In the intricate tapestry of education, school foundations stand with their ability to help shape the framework of their school district. Dixon Public School's Foundation plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between educational aspirations and the resources required to make them happen.
The Foundation raises money via fundraisers to enhance educational resources, invest in modern teaching technologies, and ensure that classrooms are equipped to meet the evolving needs of students and educators that might not be covered by standard school budgets. There are various fundraisers that are ran throughout the year, but the biggest contributor to Dixon Public Schools Foundation is the Stupor Bowl. Here is that story.
Tom Wadsworth, Stupor Bowl Founder: "In the 1990s, my kids were involved in the DHS Scholastic Bowl team, and I loved going to their matches. While watching these exciting matches, I thought, “We ought to have this kind of competition for adults and use it as a fundraiser!”
Since I was involved in establishing the Dixon Public Schools Foundation in 1992, I thought that the Foundation would be the perfect organization to benefit from the event. In 1996 I pulled together several people from the community to plan and execute the first Stupor Bowl.
Since February was often a down-time for community events, we selected February of 1997 as the date for the first one. Seeing a connection with the Super Bowl, we called it “Stupor Bowl” and scheduled it on the day before the Super Bowl—which we still do today. We actually joked that the NFL always calls us and asks when the Stupor Bowl will be held, and they then schedule the Super Bowl on the day after the Stupor Bowl.
The 1997 Stupor Bowl was held at Dixon High School. But we soon realized that Reagan School would be better for this event, and we moved the Stupor Bowl to Reagan School in 1998. We’ve been there ever since. Its facilities have been ideal for the competition, the Silent Auction, and the food sales that are key components of the event.
Stupor Bowl 1997 attracted 26 teams and raised $5,600. But over the years, we’ve raised as much as $18,800 at a single Stupor Bowl. In all, the Stupor Bowl has raised over $275,000 for the Foundation, which annually uses the money to purchase educational tools for the classrooms throughout Dixon Public Schools."
Due to the success of the Stupor Bowl, the Foundation is able to generate revenue for the school district, bring the community together for festivities and fellowship, and ultimately provide for the educators and student's yearning to achieve the highest potential possible. To date, the Foundation has raised over $500,000 to be able to provide cutting edge educational tools for Dixon Public Schools.
However, any fundraiser isn't complete without the cooperation and support of the volunteers. They are willing to not only take time out of their own schedules, but also put in the hard work and effort that is needed to make it happen. It takes the collective efforts of everyone involved to achieve success year in and year out. Taking all things into consideration, we hope to see you at the next Stupor Bowl!
