Greencastle High School receives grant for football jerseys

Saturday, May 5, 2012
The seniors of the 2012 Greencastle High School football team recently presented a $7,148 check to GHS athletic director Russ Hesler and Greencastle Superintendent Dr. Lori Richmond. The money from the Jim and Bob Bridges Fund is for the purchase of new football jerseys with players' names on them. Pictured are (from left) Hesler, Nick Gilliam, Brett Gierke, Richmond, Cody Mundy, Caleb Robinson, T.J. Bolman, Mac Shuee, Carter Lewis, Community Foundation Executive Director Elaine Peck, Hunter Smith, Nate Christy and Cole Pohlar.

Greencastle football player Caleb Robinson and his senior teammates for the coming football season recently presented the Greencastle School Board with a two grant donations totally $7,198. The grant is from the John and Bob Bridges Fund administered by the Putnam County Community Foundation.

The money is to be used to purchase jerseys for the football players that will have their names on the back. With personalized jerseys, the players will then have a lasting memento of their playing days at Greencastle High School.

Putting names on the jerseys will give Greencastle players an opportunity that many young men at small high schools do not have.

This grant was made possible by the hard work of Robinson and several of his teammates and represents donations from many individuals and businesses. The football team envisions this being a new tradition for Greencastle football, where involved adults would assist senior football players to raise money each year for the team's jerseys.

"This will provide additional experiences of taking responsibility, assuming leadership, and helping the community," Robinson said.

The Bridges Fund was established by Judge Charles "Denny" Bridges in 2009 to provide financial support to Greencastle High School for the purpose of buying football jerseys for the players. It is named in honor of Judge Bridges' father and uncle who played football for GHS in the 1950s.

The Putnam County Community Foundation is the administrator of the fund.

"The Community Foundation is delighted to support this project and the Greencastle Community School Corporation in its mission to build educated, strong, and capable citizens for our future," said Elaine Peck, executive director of the Community Foundation.

A fund established three years ago by Denny Bridges will honor his father and uncle, John and Bob Bridges, and purchase new jerseys with player names on the back for the Greencastle football team. The Bridges brothers were both on the 1955 GHS football team, with John (second from right) playing tackle and Bob (back, center) playing fullback.

The Putnam County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1985 to serve donors, award grants and provide leadership, enriching the quality of life and strengthening community in Putnam County. The Community Foundation administers 224 active funds and endowments for donors supporting a variety of charities.

To obtain additional information about donating to the John and Bob Bridges Fund or creating your own endowment, contact the office at 653-4978 or visit the website at www.pcfoundation.org.

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