The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Upgrades envisioned at athletic complex
Campaign launched to raise money for new facilities
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 8, 2007
A Milan resident has anonymously donated about $270,000 for the construction of new home-side bleachers at the Milan High School football field, spurring a renaissance of the school's entire athletic complex.
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On the heels of the large donation, a committee of volunteers and coaches has initiated a capital campaign to raise money for a concessions building complete with restrooms and team rooms to be located near the football and baseball fields.
Also envisioned for the complex are new soccer fields, a refurbished track, a brick-paved drive, and an entrance gate with brick pillars. Central to the complex will be a memorial to Marine Cpl. Gary Koehler, a former Milan football player who was killed last year in Iraq.
The committee would like to complete the ambitious project within two years, said Roberta Myyra, who is spearheading the effort.
Myyra plans to quit her job at a biotech company in Ann Arbor to take on the capital campaign full time.
"The project is so big, so complex, we've all said we'd like to do this if we only had the time," she said. "I'm happy I could do it."
Myyra has some experience raising money for projects. She helped find the money to put up the concession and storage building at the baseball fields in Wilson Park when she was the president of Milan Youth League. The city loaned the league $24,000 and Myyra helped raise an additional $12,000. Much of the materials and labor were donated, as well, she said. That project took three years from inception to completion.
Work is already under way on transforming the high school's athletic complex. The old visitor bleachers and press box have been torn down, and the committee already has compiled a materials list for the building. The group hopes to begin site work in the spring, Myyra said.
When the new complex is finished, it will be a point of pride for the high school, said Principal Ron Reed.
"For our community, it will be something visually appealing and will send the message that Milan puts its kids' needs first," he said.
Reed said the needs of the school's outdoor facilities were not addressed when money was allocated from the bond for the new high school. He approached Myyra about heading up the capital campaign project.
"If you know Milan athletics, you know Roberta Myyra," Reed said. "She is a tireless volunteer and supporter."
"(Reed) has a big vision and I'm right there behind him," Myyra said.
After years as a clinical perfusionist at the University of Michigan, Myyra worked with the Ann Arbor Arts Center, chairing the organization's WineFest fund-raiser. It was, she said, an eye-opening experience.
"That's when I learned volunteers can do anything they want to do," she said. "You can pursuer any project you want to the extent you want."
Volunteers are central to student athletics, Myyra said, and she wants to help create an environment that is inviting to work in.
"I want people to want to come out and volunteer," she said.
A portion of the money raised at existing fund-raisers, such as the Jenyk-Joplin Golf Outing and the Cash Bash, will be put toward the athletic complex renovation. In addition, the committee plans to stage a 5K run fund-raiser as part of Discover Milan May 5 and to sell engraved bricks for the complex pedestrian entrance.
Myyra said the committee plans to launch the fund-raising campaign within the month with a mailing to alumni.
For more information on the capital campaign for the athletics complex, contact Myyra at 434-3112 or myyra@milan.k12.mi.us
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