Purple and Gold Club gives money to Music Dept.

BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR If you attended Friday night’s football game against Snohomish, you were probably more than a little disappointed by the final score but halftime brought many cheers when the Purple and Gold Club handed Viking Band Director Neal Proff, a check for $3,500 to use towards the purchase of a new piano.

The Purple and Gold Club is a citizen booster club that was formed five years ago to support education, athletics and student achievement at Lake Stevens High School.

Long time teacher and Dean of Students, Gil McKinnie along with Ed Bailey, Director of the Athletic Dept., invited several past students and community members to participate in the club five years ago. The club has since grown from about 40 members to over 200 members today.

“Our main goal is to provide financial support and any other support that is needed to optimize the success of the students,” McKinnie said.

The PGC not only sponsors two academic awards nights a year for students but also gives away $10,000 - $15,000 a year in other projects including the newly built batting cages and the “Hall of Fame”, along with books, calculators and other supplemental materials students may need but can not always afford.

“I think it is a good cause,” Tim Possey, President of the PGC said. “It really interested me that they give to athletics and academics.”

One of their biggest fundraisers is their annual Golf Tournament every spring. Other monies come from donations, both monetary and in-kind and the Kiwanis Club generously donates all monies made on opening night of the Beverage Garden at Aquafest to the Purple and Gold Club.
“Our goal is to give every student the opportunity to be successful,” McKinnie said.

If you would like to get involved with the PGC or make a donation of any kind, please contact Gil McKinnie at 425-335-1515.

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