Jordan softball team donates to charity

For new Jordan High softball coach John Dimitri, the brother of Red Jacket baseball coach Tony Dimitri, the goal is to raise the bar both on and off the field for his players.

He accomplished just that prior to Wednesday’s home game against Carver, presenting a $1,500 check from money his team raised over the summer to the Columbus chapter of the American Cancer Society.

“We sold 250 tickets or so for our ‘hit-a-thon’ we put on over the summer,” Dimitri said. “Five dollars from every ticket went toward this donation today. We’ve done a good bit of fundraising throughout the summer. We plan on doing something like this every year and growing it a little bit at a time.”

Dimitri said he and the team picked the ACS as the charity of choice because of the far-reaching effects of the disease, some that hit close to home for him as well.

“I think everyone nowadays seems to be touched with cancer,” he said. “My father died of cancer. It’s not just limited to breast cancer. We’re trying to make people aware and donate this to give back. We hope we’re doing our part.”

Denise Dowdy, the senior marketing manager for the Columbus market of the ACS and a Jordan graduate herself, was on hand to accept the donation.

“It’s hard enough to fundraise for your own sport in an effort to get some extra things, but for them to go above and beyond and for it to be something from my alma mater makes it even more special,” Dowdy said.

The funds the Lady Red Jackets donated to the society will be used for operating costs for the Tournament of Hope golf and tennis tournament, which will be held at the Columbus Country Club on Oct. 19. The tournament is also chaired by a Jordan graduate, according to Dowdy.

More information on the upcoming tournament, including opportunities to donate, can be found online at thetournamentofhope.org.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 7:31 PM with the headline "Jordan softball team donates to charity."