DEXTER, MI – There are two more days for Chelsea and Dexter high school football fans to get in on the fundraising fun with two neighboring education foundations that have turned the rivalry into a community-wide contest to support local students.
The Chelsea Education Foundation and the Educational Foundation of Dexter kicked off their Rivalry Match fundraising competition on Aug. 19, according to a news release. The campaign culminates during halftime of the Dexter-Chelsea game on Friday, Sept. 26.
Both foundations raise money for educational grants that directly benefit local students and schools.
Community members can track which foundation leads the competition through real-time fundraising progress available online for Cheslea’s foundation and the Dexter organization.
Game-day attendees can make donations by credit card, cash or check at the foundations’ respective tents during event. Both organizations are also running events and campaigns leading up to game day.
The Chelsea foundation has collected $1.4 million in donations since 1990 to support grants and scholarships throughout the Chelsea School District. The foundation finances educational projects beyond the district’s resources and provides scholarships to graduates.
The foundation in Dexter has awarded more than $1.4 million in teacher and district grants since 1984, supporting students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade in Dexter Community Schools. These grants have enabled teachers to launch hands-on STEM initiatives, enhance literacy instruction, expand arts programming and introduce social-emotional learning strategies.
The Rivalry Match aims to extend beyond football as a celebration of education and community pride, featuring games, giveaways and school spirit activities, according to the release.
The Chelsea-Dexter game starts at 7 p.m. at Al Ritt Stadium, 2521 Baker Roard, in Dexter.