Hoping to reverse an old adage, Cobleskill-Richmondville sports boosters are hoping money does grow on trees.
The All-Sports Booster Club now has a “giving tree” to raise money to restore sports cut from C-R’s 2011-12 budget.
Families, individuals and businesses can purchase leaves that will list names or a message and be displayed on the tree.
Assistant Athletic Director Gayle Westervelt saw a giving tree in a hospital years ago and liked the idea.
Parents have discussed a similar project at C-R, and with sports cut next year, the need became more drastic.
Boosters looked into buying a cast bronze giving tree, but the price was $14,000, far more than the club could afford.
So Ms. Westervelt and her husband, Terry, made one with help from Judy and Thomas Moore of WaDaYaNeed in Warnerville.
Cheri Brandow, also of WaDaYaNeed, designed the leaves.
“They really helped us a lot with the design and the leaves,” Ms. Westervelt said.
C-R’s tree will be displayed in the arched trophy cabinet outside the middle school gym. Boosters felt that site was appropriate because modified sports were cut from the budget.
The Booster Club and its subcommittee Save Our Sports hope to raise $80,000 to restore not only modified sports but also the cut varsity sports of golf, bowling, tennis and boys’ volleyball.
The giving tree is part of that effort.
“It’s a way for people to make a contribution without having to be involved,” said Booster Club member Meka Osterhoudt.
Also, Ms. Westervelt said, messages on the leaves can recall a loved one or friend, list an athletic team, business or family.
“We also want to reach out to alumni and retired teachers,” said Ms. Osterhoudt. “They may not be in the area, but they’d be concerned. This is a way they can help.”
Even though the tree’s only been up for a week, there are already $1,000 in pledges.
All of the money raised until June 2012 will go to Save Our Sports for the purpose of restoring sports in the 2011-12 school year.
After that, money raised by the tree will be used for Booster Club projects.
“This is a sustainable project,” Ms. Westervelt said. “And if we fill up one tree, we can make another.”
Leaves vary by amount donated; green leaves are $50 to $99; bronze, $100-$199; silver, $200-$299; and gold, $300 or above.
Checks can be made payable to the CRCS All-Sports Booster Club and mailed to Gayle Westervelt, 193 Golding Drive, Cobleskill.

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Other Save Our Sports fundraisers coming up include:
•June 11, bowl-a-thon in Cobleskill, 1pm.
•June 12, golf tournament in Cobleskill, 1pm.
•July 4, dirt bike raffle drawing.
•July 9, bottle drive at the Altamont Fairgrounds.