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Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Members of the Stanley Electric contributions committee—(from left) Cindy Morgan, Joe Heunen, Shirley Green, Lenhard Taylor and Teresa Harsh—present a $50,000 check to Madison-Plains administrators and members of the Golden Eagle Athletic Complex Renovation Committee—Superintendent Bernie Hall, Steve Adams (accepting check), Treasurer Scott Hiles, high school Principal Chris Clark, and Athletic Director Will Pratt. |
Stanley Electric, which manufactures automotive lighting components for Honda, is “lighting the way” to new home bleachers at Madison-Plains High School’s football field.
On April 17, the London company’s contributions committee delivered a check for $50,000 to members of the Golden Eagle Athletic Complex Renovation Committee. The donation is the largest the renovation committee has received to date.
“It’s fantastic that Stanley has stepped forward,” said Steve Adams, a member of the renovation committee, which began collecting pledges for the bleacher project 18 months ago.
Last month, the Madison-Plains school board agreed to front the money for the project, approximately $200,000, so that the project could start right away. The renovation committee, a non-profit group, will repay the district in full.
Originally, Stanley pledged a total of $50,000 to be donated in four equal parts over four years. When the company learned that construction was to start this summer, they decided to deliver their entire pledge all at once.
“Our committee is designed to build strong local communities,” said Stanley associate Teresa Harsh. The bleacher project builds just such a community for the students at Madison-Plains, whether they compete in athletics, play in the marching band, or cheer on those who do.
The renovation committee has collected $165,000 in pledges. They continue to seek more pledges and donations to cover the remaining $35,000 in expected costs.
“This one (from Stanley) sure goes a long way toward meeting that end,” Adams said.
In thanking Stanley for their donation, Madison-Plains Superintendent Bernie Hall said, “On behalf of the school board and all of our students, we take our hats off to you.”
Tear-down of the old home stands will begin in May. The new stands should be up in time for Madison-Plains’ first home football game on Aug. 22 against Hamilton Township. A pre-game ceremony is planned to recognize all donors involved in the bleacher project.
