SOAR raffle winner is off to Super Bowl

Ryan Burbank (right) draws the winner to be announced by Thomas Arends. Photo provided

Carol Haywood of Beaverton, Oregon, is the winner of SOAR's Middle School Sports Super Bowl package.

"I was so surprised!" Haywood exclaimed on learning of her win. "This is so much fun."

She has not decided who will accompany her to the Super Bowl, but said she has "a whole bunch of new best friends.

"I love watching sports live," Haywood said, "and I am hoping the Chargers play in the Super Bowl, especially because of Dan Fouts."

Haywood purchased five tickets with no expectation of winning.

"I was just happy to support a youth program, any youth program, especially in the condition Oregon is in at this time," she said.

In Portland, Haywood is actively involved in support for music programs for school children.

Haywood's name was drawn at SOAR's Teen Center Open House on Friday, December 20. The raffle package was donated by Jeri and Dan Fouts and Susan and Phil Arends.

The raffle raised $9,400 for the middle school sports program, which SOAR has managed for two years due to Sisters School District budget cuts.

"This will help us tremendously in keeping middle school sports active in the community," said Tom Coffield, SOAR Managing Director.

Ben Ehrenstrom, the SOAR District Treasurer, said the program costs about $45,000 a year, with SOAR needing to raise about $10,000 annually to cover costs.

"When you look at 82 percent of the middle school kids involved in extracurricular sports activities this year, that's all we needed to hear to be happy about our commitment," Ehrenstrom said.

Ehrenstrom added, "Having children of my own in Sisters schools, I remember well how important sports at the middle school level was to my oldest son. After-school practice helped him keep from bouncing off the walls. Therefore, he was able to concentrate on his homework later.

"In team sports," he said, "these kids learn teamwork, discipline and how to follow directions.

"That's the key time in life for these lessons."