Surprise Donation to Falcon Athletics

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Oct 29, 2008 at 9:43 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 29, 2008 at 9:43 PM CST

PARKERSBURG - Five months after a massive tornado wiped out about half of the Butler County town of Parkersburg, donations are still pouring in to help with the rebuilding. Wednesday, the school district's athletics director and long-time football coach Ed Thomas was caught off guard in a school pep rally when he received a substantial check from strangers. The donation will help with something that ties the community together...sports.

This fall, football in Falcon country connected a town torn apart by a deadly tornado.

"You're playing for your community and you know they are behind you because of all that happened. You just want to play your heart out for them," says football player Mike Wiegmann.

That mentality helped the Aplington-Parkersburg high school football team power through and end the regular season 9 and 0.

"Going into the year I knew we would have a good football team ,but I didn't dream we would be at the level we are now," says Thomas.

Coach Thomas first credits his football team for its undefeated regular season, but next in line is the support from people across the country, especially here in Iowa. The most recent support, a check for $16,332 dollars, was a surprise to Coach Thomas.
Varsity Gold, a high school fund raising company, matched donations from ten Iowa and Illinois high schools and gave it all to the
A-P athletics fund. Wednesday's check presentation choked up Coach Thomas, and so have many of the other donations, big and small, from strangers.

"One of the greatest gifts we received was from a senior citizen lady in Iowa gave us her tax refund of $300. She sent it to us and said you can use it more than I can," says Thomas.

Coach Thomas uses such examples of selflessness as part of his coaching.

"He tries to make you a better person more than a better football player," says Wiegmann.

Wednesday was a perfect lesson in how to help people in need without asking for anything in return.

Coach Thomas says the money will be used to fix up the football, baseball, and softball facilities all damaged during the tornado.

Aplington-Parkersburg High School will also get an additional $25,000 after winning a nationwide contest by the Henkel corporation.

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