team social media platforms. They sent out notices about the raffle baskets ahead of time for those who could not attend. (The event was at 4:15) Some helped post flyers around town in as many locations as possible. One of the team moms took pictures and that will be posted on our social media again, as well as in the WHS Fan Newsletter that captures the doings of our teams and clubs. Lastly, we’ve been told that other teams may use our banners, planning and ideas as a footprint to continue honoring this wonderful woman who touched so many lives in our community.
Some helped pick pictures from her Obituary page for the giant banners used at the event, some helped shop and package the baskets, some helped hang flyers around town, some helped pick which merchandise we were going to showcase at the event and then packaged it individually. In addition, one of the Raffle baskets was a Captain’s Basket where the four captains offered 90 minutes of training (plus other merchandise). This basket was by far the best seller! Some helped set up the day of the event and many helped re-load everything and take down banners in the pouring rain after their game. One player delivered a few baskets too.
Part of the team insured we had an excellent speaker at the event who knew Donna well (a member of the High School staff), while others connected with friends of Donna’s in the school and town, and/or alumni and personally invited them.
** As an aside, this team has volunteered at our local soup kitchen, the Dwelling Place, and the Glen Doherty Charity Road Race, while also doing the Boston Walk for Homelessness in February.
Our team also make a $1000 donation out of our fundraising efforts to Pancreatic Cancer. We have two sisters in the Winchester HS girls soccer program whose father, a beloved soccer coach, volunteer, and mentor in our community, passed from it in 2018.