Miners report missing funds

     The community and even the competition is rallying around the Coal City Miners in hopes of salvaging the youth football season. The outreach comes with the recent realization that over $20,000 has been taken from the club’s bank account, allegedly at the hands of a former board member.
    On Friday evening, Aug. 31, the youth football organization announced via social media that through investigation a theft of funds had occurred and it, “was the act of one person.” The individual’s name has not been publicly announced.
    Representatives from the football program reported the apparent theft to the Coal City Police Department late last week, subsequently met with an investigator and a criminal investigation has been opened.
    “We believe in being honest and transparent with all those in our football family and league. This act of malice in a youth sport has devastated each and every member that is currently on the board of directors,” the online post stated.
    The missing funds have put the program in a tough financial situation as it heads into the mid-way point of the regular season.
    Within minutes of making an announcement local businesses and individuals were stepping up to offer financial support to ensure the football players and cheerleaders could complete the season. An online donation site was set up and as of Tuesday morning was close to garnering $2,200  in pledges.
    Additionally, other youth sports programs and organizations have reached out to the Miners with financial assistance. Among them is the Illinois 8 Youth Tackle Football League (I8YTFL) of which the Miners are members.
    The league’s other teams—Reed-Custer Jr. Comets, Wilmington Bobcats, Manteno Wildcats, Peotone Blue Devils, Plano Reapers, Herscher Tigers and Sandwich Indians—teamed up to raise $3,000 to help the program out.
    “We are competitors on the field, but friends and family off [the field]; this is why this league is great. There is way more than football and cheerleading we are teaching our athletes,” the I8YTFL stated.
    The Miners are working to rebuild their funds. This past weekend they held a tag day at Whistle Stop in Diamond and have announced a fundraiser that has them selling LaBraids. Information can be found on the club’s Facebook page Coal City Miners.
    Individuals, businesses and organizations interested in supporting the youth football and cheer program with a donation can do so on the Facebook page or by mail to Coal City Miners, P.O. Box 271, Coal City, IL 60416.
    “We appreciate the support of each and everyone of you, the entire I-8 league, and the community of Coal City,” stated the board in its post.
    Coal City Miners is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 to provide the community with a foundation in football and cheerleading. Each season the program fields five football teams—dynamites, superlights, lightweights, junior varsity and varsity— and four cheerleading squads from superlights to varsity.
    The Miners will host the Reed-Custer Jr. Comets Sunday, Sept. 9. Action starts with the dynamites at 9 a.m. Games are played at Coal City High School.