The East Palestine football team helmets have featured a train track stripe this season. (Photo by Ron Firth)

EAST PALESTINE — The East Palestine High School Athletic Department received a big boost recently meant to help the school’s sports programs overcome the hurdles left in the wake of the Feb. 3 train derailment. During a school pep assembly Sept. 15, the East Palestine Athletic Department was presented with a 75-for-75 Sports Matter Grant from Dick’s Sporting Goods.

According to the sporting goods retailer, the $75,000 grant is to “go toward all of East Palestine High School’s sports – to ensure that fall sports can continue on as normal.”

Assistant Principal Dwayne Pavkovich had originally approached the franchise with hopes of securing $10,000 to help offset financial losses attributed to the derailment. Concerns about the safety of East Palestine led to cancellation of several athletic tournaments and decreased participation in others. A decrease in ticket sales, concessions and 50/50 raffles led to a loss of about $70,000 in revenue for the Bulldogs’ athletic department.

“There was a chance these student athletes would have another sports season canceled due to something far out of their control,” said Dick’s Community Marketing Manager Jim Famularo said. “We saw an opportunity to support these kids and make sure they could play.”

Dick’s stepped in and stepped up by awarding East Palestine a 75-for-75 grant. The grant was established to commemorate the store’s 75th anniversary by giving away 75 grants worth $75,000. Since 2014, the Sports Matter Program has donated $80 million to support young athletes.

“The student athletes and coaches of East Palestine were resilient and determined to not be victims of the catastrophe that happened in their backyard,” said Director of Sports Matter and Community Relations Kristen Garmey. “The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation wanted to help these athletes thrive.”

Pavkovich was both grateful and relieved at Dick’s generosity and said the grant will get the Bulldogs back on track.

“Sports is a fundamental part of East Palestine’s DNA,” he said. “We’re gaining momentum and things are going in the right direction again.”