A partnership between the Presque Isle Rotary Club and Aroostook Huskies Football will bring a new football field on Route 1 midway between Presque Isle and Caribou one step closer to reality.

Rotary-Auction
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The construction of the field on 20 acres of land owned by the Aroostook Huskies Football Club has been selected by Presque Isle Rotarians as their special project in conjunction with their 69th Annual Auction, which is set for November 29th and 30th, and December 1st.  Together, the two clubs are hoping to raise $25,000 that would support the earthwork and related infrastructure to get the field built in 2017.

The Huskies, which include both a high school and middle school team, practice and play primarily on a field rented from the City of Caribou.  The field size and limited availability prohibit further growth and prevent scheduling some opponents.  Paying rent is a significant financial drain to the program, and the Huskies are often at a competitive disadvantage against teams able to practice several more times a week.

"The need to develop a football field with lights is real and compelling," said Stephen Richard, who along with Aroostook Huskies co-founder, long-time coach and fellow Presque Isle Rotarian Stuart Wyckoff, is co-chairing this year's special project.

The Aroostook Huskies Football Club currently benefits 75 kids a year, a number Richard and Wyckoff both believe will grow with the construction of the new field.  The program is strongly grounded in several core life skills considered by the directors and coaches to be just as important as football skills.

"This program is making such a positive impact on the lives of so many youth in our communities," said Gina LeBlanc-Eggert, president of the Presque Isle Rotary Club.  "We are inviting the community to join us in supporting this worthwhile cause and to get behind the Aroostook Huskies to make their 'field of dreams' a reality."

Presque Isle Rotary Club Special Project Partner status annually is funded through a collaborative solicitation of direct community member donations made during the Auction.  Typically, the goal for the Special Project is to raise between $20,000 and $25,000 for larger community projects.

More information on the Aroostook Huskies Football Club and the selection of the new field as Rotary's 2016 Special Project can be found on the Aroostook Youth Football website at www.aroostookfootball.org. Donations are currently being accepted and are tax deductible.  Individuals, businesses and organizations wanting to contribute to the new field construction project should make checks payable to: Aroostook Huskies Football Club and mail to PO Box 868, Presque Isle, Maine 04769.

This information was submitted to us as part of a press release. If you would like to share your community news or event with our audience, please email newspi@townsquaremedia.com

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