Bagging for Tips

Grocery bagging fundraiser at Cub Foods in Rogers. Two shifts of three hours each, and a great success. Thanks to all student-athletes and parents for serving, and thanks to the shoppers who were so generous with us!

Nighthawk Week at Malmborg's Garden Centers: May 8-14

Spring is here! We have the opportunity to receive 10% of money spent at Malmborg's Garden Centers by friends who bring a Nighthawks "shopper form" during the week of May 8-14, 2016: <http://www.malmborgsinc.com/_ccLib/attachments/pages/Northwest+Nighthawks.pdf>

Simply purchase plants, garden tools, and garden accessories from any Malmborg’s location--and give your group’s shopper form to the cashier.

Mother's Day is the 8th, so stop by Malmborg's and give Mom/Grandma the gift of spring! While you’re at it, pick up your summer annuals, garden vegetables, etc. Tell everyone you know! You *must* have the form with you, to make sure it goes to the right group that week.

Spring 2016 Fundraisers

Two fundraisers in five days--whew!

Thanks to Cub Foods in Rogers for the opportunity to serve their customers. We had two shifts of hardworking Nighthawks providing grocery bagging services and earning tips to help get our inaugural season off the ground. (And yes, they're all wearing CC shirts because we're so new we don't even *have* track t-shirts yet, ha.) Way to go, team!

Thanks also to WEST Homeschool Classes for inviting us to their used curriculum sale. We set up a table with hundreds of donated books as well as delicious homemade baked goods. Another successful day, and afterwards we were able to bless another homeschool co-op with our leftover books.

We are in a season (year?) of much labor in the creation process, but the goal is to grow a sustainable program. Thank you to all who are participating in the vision.

Service Project

Our first service project of the year: selling concessions at the City of Hanover, Minnesota's winter movie in the park. Such a fun night. The kids learned about planning, budgeting, sales, inventory, and more. We were a few dollars above break-even and brought in some tips as well. Now what to do with the remaining 48 pounds of popcorn...!

501(c)(3)

Big news! (Seriously. More big news.) We just received our letter from the IRS, confirming our tax exemption status under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Because of our "effective date" (*before* the fundraising push), those of you who financially supported our team this year will get a tax deduction! Woo hoo! We'll be sending letters for your records.

Anyone else looking for an organization to bless with a year-end donation? Send it our way. :) For more information, visit Our Sponsors page.

THANK YOU

We (you) did it--reached our fundraising goal in just two weeks! Anything more that comes in at this point will allow us to add a few needed items back into the budget and help us prepare to move forward into next year. What a relief that will be. The process of collecting support has been humbling to say the least: friends coming out of nowhere, team-kids chipping in their own money, team parents and grandparents, local businesses, people I've never met...

It's been months of intense planning for this team and season, all the while wondering how we'd manage to pay for it. But the answer kept coming back: If God helps you navigate all these other obstacles and the last one is money? Seriously, that is *not* too big for Him. Thanks to all for believing in us. Keep in touch, give our sponsors a high-five when you see them, and 'Like' and 'Follow' us on our team Facebook page for updates!

Photo: missing a few kids as summer winds down, but a great bunch!

Approved

Big news! We finally received the call we've been waiting for: "We've received your paperwork, and everything appears to be in order..." It has been a year-long journey toward team membership in the Minnesota State High School League, and thanks to your patience and support, we've made it! This means our season is "on," and we're able to compete with area school teams as well at the Section and (someday) State meets. The news is particularly exciting because we're joining in the year the League is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and we're the first all-homeschool team to do so. So thank you.

This also means it’s time for our fundraising push. We need your help to raise the remaining $2500 needed to support the team this season. If each athlete can find $100 worth of sponsors (grandparents/relatives, employers, local businesses, doctor/dentist, etc.), we’ll be set in no time. Plus the sooner we get this done, the sooner I can get back to coaching, making up new CC games, and mowing the course. :) In the future, we hope to find additional ways to offset our costs; but this is our reality for this year, so here goes.

This is a great opportunity to bring others in--it's not every day you get to be part of something that's never been done in your state. See the Sponsorship Page for details and benefits.

Looking forward to a great season and all the opportunities and connections we'll make out there,

Coach Jennifer