Up until this year, visitors coming to Scout Field in Haddonfield typically would ask the same question time after time when they got to the field.
Hey, what’s the score? What time of the game is it?
Well, no more, as the Haddonfield School District unveiled a new state of the art scoreboard that was installed at Scout Field earlier this year in the beginning of September. For years visitors to the field had no idea what the score or time of the games were and had to depend on other spectators who had been at the start of each game for information.
Haddonfield Athletic Director Lefty Banos said Jim McKenzie, a fan of Haddonfield sports and a Haddonfield resident, approached him last year and asked him why Scout Field didn’t have a scoreboard.
“Basically, I told him that we didn’t have the money for a new scoreboard down at Scout Field,” Banos said. “He told me not to worry about it and several citizens would get us the funding to purchase one.”
Sure enough, McKenzie was able to rally several donors to the school district, each of which pledged $1,000 to district for a scoreboard.
PJ Whelihan’s Restaurant Group, TD Bank, All Risk Property Damage Experts, Placido Verna, Ltd, McLaughlin Asset Management, Inc., Costa and Rihl Mechanical Contractors, Conner Strong Insurance, and the Haddonfield Educational Trust each pledged $1,000 for the scoreboard.
Dave Capelli, owner of Placido Verna, Ltd., said he was more than happy to help out with a new scoreboard.
“Growing up in the town, being an alum of the high school and playing soccer on that field, it was an easy decision. Much like a turf field, I thought the scoreboard is something that was long overdue. So many school shave scoreboards for their sports and I know how tough the budgets are over at the district,” he said. “Programs get cut every year, especially the sports programs. I knew the school wouldn’t be able to put one in themselves, they have to prioritize. For all of those reasons, I wanted to be able to help.”
Banos said there was likely no way the school district could have purchased the scoreboard itself without the help of the donors.
“In these economic times, when everything is so tough financially, you want to depend on boosters and corporate sponsors to help you upgrade the facilities,” he said. “It’s the only way we can make this happen right now, we’re so appreciative of them and their help with this project.”
The day the scoreboard was switched on for the first time, Banos addressed the donors and several Haddonfield Memorial High School athletes who showed up for the event.
It’s important, he told the students, to remember your roots and support your community like the donors have done with this scoreboard.
“Remember the example of how these boosters and corporate sponsors gave back to the community,” Banos said. “Remember this when you go into the real world. Remember to always give back to your school and your community.”
