Hernando Reporter

Pasco-Hernando State College issued the following announcement on Aug. 17.

WREC Donates $480,000 To PHSC Foundation for Baseball Field Lighting - The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation recently received a $480,000 donation from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc., for baseball field lighting at the college’s West Campus in New Port Richey. Through this donation, state-of the-art lighting will be installed at the baseball field enabling games and other events to take place in the evening.

For nearly 30 years, Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WREC) has supported the mission of PHSC. In 1993, WREC made their first gift to the PHSC Foundation establishing the WREC Faculty Chair Endowment which has provided many PHSC faculty the opportunity to further their professional growth and development to enhance classroom learning for students. 

“As a not-for-profit electric cooperative our focus is building and enhancing the communities we serve,” said David Lambert, manager of member relations at Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc. “This donation will enhance our community and improve the quality of life for our members who live in it.”

PHSC’s student-athletes will not be the only benefactors of WREC’s generosity. Field lighting will significantly increase PHSC’s opportunities to further engage the community by providing a premier sports recreation venue for youth programs, community outreach and fundraising events, and campus and student events. Additionally, lighting on the athletic field will enable the option to host night games, increasing access to youth baseball and softball programs.

In the 30-year history of the baseball and softball programs at PHSC, over 8,000 youth have benefitted from PHSC’s intercollegiate athletic teams, youth camps, and leagues. “I have been at Pasco-Hernando State College for 31 years and the most exciting day in that time was the day Joe and David informed us that WREC was going to make a substantial contribution toward the field lighting,” said Bob Bade, Ed.D., senior vice president and chief student affairs and enrollment management officer. “For so many years we worked hard to put lights on the field. It seemed like it would never happen. WREC made a dream come true.”

Installation of the lighting is expected to be completed this fall. For more information on how to support PHSC athletics, visit foundation.phsc.edu or call the Foundation office at 727-816-3410

Original source can be found here.