Courtesy photo Escanaba Fan Club members recently hosted a burrito dinner to raise funds for the bleacher project.

ESCANABA – A local group is working to fund local athletics and school projects.

The Escanaba Fan Club, which started in the late 1950s, is a group of individuals, couples, businesses, and organizations that volunteer to raise funds for the Escanaba Area Schools’ athletic programs.

Current President Linda Beauchamp has served as a club member for over 20 years, serving the last 15 as the president.

“The Fan Club has grown a lot in the way that it funds athletics through the Escanaba School District,” she said.

“We do fund all sports, junior high and senior high, all levels.”

The club is active in the community, constantly raising funds to complete projects such as refinishing the gym, installing new lighting, and upgrading the running track by repositioning the bleachers and repainting the lines.

“The Fan Club is the one that formed the committee to head up building the new concession stand and bathrooms out there, and the ticket booths. And then we also just recently finished putting new siding on the garage,” Beauchamp said.

The club also worked on projects at the baseball field, even though it is owned by the city, including installing the wrought iron fences around the field.

“We’ve done so much. It’s hard to remember, but that’s in addition to purchasing equipment and uniforms and things like that,” she said.

The club also funds postseason play for Escanaba athletics; the club covers any teams moving beyond regular season play, including transportation and lodging costs.

Currently, the club’s efforts are focused on the bleacher project at the football field.

“We’re replacing all the seating at the football field. So removing everything that’s up there and replacing it,” she explained.

The new seating will have roughly 150 stadium seats and all new bench seating, which will be aluminum seating with a powder coating.

“The stadium seats will be orange, and all the bench seating will be black. So, it’s going to look sharp,” Beauchamp said.

The club will get to work to remove the current seating as soon as the snow melts away, with the goal of installing the new seating in July so that it’s ready for the first football game in August.

The stadium was originally built in the 1950s, right after World War II, and is an all-concrete build.

“I think we’re one of two left (all concrete build) in the state right now, but we want to preserve that stadium as it stands,” Beauchamp said.

The group is made up of 100 percent of volunteers, and all the funding is collected through fundraising. Between individuals, couples, businesses and organizations, the group has over 600 members nationwide.

“Once an Eskimo, always an Eskimo,” Beauchamp said through a smile.

Beauchamp encourages those interested to join the club, saying it’s the easiest thing for an everyday person to do to support Escanaba athletics.

“It’s a minimum amount of money, and it makes a big bang when we all come together,” she said.

She also extended her and the club’s gratitude to the community, saying the club would be unable to do all it does without its support.

“We are 100 percent volunteers who 100 percent fundraise all our money, and we live in an amazing community that gives and gives and gives. And we’re very grateful for that,” she said.

To donate, become a member, or learn more about the club, visit www.eskymofanclub.org or follow them on Facebook at Esky Fan Club.