Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Page A-3
IVHS football wins big at auction
Annette McGee Rasch
IVN Senior Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley High
School’s (IVHS) football program
held its largest fundraiser of the
year Saturday night at the Siskiyou
Smokejumper’s Base Museum
- and the 2016 Touchdown Auction
was a blazing success, raising over
$10,000.
The highlight of the evening
was the live auction. A few of the big
ticket times included a night at the
Oregon Caves National Monument
and Preserve’s historic Chalet; a
two-night stay at Sun River in Bend;
a quilt donated by the Valley Girls;
a cord of firewood; and perhaps the
most popular item was four hours of
labor from the football team.
“Ten members of the team
stood in front of the crowd when the
bidding for them started, and you
could see how proud they all were.
They stood so straight,” said Mary
Valenzuela, one of the event’s key
organizers. “Team members also
walked out the auction items and
they presented themselves so well.
They also helped set the place up
and tear it down after.”
Valenzuela’s son, Three Rivers
School District Superintendant Dave
Valenzuela, was a big crowd pleaser
in his role as auctioneer.
“Dave was phenomenal,” said
head football coach Bruce Reece.
“We wouldn’t have had so many
people give as much as they did
without Dave interacting with people
and joking around the way he did.”
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“It was a good time,” said Dave
Valenzuela. “I was thrilled to be the
auctioneer. I love connecting with
people and meeting new people. We
even had a big bunch from Rogue
Community College there and Link
and Jennifer Phillippi came along
with them. That was pretty cool.
There were so many really generous
people.”
Organization for the fundraiser
began in June and was a real family
affair. Reece’s wife, Danielle, is also
Mary Valenzuela’s daughter, and
Mary’s niece, Sheri Larson, also
helped spear-head the event.
“Sheri is a real go-getter, she
really helped make it all happen,”
Mary Valenzuela said. “She knew
how to organize the auction because
she’d done it before. Overall, it
took a village; so many people just
jumped in and really helped us.”
“What amazed me was when
we went out and solicited donations
from our local businesses, how
everyone willingly pitched in,”
Danielle Reece said. “I know they
get hit up a lot for donations, but
we’d walk into a business and give
them our sponsors’ letter, and they’d
say, ‘Well, of course!’ We’re so
grateful for their generosity.”
Dinner, catered by Carlos
Restaurante, was a big hit as well.
“The food was wonderful,” Mary
Valenzuela said. Over 100 people
attended the fundraiser. And while
200 tickets were sold, the heat kept
some people home, she added. “But
the weather cooperated - and the
yellow jackets stayed away. We had
a nice breeze.”
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Danielle Reece said that
finding a venue for the event was
challenging until Gary Thornhill,
a former smokejumper, suggested
the Smokejumper’s Museum. “So
we went out and met with him and
Gary Buck,” she said. “They want
people to come out and enjoy the
museum and use the facility, which
is really nice. They’ve put a lot of
work into it, everything is so clean
and manicured, it’s a real asset to the
Valley. And the scenery is gorgeous
- the sunset out there was beautiful.
I didn’t spend much time there when
I was growing up in the Valley, but
going out there now, you can walk
around and remember what the
smokejumpers were to this Valley.”
Funds raised at the event will
buy tee shirts, shorts and practice
uniforms, and some of the money
will help with travel expenses,
(Photo by Laura Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Coach Reece said, “We already
purchased new uniforms and
Three Rivers School District Superintendant Dave Valenzuela
helmets, anticipating that this money
would come in. The community has auctions off a letter jacket during a successful fundraiser
really embraced this football team
Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Illinois Valley Airport.
and we’re really grateful and want to
thank everyone who donated to the
Smith reported that 30
community support, how much they
auction and attended the event. Good want to help out,” Smith said.
players turned out for football
things are coming up for the team.”
practice Monday night, and said,
Football season starts Friday
The team benefits from a deep
“We anticipate that number will
night at Scio High School. The first
pool of coaching talent. There’s
grow once school gets started. The
home game is in Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.,
10 assistant coaches, and they all
program is definitely headed in
and the IVHS Cougars will play
attended the fundraiser, along with
the right direction. Bruce is a great
Santiam Christian High School.
their significant others. “And that
“It’d be great if a lot of people come coach, and I’ve seen a lot of good
even includes our new principal,
coaches. We’re lucky to have him
and watch them play and help us
Tanner Smith,” Coach Reece said.
here.”
win. It only costs $5 for adults and
“A lot of people really seem to
$3 for children,” he added. “We’re
jump in to back the kids here, and
continuing to build our program
that’s awesome. I kind of get goose
and we’re very excited about the
bumps, witnessing this level of
season.”
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