Portsmouth High Receives $15,000 Gift for New Turf Field

The following is from a press release. 

The Rick Hole Athletic Foundation presented a check to the Friends of the PHS Arts & Athletic Complex on Friday night at Portsmouth High School. 

The foundation has donated $10,000 to the group, with another $5,000 being donated by Dick and Heather Strout.

Friends of the PHS Arts & Athletic Complex is a group of dedicated parents and school administrators who support athletics, music, youth sports and extracurricular activities at Portsmouth High School. This group has organized a massive $1.6 million fundraising campaign to replace the 25-year-old running track and the overused central athletic field.

The committee members are: Dr. Lynn Krizic, superintendent of Portsmouth Schools; Stephen Trezvant, Portsmouth High School’s athletic director; Julia Coll; Ted Clement; Christine Jenkins; Gary Eggeman; and Keith Hamilton.

The Portsmouth school committee, administration and key faculty have agreed that this is a very worthwhile and long overdue effort. The existing track is non-regulation size, can no longer be resurfaced, and the community may not host any league meets.

The central field is saved for games only and is in deplorable condition. The new proposed “synthetic turf” field and track will be a centerpiece for the Portsmouth community, young and old.

The cost of the new track and field is approximately $1.6 million. The Friends of the PHS Arts and Athletic Complex already raised a $500,000 challenge grant and is now seeking matching funds. 

The goal is to “break ground” by June 2013 in order for the complex to be completed by the September 2013 school year.

Donations of any sizes are welcome. All tax deductible donations will be accepted through the Portsmouth High School Athletic Boosters Club, a 501(C)3 organization.

A special account has been set-up exclusively for the Arts & Athletic Complex project. 

To help, you can donate two ways: checks can be made out to PHS Athletic Boosters with “Arts and Athletic Complex” written in the memo, and mailed to PHS Athletic Boosters, P.O. Box 438, Portsmouth, RI 02871.

Or you can donate online by visiting http://www.friendsofphsartsandathleticcomplex.wordpress.com or www.phsboosters.com.