As high school sports officials, we try to give something back for the privilege of having the opportunity to do something we love. And, why not? Officiating is fun. It motivates us to keep in shape and improve our long-term health, enables us to make lifelong friendships and, yes, get paid for it. N o wonder so many of us volunteer for charitable activities that help so many people.

But one group of people who could really use our help is often overlooked. They are our fellow officials who may be have difficulties because of a health or financial crisis. They are not just our colleagues, they are our extended family. They are sometimes overlooked because we don't know of their plight (many are too private or proud to share their problems and reach out for assistance). Even if we do know of a colleague who needs our help, we’re not sure what to do because there is no set process to help.

In the New Haven, Connecticut, area, two high school sports officials’ organizations sought to remedy this situation. The organizations started with a modest goal and put a lot of thought into how best to raise money. Over time, their efforts have evolved into a substantial set of fund raising activities which have been of enormous help to those who need it most. More significantly, they created an organization and an infrastructure for making their substantial fundraising activities repeatable and sustainable. This may be an example that other officials’ groups could follow.

The Root of a Good Idea

It started in 2004 when a member of the New Haven Football Officials Association (NHFOA) lost his sight during surgery. This ended his officiating career and was a devastating life-changing event. His fellow officials organized a golf tournament which raised more than $40,000 to support him and his family.

In 2008, another member of the NHFOA, Jim McGuigan  was diagnosed with Stage-4 brain cancer. Many officials knew Jim’s wife and family personally and thought that Jim’s family could use some financial assistance to deal with medical costs and other expenses.

Scott Kelly of the NHFOA came up with an idea for a fundraiser on Jim’s behalf. Kelly, with the aid of Bill Schule, Ralph Zingarella, Kevin Moffett and a number of other NHFOA officials, organized a fundraiser in January 2009 – an “Officials’ Night Out” dinner/dance party. They raised more than $25,000. This success led to an idea.

“I realized after we had our first event in Jim’s honor a few months before he passed that this could lead into something bigger,” said former NHFOA President Ralph Zingarella. “There were so many officials who were out of work or had serious medical problems in their families. Although we could not provide enough for them, we could still do a little.”  Turns out, they did a lot more than “a little.”

Creation of a Non-profit to Aid Officials

The NHFOA decided to do a major fund raising event at least once a year to benefit needy colleagues and their families.  They established “New Haven Football Officials’ Charities.” They incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which can be a time-consuming and complex process, but well worth it. This organization became the infrastructure for running an annual Officials’ Night Out fundraiser and for supervising the collection and distribution of funds. Since the inaugural event in 2009, New Haven Football Officials’ Charities has raised over $110,000. 

Basketball and Football Officials Join Forces

A key development was the additional participation of IAABO Board 10, the high school basketball officials association in New Haven Connecticut.  Many of their members officiate high school football as well.  One Board 10 member, Dr. Dan Davis (a regular contributor to the NFHS Officials’ web site) and his colleague Ralph Zingarella, proposed a joint venture with the football officials to hold a second annual fundraiser – a Bowling Night Out – at one of the larger bowling establishments in the area.  In addition to ticket sales, sports memorabilia and Yankees and Red Sox tickets were auctioned or raffled off. Three of these fundraisers have been held, netting around $11,000, all of which has been distributed to officials in distress and their families.  This event is now an annual occasion and will be for years to come.

Casting a Wide Net of Charitable Giving

New Haven Football Officials’ Charities does more than aid fellow officials. Former board president Bill Schule said: “We support many of the charities that our officials are involved in. We also have given money to players, coaches, etc. who are in need at many of the schools and youth organizations whose games we officiate. We give out all the money raised each year. Hopefully, someday we will have a year when everyone is healthy and we can save it for future needs.”

The Key to Success: Make it Sustainable

There is no lack of ideas on how to raise money for worthy causes. The key is to make such efforts successful, repeatable and sustainable. It takes significant dedication and the willingness to devote time to make these events happen, to be sure. But it is the underlying organization of such efforts that yields the best results and provides all individuals who wish to help a proven, established structure through which they can channel their efforts. That’s what New Haven Football Officials’ Charities has become, and there’s no reason you couldn’t organize something similar within your own officials’ organizations. If you need a reason, consider what Dr. Dan Davis says: “All officials are family, and if we can help family, that is what it's all about.  There is no better feeling.” 

To find out more about New Haven Football Officials’ Charities,  contact the NHFOA at http://www.nhfoa.com/Contact_Us.html