Who We Are
Big Blue Boosters is a non-profit corporation formed in 1980 to exclusively support F J Reitz High School extracurricular and co-curricular activities. We are supported by alumni, parents, coaches, teachers, administrators, community businesses, and friends of FJ Reitz High School. We raise funds year-round to support these activities through annual memberships, advertising in our Fall and Winter Sports Programs, local restaurant give-back days, and Half Pot drawings at home sporting events. (Licensed by the Indiana Charity Gaming Commission.) Big Blue also accepts unrestricted donations to support its mission and memorial gifts or bequests.
2024 Officers
President: Tom Turpin
President-Elect: Scott Hettenbach
1st Vice-President: Tom Guinn
2nd Vice-President: Donna Schmidt
Recording Secretary: Lowell Clark
Corresponding Secretary: Jill Anne Hahn
Treasurer: Wendell Burkhart
2024 Board of Directors
Sue Albin
Cindy Barnett
Wendell Burkhart
Lowell Clark
Thomas “Hawk” Guinn
Jill Anne Hahn
Ronald Ham
Susan Hansen
Andy Hape
Phyllis Heise
Crissy Hettenbach
Scott Hettenbach
Sandy McFall
Julie Rutledge
Donna Schmidt
Pam Shelton
Julia Stansberry
Valerie Sullivan
Melissa Turpin
Tom Turpin
The Boosters have supported more than 20 different groups and have provided more than $250,000 over the past 10 years.
What We Do
The purpose of the organization is support Athletic, Art, and Academic activities that need supplemental funding to achieve excellence and provide the best possible outcomes for students at Reitz. Coaches and Sponsor of groups needing assistance may make an application for financial support with the knowledge and approval of school administrators.
The Board of Directors meets monthly for the Coaches and Sponsor to present their request for consideration. Funding varies by activity and typically is more for groups that have larger numbers of participants. The Boosters have supported more than 20 different groups and have provided more than $250,000 over the past 10 years. Financial support is dependent on the level of membership and donation support incoming and hopefully will grow as the Reitz community becomes more aware of our mission.
The typical types of support we have provided over the past 40 plus years to Reitz include:
- Sports Uniforms
- Sports practice equipment
- Weight room equipment
- Theatre lighting and sound equipment
- Instrumental Music sound equipment
- Sports field improvements
- Extra travel costs support for special events such as State competitions
- Support of training and clinics for coaching staff
FJ Reitz High School Century Campaign
Additionally, our group led the FJ Reitz High School Century Campaign and Celebration in 2018. We sponsored several community events to mark the occasion. Funds were raised that were used to replace the visitor’s gate and ticket booth at the Reitz Bowl. This effort resulted in donations and in-kind support that exceeded $240,000.
Get Involved
Support Us By Becoming A Member
Becoming a member of Big Blue through annual membership is the easiest and best way to support us and the students of Reitz. Memberships provides about one-third of the funds used to support student activities. Submit your application by filling out the form here for you and your family to join today!
- Individual
- $25annually
- Member’s Name is listed in Fall Program.
- Family
- $100annually
- Member’s name is listed in Fall Program.
- Spouse Member’s name is listed in Fall Program.
- Additional minor children’s names are listed in Fall Program.
Become a Member Today!
Brick Fundraiser
Have Your Name Immortalized in Stone
The BBB will be fundraising for our school’s sports teams, band/vocal, graduations and many other extracurriculars. The bricks and granite pieces will be placed at a new entryway ticket booth into the Reitz High School Bowl.
Brick Options
Bricks:
- $50 (4 x 8) 2 lines and a logo or 3 lines and no logo
- $100 (8 x 8) 3 lines and 1 or 2 logos
Black Granite: Granite has the same Specs as the Bricks.
- $150 (4 x 8)
- $300 (8 x 8)
- $500 (8 x 12) Custom design
- $750 (16 x16) Custom design
Purchase an Ad in the Sports Program
Local businesses that advertise in the Fall Sports program provide about another third of the Boosters financial support. Contact us to be added to list of business that place ads in this high-quality color booklet.
Other Fund-Raising Activities
Several other activities provide the balance of the funding. These include donations, half-pot raffles at home football and basketball games, restaurant give-back days, and Reitz logo merchandise sales. We are constantly looking for ways to increase our sources of funds though new activities.
Donate
In addition to membership support, consider making an unrestricted donation to provide excellence in extracurricular support.
Become a Board member.
Once a member of Big Blue Boosters, you become eligible to be considered to serve on the Board of Directors. Directors are eligible to serve as an officer after serving one year on the Board. The Board of Directors conducts the administrative functions necessary to maintain the organization and decide on distribution of funds to the student groups requesting assistance.
Board of Directors qualifications
- Membership in Big Blue Boosters
- Attend most Board meetings – currently 6:00pm on the first Tuesday of each month.
- Volunteer to assist with fundraising events – half pot ticket sales at home football or basketball games, Selling programs or merchandise at home games, and other fundraising events support.
Connect With Us
We are on Facebook
Thanks to Applebee’s for donating and hosting their time on Saturday for the Big Blue Boosters Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser.
Congratulations to Natalie Marcelak for winning the Gift Card Raffle.
Also thanks to the Businesses that donated gift cards ro the raffle.
Azzip
BSN
Chris’s West Side Auto Service
Dana Sone - Mary Kay Consultant
El Charro
Hett’s
High Score Player 2
Jourdys Pet Parlour
Little Bird Framing
Logan’s
Noble Romans
Reitz Athletic Dept
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
If you’re up and hungry come out to Applebee’s and support Big Blue FJ Reitz Big Blue Boosters.
$10 Pancakes, Scrambled eggs, sausage, tea, water and juice
You can also buy raffle tickets for gift card basket worth over $800!!!!!!
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Tonight's the night! Join us for a fundraiser benefiting FJ Reitz Big Blue Boosters tonight, November 19, from 5-8 p.m. at St. Joe Avenue McDonald's! Simply enjoy your McDonald's favorites in our lobby, drive-thru, or on the McDonald's mobile app and a percentage of the proceeds will go straight back to the organization!
🍟 💙 🍔
Let's go Reitz High School Panthers!
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Big Blue Boosters is raffling off a gift card raffle basket valued at $800.
The raffle tickets will be sold at the Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser on Saturday, November 23rd, the girls basketball games, performances of the play and the boys badketball scrimmage.
Tickets are $5 each or 3 tickets for $10.
The Drawing will be held on Sunday, November 24th @ 11 am.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Join us for a fundraiser benefiting FJ Reitz Big Blue Boosters next Tuesday, November 19 at St. Joe Avenue McDonald's from 5-8 p.m.! Simply enjoy your McDonald's favorites in our lobby, drive-thru, or on the McDonald's mobile app and a percentage of the proceeds will go straight back to the organization!
🍟 💙 🍔
Let's go Reitz High School Panthers!
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Boosters Through the Years
All the History Online
If you missed out on the book (which can still be ordered via MT Publishing with print-on-demand) live the memories or your parents’ and grandparents’ memories with these “Feel the History” digital shorts.
The 1910s -A Tradition is Born
The 1920s – Reitz Becomes a High School
The 1940s – Pre-War, War, Post-War
The 1950s – Thriving, Sprawling…
The 1980s – Inflation and Economic Turmoil
The 1990s — still to come WATCH THIS SPACE
The 2000s — still to come WATCH THIS SPACE
Salute to the remarkable work of Mr. Jon Carl’s History Students! Award winning journalists, historians and media producers.
Contact Us
Have a question, comment, or want to know more? Let us know how we can help by filling out the form here and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible or give us a call today!
Big Blue Boosters
PO Box 6272
Evansville, IN 47719-0272
Other Contacts
Administrative Offices of FJ Reitz High School
812 435-8201
Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation Administration
812 435-8453