A.J. Parise cheerleaders holding boot drive for new uniforms
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Even though it’s springtime, and baseball, softball and track and field are underway, it’s time to talk about football in one sense. The A.J. Parise youth football team cheerleaders will be doing just that Saturday, as they’ll hold a boot drive to raise money for new uniforms.
Joseph Pascuzzo, A.J. Parise Youth Football president, said the organization is holding a boot drive at the Punxsutawney Central Fire Department, located at 301 East Mahoning St., Punxsutawney, to raise money to purchase the new uniforms.
The boot drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s been eight years since the last time the cheerleader uniforms were replaced, and it’s just time for an update,” Pascuzzo said, adding that they’ll need to raise $6,000 to pay for the new uniforms, as they have 50 to 75 cheerleaders in any given season.
He added that representatives of the program will be out there with boot in hand, though some might show their spirit by using a cheerleader’s megaphone to collect the money.
The teams are run by volunteer coaches and cheerleader coaches. “A.J. Parise is dependent on donations from the community,” Pascuzzo said. “We charge families a minimal fee, which basically covers our insurance, facility usage and player safety insurance.”
In addition to the cost of uniforms and equipment, the program needs supplies for taking care of the practice field at the shooting range.
“We cut the grass, paint lines on the practice field,” Pascuzzo said, adding that at Jack LaMarca Stadium, where they play their home games, they pay a facility usage fee.
Pascuzzo added that in a couple of years, they’ll need new helmets. “That will probably cost $250 apiece, and I need at least 100 of them,” he said.
At the end of the season, they send their helmets to be cleaned and recertified. This is done every year, even though they aren’t required to do so.
The team’s first game this season will be at home on Aug. 14 against Brockway.
Pascuzzo thanked the Central Fire Department for allowing the football team to hold its fundraiser at the fire hall.