49°
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Even after his son hung up his football jersey for the last time, Chuck Strome continued to play an active role in the New Rochelle High School Football Parents’ Association. Strome, who is also city manager, says the catalyst for his involvement was the organization’s first annual golf outing in 2009. That initial event has snowballed into a program that helps fund off-season sports camp scholarships and more.
The football camps provide a great opportunity for players to be seen by athletic scouts from colleges, he says. That's why Strome and fellow coordinator Frank Miceli have recruited community sponsors such as the New Rochelle Police Foundation, Cappelli Enterprises and Simone Development. Thanks to their efforts, the football team has collected more than $50,000 in the past three years alone.
“The [football] program was so helpful in my son’s school years and it’s such a vital part of the community,” Strome says. His way of giving back is not limited to the camp scholarships. Strome and his cohorts helped raise money for temporary lights last October to host the first night game at McKenna Field in more than 50 years.
Before the Parents’ Association began to fundraise on a larger scale, Strome participated in more traditional activities, including selling hamburgers and T-shirts at games. “I thought there would be a better way to raise money,” adds Strome, who lives in town with his wife Agatha, daughter Nicole and son Carl.
When he isn’t volunteering, Strome tends to New Rochelle’s issues as city manager. “It has been rewarding to be able to get involved in protecting residents and make them happy they chose New Rochelle as their home,” he says.
Comments