ROCKFORD FAMILY NIGHT A HIT FOR TWENTY-FIVE SEASONS!
Throughout their 25-year
dealing with a somewhat limited
the entire school district, the annual
existence, the West Michigan
supply of sports equipment at his
Rockford Family Night has generated
Whitecaps have strived to find ways
school, was intrigued by the idea so
more than $83,000 and nearly 35,000
to give back to the community
he decided to give it a try.
tickets sold prior to this season’s
through a variety of efforts that includes making sure local youths
event, which will be held on Monday,
He was not disappointed.
have the proper equipment required
May 21, when the Whitecaps host the Fort Wayne TinCaps.
to help them play sports and enjoy a
healthy lifestyle.
the first Rockford Family Night that
helped raise more than $1,000 for
to attend this year’s game as a part of
new equipment.
Rockford Family Night.
No one knows that better than
He was able to sell 521 tickets for Farrell expects about 1,500 people
Rockford Public Schools.
During the Whitecaps’ inaugural
“Once that happened, then I
“We call it Rockford Family
started thinking I really need to share
Night, but I look at it as an
1994 season, Parkside Elementary
this with the seven other elementary
opportunity in this busy culture
physical education teacher Tim
schools,” Farrell said.
that we live in for a family to set
Farrell responded to a letter sent by
aside a night where they can go do
the team that offered partnership
The program has been able to
opportunities for fundraisers for
maintain its success for more than
local schools. Farrell, who was
two decades. Now a joint effort of
something together,” Farrell said. “I really feel that pull of trying to create