Amy Beverland Elementary Dads’ Club Tackles Any Task
Writer: Suzanne Huntzinger
Photograph provided by ABE Dads’ Club
They’re not just an ordinary group of parent volunteers who get hooked into helping with odd jobs at the school where their children attend. Meet the Dads’ Club of Amy Beverland Elementary. Led by President Scott Maskel and Treasurer Chris Knox, this dedicated group of about 25 dads has been doing amazing things for Amy Beverland and the Lawrence community for about 20 years now.
Their mission is simple: To be committed to making their children’s ABE experience the best it can be and to have fun while doing it. Sure, part of their agenda involves a social aspect and helping with dad-type tasks. Dads’ Club hosts a pancake breakfast with Santa and they run Chess Club. Twice a year, these swell dads meet for a work day to complete various cleaning, maintenance and beautification projects.
“If something needs to be painted, fixed or cleaned inside or outside of the school, we’re doing it,” says committee chair Jose Lusende. “We want to do all we can to provide a safe and pleasant environment to all our children.”
But beyond the social aspect and dad-type tasks, this group of guys is an extraordinary force that raises money to provide things for classrooms, runs the basketball league and runs the Susan Jordan Memorial Golf Outing fundraiser. During the 2016-2017 school year, the club raised almost $38,000 to be used towards new technology for the school, supplies, recognition awards and more.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of all those who’ve contributed, either with their time or a financial contribution,” Maskel says.
The Susan Jordan Memorial Golf Outing is the club’s largest fundraiser each year. The 2018 golf outing was held May 21 at the Old Oakland Golf Club and sold out all 36 slots of foursomes. The event raised more than $20,000 for the school in its first and second years. Numbers for this year’s golf outing haven’t been tallied yet, but the club is hoping to see the success topping the previous two years. The majority of the Dads’ Club funds for the entire year are raised at the May golf event.
The basketball league is another big money maker for the club. The men conduct evaluations, placing the players in teams according to grade or skill level, and they host the league’s games. Dads’ Club also heads up the popular annual Kids vs. Teachers game at the Lawrence Education and Community Center. The matchup is not only a big hit with families, but the night ends with awards, which are courtesy of Dads’ Club too.
Besides the fundraising events, the Dads’ Club is the brawn behind the annual Communication Night at the school. While students and families are in the classrooms checking out the latest projects the students have accomplished, the dads are in the kitchen cooking and serving up a full spaghetti dinner, complete with salad, breadsticks and dessert.
Amy Beverland Dads’ Club is looking for more good men to join their force. If you’re an Amy Beverland Dad looking to meet other great dads and become more involved in your child’s school, the club wants you. You can be as involved as you want — attend meetings or select the events at which you want to help. Meetings are held monthly at the Media Center. Check the amybeverland.ltschools.org website for dates and times. For more information, contact President Scott Maskel at scott.maskel@morganstanley.com.
