A recent raffle sponsored by the Grayson County High School Football Alumni Association (GCHSFAA) raised over $2,000 for the Doug Thompson Memorial Scholarship fund.
The raffle, which offered a basketball autographed by University of Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope as its prize, was won by Penny Newton, of Leitchfield. The raffle raised $2,050, surpassing the 2020-2021 season amount of $1,611, and the 2021-2022 season amount of $1,490.
Newton won the raffle at Monday night’s Cougars vs. Daviess County basketball game.
This marks the third time the GCHS Football Alumni Association has held a raffle for an autographed UK basketball in support of the Doug Thompson Memorial Scholarship; an annual scholarship presented to a GCHS football team member.
All three basketballs were donated by GCHS alumnus Dale Baldwin, a 2018 Grayson Co. High School Hall of Fame inductee.
Baldwin, a 1982 graduate, participated in football, basketball, track & field, and cheerleading at GCHS.
In track & field, the multi-sport athlete set a GCHS pole vault record before matriculating to UK where he was a cheerleader for four years. The Wildcats cheer squad, which boasts 24 national championships, won three titles (1985, 1987–88) while Baldwin was a cheerleader and later a coach for one year.
This year’s raffle raised $2,050 dollars, surpassing the 2020-2021 season amount of $1,611, and the 2021-2022 season amount of $1,490.
In total, basketball’s donated to the raffle by Baldwin have raised $5,151 for the scholarship fund.
About GCHS Football Alumni Association
GCHSFAA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2018 by a handful of former GCHS football team members – growing to over 720 current members.
The organization’s focus on fostering relationships between alumni, Grayson County High School, the football program, and the surrounding community has made a huge impact and a strong commitment to giving back to GCHS and in the community.
Since its inception in 2018, GCHSFAA has proudly awarded five $500 scholarships, donated $5,700 to the Cougar Football Boosters, donated $2,000 to Grayson County’s Jr. Pro Football & Cheer program, and donated $500 to the Graves County Football program in support of their Tornado Relief Fund.
Since 2019, the first year of the association’s Tackle Hunger initiative, GCHSFAA, along with Grayson County Schools, has raised over $15,000 and more than 15,400 pounds of food for Grayson County Alliance, resulting in 136,000 meals for food-insecure families.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
