Don’t Miss Out

Here's a challenge the Times is pleased to put out there. If you or your business have been on the fence about snapping up one of four available 10-year corporate sponsorships of the Cardinals press box and sports equipment storage facility on the Waitsburg football field, you better act fast.

The Times has decided to buy the next-to-last sponsorship package - priced at $2,500 - that includes the placement of its logo on a 2x6-foot space on the building, weekly public recognition during home football games and once-a-year exclusive seating in the press box.

That means there's only one left with your name on it.

The Cardinals Booster Club, which received a $5,000 grant from the Oregon Community Foundation (Cycle Oregon) for the project, has raised about $18,000 of the $25,000 it needs to put up the much-needed building.

It is one of two Waitsburg projects that received Cycle Oregon support. The other is the successful streetscape initiative shepherded by Mayor Walt Gobel. It now punctuates city "entrances" with welcoming banners, and displays more banners and flower baskets on Main Street.

The Cardinals Booster Club raised almost $5,000 at a spaghetti benefit in April, $2,000 from a group of local farmers and $500 from the Washington State Penitentiary Employees Association for the press box and storage building.

Another $5,000 will come from the sale of two corporate sponsorship packages, including from Les Schwab Tire Center in Walla Walla, an important local sports booster.

Although it's unlikely the facility can be built during what's left of the summer before football practices start on Cardinal Field, the booster club has done an excellent job finding community support to match and exceed the Cycle Oregon funding.

As a dedicated supporter of youth sports through its news coverage and space-available advertising, the Times is honored to have its name associated with a facility that will better protect the community's investment in players' gear and equipment, and provide comfortable seating for those who need or want it during football games.

We feel that the football program under head coach Jeff Bartlow, which took Waitsburg-Prescott deep into the state tournament late last year and produced a player - senior Kris Cady - who just participated in the All Star game in Yakima, is more than deserving of the best facility we can help it get for the players and staff.

The amount of the 10-year sponsorship package isn't insignificant - actually a stretch for a small business. But the Times is gratefully well-supported by its readers and advertisers in the Touchet Valley and wants to give back to a worthy community cause.

The home crowds that show up for the fall football games at Cardinal Field are impressive and well beyond the friends and relatives of the players.

That kind of turnout is a testament to the pride Waitsburg and Prescott have in their football players, coaches and families, giving everyone - but specially the students - a constructive focus in their lives.

We know economic times are tough right now, but if you are inclined to help this project and can commit to making several payments on a large donation, the booster club has said it may consider that.

This is what the Times has agreed to do.

With our contribution, the project is four-fifths of the way to its goal. It needs barely $5,000 more to make this important improvement a reality in 2012.

Even if you can pitch in $1,000, $500, $250 or $100, get your contribution to the booster club before the fall season so the Cardinals can be confident this will be the last year their equipment will reside in the aging shack it now calls its inadequate home.