Catbackers set for annual Summer Bash

    Another Summer Bash is on the horizon for the Wilmington Catbacker Football Club, and this year’s annual fundraiser will be held at the Wilmington Moose Lodge Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 19.
    The Summer Bash falls one week before the Wildcats open their season hosting Ottawa on  that Friday. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Catbackers and a great way for Wildcat fans to follow the team.
    Catbackers president Mike Imhof is looking forward to another season of supporting the team that instills much pride for the school and community.
    “The community has been great, really receptive,” he said. “There are some great supporters of the program and they support the Catbackers as well.”
    Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 815-210-4985. Only 200 tickets at $100 each will be sold, allowing up to four people on the one ticket.
    The Bash includes a “cash drawdown” for half of the total sales, raffles, door prizes and a live auction conducted by Holmes Auctions. It will run from 2 to 8 p.m.
    “The ticket includes all the food, it feeds four, and all the drinks are provided,” added Imhof.
    The “Cash Drawdown”
  Every so often a ticket number will be pulled in the cash drawdown. A total of 23 tickets will be called.
    “The big winner is at the end,” said Imhof. “Generally that is a significant amount of money. It was a little over $3,000 last year.”
    In previous years, the Catbackers have auctioned sports memorabilia from professional teams like the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox tickets, fitness packages, golf and cart usage at Cinder Ridge Golf Course, car care packages and Wildcat Spirit packages (purple canopy, spirit wear and family sports passes).
    Imhof said a lot of the popular items on the auction block are back, noting that half the fun is listening to auctioneer Todd Holmes adding some banter with the crowd.
    “It is a fun event with some great items,” Imhof added. “We aren’t going to detail what we have, because we want to keep it a surprise. There are always good items that people would want though.”
    For those looking to attend the Summer Bash, they better act quickly, as tickets are selling fast.
    Only about 50 tickets are left with the event less about two weeks away.
    “All of this is to suport the Wilmington football program,” Imhof added. “Last year we were able to provide new equipment, new sleds for the sled dummies, different odds and ends. We have also given elsewhere, such as providing food for football, band and cheerleaders when they went down to state, but primarily it is used for the football program.”
    Imhof looks forward to another fun, exciting fundraiser, and also looks forward to seeing the community out to show its support.
    “The Wilmington community is huge in this, and we just want the continued support on August 19th.”