Varina Ruritan Club raises $13k for new uniforms, equipment for Varina HS football team

The Varina Ruritan Club raised $13,250 for new uniforms and equipment for the Varina High School football team, following its first state championship win last year.

Some of the team’s old equipment was at least 20 years old, said Head Coach Marcus Lewis. Lewis, a Varina high school alum who is in his third year as head coach, said many people began to contact him after the state championship.

“A lot of people were unaware of us having to fundraise for stuff that we need,” Lewis said.

After hearing about the state championship team’s financial needs, Ruritan Club President Buddy Whitlow (a graduate of the school’s Class of 1972) formed a fundraising committee composed of three other members of the Ruritan Club, a member of the Varina Lions Club, and three community members.

“[Lewis] is doing a great job with the kids and we’re really proud of the job that he’s done, and that’s another reason we wanted to help him,” Whitlow said.

Lewis met with the committee members to help give an idea of what kind of equipment the funds would support, Whitlow said. This included new jerseys, helmets, girdles, and football pads, Lewis said.

Former coach Stu Brown, who was a part of the fundraising effort, helped provide guidance as well, Whitlow said.

The committee members organized a sporting clay shoot at Old Forge Sporting Clays in New Kent County to raise funds for the team. Seven teams signed up to participate in the Sept. 26 event, which was supported by corporate sponsorships from businesses in Eastern Henrico as well as private donations from citizens.

“We sold station signs very similar to hole signs in golf tournaments, and we posted them around so everyone could see them at the clay shoot,” Whitlow said.

In addition to attending the fundraiser with a few players, Lewis made sure the event information was posted on the team’s social media, he said.

Ruritan Club officials presented a check for the $13,250 from the clay shooting event during halftime Varina High School’s homecoming football game Oct. 14, a 46-14 win against Atlee.

“If we happen to do this again, people will know how much money we raised,” Whitlow said, “and I think it could be even bigger if we elect to do it again.”

Lewis is interested in continuing the fundraiser annually and hopes to get more parents and community members involved next year.

“I'm very thankful that we got some people in the community just willing to give back and put the time back into our community to help our young men succeed in life,” Lewis said.