Fundraiser or 12 hour sale

We went to a fundraiser auction tonight. It is amazing how most people look at it as shopping the 12 hour sale at Macy's. They forget the key word "fundraiser". This one happened to be for the athletic department for school. Athletics are very near and dear to my heart. I have 3 boys, they all played sports. Mackies football team last year practiced on 50 year old sleds. Rusted, broken etc.... Baseball had a scoreboard that worked half the time. Why is it that there is always just a handful of parents that understand the importance of sports? It teaches so many valuable lessons. Respect authority, work together, excel, push yourself to be better, help one another, not to mention the lifetime friends you make. Mackie played baseball with the same kids from t-ball up. He is now playing with some of those boys in college. If I were a coach and not just a parent standing on the sidelines, or say a "future employer", every quality that was taught is something I would look for.

I wish that when the fundraisers come around, that people would look at it as a contribution to our future. We are investing in a life that may someday run the country, or cure cancer. Maybe they will be a loving parent or a respectful spouse. Maybe the norm will be to stay married because of the time they learned to work together. Anyway you look at it, the world is a better place thanks to the coaches and teachers, the booster clubs, and the parents that support athletics. So when the opportunity comes to help, open your wallets and help the future. Look at it as a chance to pay double what it is worth in money, but priceless for our future.