Slocum Center for Orthopedics Sports Medicine (Slocum) and The Slocum Research Education Foundation are donating the use of their 250-stall parking lot located at 55 Coburg Road in Eugene for a fundraising initiative for Lane County school athletics during Duck home football games. The region’s orthopedic practice and research and education foundation will offer parking stalls for purchase by attendees for $20 per game with the goal to raise $30,000 for local youth athletic programs.

Due to an overwhelming demand, The Slocum Research Education Foundation conducted a random lottery among 15 Lane County schools to determine which schools or programs would be offered fundraiser proceeds for the 2017 football season. The following schools were selected:

Southern Utah, Sept. 2: Junction City High School Churchill High School

Nebraska, Sept. 9: Thurston High School Springfield High School

Cal Berkeley, Sept. 30: Pleasant Hill High School Lowell High School

Washington State, Oct. 10: Cottage Grove High School South Eugene High School

Utah, Oct. 28: Creswell High School North Eugene High School

Arizona, Nov. 18: Sheldon High School Willamette High School

Oregon State, Nov. 25: Elmira High School, Crow High School LifeGate Christian School

“We have the opportunity to earn nearly $5,000 each game day to donate to local high schools for our high school athletes and youth physical literacy programs,” says Dr. Brick Lantz, president of the Slocum Foundation and orthopedic surgeon at Slocum. “Since opening the building in 2007, we’ve partnered with local high schools and have raised about $250,000 overall.”

Joshua Jordan, head swim team coach at Springfield High School, shares, “Limited public funding for athletics means coaches spend nearly half of our time managing finances and fundraising. The Slocum parking fundraiser has allowed our staff to put the focus back on athlete development.” Relief from fundraising has paid off for the Springfield High School swim team over the past few years as they have gone on to win four district titles and finish consistently in the top three at state meets.

Additionally, Rob Lee, head coach for the Elmira girls soccer team, states “We’ve used the Slocum proceeds to help offset the cost of soccer tournaments for girls who couldn’t otherwise afford to play.” Lee continues, “Our team is also now dry, warm, and comfortable during cold weather games after purchasing a set of heavy winter coats with the Slocum parking funds.”

For more information on the Duck Football Parking Fundraiser or the Slocum Research Education Foundation, please call (541) 868-3232 or visit www.slocumfoundation.org. You can also click here to listen to 99.1 KOOL FM’s segment on the fundraiser.