Background

We are reaching out to request your support in helping River View High School build a much-needed soccer facility for our Championship winning soccer team. We are a small, low-income public school district located in the heart of Appalachia, Ohio, surrounded by cornfields, and our soccer program is a beacon of pride in our community. Football is the beloved sport in Ohio, even in our county - Coshocton County. However, River View is known for our soccer! Despite facing numerous  challenges—including limited resources, outdated facilities, and a lack of funding—our soccer team has achieved something remarkable: they won the Division 4 State Championship this year. Not only were they the first soccer team in school history to achieve this goal, but the first in the Muskingum Valley League, and the whole East District to even reach the State Championship..

Our journey to this victory has not been easy. River View is one of the few schools in our region that has the privilege of playing on a natural grass soccer field exclusively for soccer. However, our field and facilities are far from ideal. Our fans and players have to rely on porta-toilets for restroom facilities that are not handicap accessible, while our equipment is stored in mismatched outbuildings that barely protect our gear from the elements. Our press box, which is essential for media coverage and announcements, is unstable and exposed to the wind, and our concession stand lacks running water and modern amenities. There are no locker rooms for our players to change, no place for them to stay out of the weather before or after the games, and no proper facilities to prepare for matches.

In spite of these overwhelming obstacles, our soccer team has defied the odds. With incredible heart, determination, and teamwork, they fought through these conditions and emerged victorious, earning the title of Division 4 State Champions. Their success is a testament to their resilience and the unwavering support of our tight-knit community. We had the largest crowd at the State Championship weekend by far! As proud as we are of their achievements, it is time to invest in a facility that can reflect the hard work and dedication these young athletes have shown, but unfortunately, our community is unable to provide the financial support necessary to meet the basic needs of a modern facility. River View Local School District has not been able to pass any NEW levies or bonds since 1994, and currently this Fall was unable to pass our Permanent Improvement Levy that was first passed in 1994.