Events

And sometimes it doesn’t have to have anything to do with what happens on the football field.

With the help of countless people throughout the school district and community, Lunardi helped coordinate what his team titled “Operation: Shoebox.”

The project, which involved collecting, packaging and sending shoeboxes filled with a variety of items overseas to service men and women, was sparked by an idea from parent Chris Thomas, who has been continually active in designing ideas for the team’s Community Outreach Program.

It is just another example of how Lunardi’s football team has developed into much more than what happens on Friday nights.

“Everyone involved had a feeling of excitement and appreciation to do something genuine for the individuals who choose a career that has unselfish decisions every day,” Lunardi said. “We try to teach and give all of our student-athletes an opportunity to understand that when you give, you will get back, even if it is simply a feeling of self-gratitude of choosing to do the right thing for someone other than yourself.”

In previous years, Ravenna’s football team has been involved with Relay for Life, putting together the new playground on Chestnut Street, setting up the Easter Egg Hunt for the Ravenna Parks and Recreation Department, visiting the Longmeadow Nursing Home, Write to Read Week at the Ravenna elementary buildings and Literacy Night at Tappan Elementary.

Operation: Shoebox centered mostly around the Ravens’ football team, but many were involved from start to finish, including the Ravenna Gridiron Club, teachers, the school psychologist, cafeteria aides, transportation department, parents in the community and local businesses providing an “overwhelming response.”

“It is only by serving with each other and for each other that school and community programs grow,” Thomas said.

Additionally, the class taught by Kristin Stonestreet held an important role, counting and sorting all of the items that were accumulated by incorporating math and vocational lessons.

“The sense of pride was not just around the student-athletes, but all throughout the building,” Lunardi said.

The items were sent out and designated for the troop of J.T. Schmauch, who is a Ravenna High School graduate, former player and was an assistant coach on the Ravens’ football staff before being deployed over the winter.

“Projects like these help players understand there is more responsibility than just scoring touchdowns,” Lunardi said.

It is Lunardi’s way of building a quality program that builds quality players, but more importantly, quality people.

“We value our coaching staff that gives far more than football instruction,” Thomas said. “They are men who are great role models for our kids. Coaches who model responsibility, loyalty, trust and commitment to family and friends, community and country.”

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Contact Tom Nader at tnader@recordpub.com
Original article can be found at: http://recordpub.com/news/sports_article/5019633

Relay For Life

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, we are creating a world with more birthdays a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.

Anyone can participate in Relay For Life. Friends, families, neighbors, classmates, sports teams, etc., can form their own teams. No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Relay.

The only requirement to participate in Relay For Life is the $10 registration/commitment fee (per person) that is due upon registration. After that, anything you can raise through individual, team, or online fundraising is graciously accepted. It is recommended that each participant set a personal goal to raise $250. If you raise more, that’s even better. Even if you do not raise $250, you are still welcome to participate. Anything you can raise through individual, team, or online fundraising is graciously accepted.

2011 Relay For Life of Southern Portage, Ohio
Saturday, April 30 – Sunday, May 1 at Ravenna Stadium

For more information regarding the Ravens Football Teams Relay Team, please visit us again in the near future or contact Coach Lunardi at 330.296.3844 ext: 1408