Mount Pulaski Volley for the Cause raises $10,125 for Schneider boys

[September 27, 2018] 

The Mount Pulaski volleyball community has a long history of helping others with the annual "Volley for the Cure" or in this case, "The Volley for the Cause" that took place on Tuesday night. The Lady Toppers, along with the MPHS soccer team and legions of supporters, pulled together and raised a record-setting $10,125 for two students who lost their mother over the summer.

Michele Schneider passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 21, 2018 and she left behind her husband, Bill, and their two teenage sons, Ian, a senior; and Aidan, a freshman.

The community came together Tuesday night to honor a life lost too soon and to celebrate what she held most dear, her two sons. Both Ian and Aidan are incredibly kind young men, and those that knew Michele knew without a doubt that her world revolved around her boys. She was the definition of a "sports mom" and whether she was cheering on Ian in golf or baseball or Aidan in basketball or track, she let everyone know she was a proud supporter of her boys.

Ian, Aidan and Bill Schneider are joined by Michele's mom, Ruth Ann Calliss, as the $10,125 check is presented at the end of the evening.

Michele also loved being around children of all ages. She taught Sunday school at the Mount Pulaski Christian Church, she babysat and she was an aide at both the grade school and high school. Michele's mother, Ruth Ann Calliss of Herrin, Illinois, even said following the benefit, "Michele just loved children and she saw the good in every child."

The family also chose the hashtag on the back of the this year's t-shirts ~ #spreadthelove. It was a motto Michele lived by and everyone that came in contact with her understood this.

Tuesday night the volleyball game between Mount Pulaski and Springfield Lutheran truly took second-billing as it was all about spreading the love to Ian and Aidan. People indeed opened their hearts and their checkbooks to make this one very special evening.

Michele Clark, a teacher at MPHS, organized the 2018 Volley for the Cause and not only did she do an outstanding job coordinating the efforts, but she also put together an amazing group of volunteers who all night long were just spreading the love.

"I am so overwhelmed with what happened, I am almost at a loss for words," said Clark. "What an amazing effort by so many people. I knew we had collected around $2,400 coming into the night, which was great, but my hope was to collect enough money to pay for Ian's Washington, DC trip and to try to get equal money for Aidan for basketball and track stuff (shoes, camps, travel teams, etc)."

Well, obviously with a pie contest, a prize walk, t-shirt sales, a serve-for-pizza event, a meat raffle, a dinner featuring a baked potato bar (great idea!), a 50/50 raffle, and a live auction, folks had plenty of ways to spend their money for a good cause. The MPHS soccer team also sold pork chops at their home game and they were able to donate over $1,000 to the cause.

Clark said she had been stressing about the meal prep since they really had no idea how many people to expect for the baked potato bar. As it turned out 150 people were served a delicious dinner that also included Mac and Cheese, Chili and Pork BBQ to put on your potato as toppings, along with the other usual suspects like cheese, bacon bits, onions and tomatoes. Veggies, dip, desserts and drinks were all included in the free-will donation.

The meat raffle was won by Heather Murphy of Mount Pulaski and what a fantastic idea this was thanks to some kind-hearted folks on the farm.

"The meat raffle was a huge success as well," said Clark. "When I came up with the idea, I went to my parents, Doug and Nancy Turner, and asked if they would help out as they raise cattle. They had the chance to meet Aidan this summer and he has become another grandchild to them. They set the bar high with the 50 lb meat donation. The Thomas family sweetened the deal with the 25 lbs of pork. I know we were over 250 tickets sold and then we lost track as they were being sold so quickly at the door."

"The next stressor was the auction," said Clark. "We had so many donations and some really high ticket items. I was worried things would not bring what they were worth. Boy was I wrong! People truly wanted to do everything they could to help these boys out. It shows so clearly two things: 1) Michele was an amazing woman who raised two very special boys and 2) Our small town knows how to support a family in need."

The Price is Right models can't hold a candle or a volleyball to these two lovely ladies.

Cody Redman of Decatur donated his auctioneering skills and with around 35 items to auction, that event alone raised $3,870. The record-setting item from the auction was a volleyball signed by the 2018 Lady Toppers that brought in $450. Steven Hayes, father of Skylar Hayes, was the winning bidder for the autographed Lady Topper ball. A Springfield Lutheran autographed ball was also auctioned off.

A Date Night Basket valued at $210 was donated by the game's referees, Jim and Joe. How nice is that?

Other big money items in the auction were Cub and Cardinal gift baskets. Okay baseball fans, the Cardinal basket dominated. It kind of came sweeping in there at the end and overtook the Cubs. The Cardinal gift basket sold for a whopping $250 while the Cub basket went for $200. Both baskets were donated by the sophomore volleyball players.

Bill Schneider with his son's Aidan and Ian Schneider

As per usual, the Donna Vaughan cake and Helen Schmidt cookies dominated the auction also. Dean and Doris Cates went home with the cake to the tune of $120. For just a moment, pause and be grateful for the community support Dean and Doris Cates have given MPHS for decades. These two are an inspiration to others with their kindness. The hand-decorated sugar cookies all topped the $100 mark and the folks that won these treasures knew to put them in their locked cars right away.

And how about Donna and Bethany Dulle with their beautiful flower bouquet full of money. It raised $210 for the cause. The list could go on and on with baskets, blankets and even a sewing machine. All high ticket items indeed. Hats off to Troy Burgard's Industrial Arts Program for the donation of a glass-top wood end table, a wood-framed mirror, a wood end table and a handy sturdy-built squirrel feeder.

The winning pie from the contest was also auctioned off, as well as the runner-up. Anna Beckers won the judges over with her Salted Carmel pie and Samantha Mileham was a respectable second with her Snickers Pie. Twelve pies were entered in the contest, with Terry Morgan, Cindy Stoll, Melanie Hinson, Michael Copley, Janette Cooper and Teena Lowery all serving as judges.

Not only did local individuals and business owners alike donate to the cause, but Springfield Lutheran entered the building with three gift baskets valued at $75 each and donated by the Crusaders Volleyball Team. Springfield Lutheran has been involved in this event before with Mount Pulaski and they always come through in the most amazing way with their support. Head Coach Katie (Gilman) McCulley and her coaching staff and the entire team are just incredibly generous.

And speaking of generous, Angie Ford won the 50/50 raffle and donated the money back to the family.

The love and support in the gymnasium truly could be felt by everyone.

Clark witnessed it and she was in awe of what unfolded throughout the evening, keeping the fact that two boys lost their mother way too soon in the forefront.

"I am sure the night was bittersweet for the family," said Clark. "I told Donna (Dulle), it was a happy yet sad night for them. Again I am just blown away at what happened here. I was up until midnight sending out thank you messages and have been sending them all morning. "

Clark was so overwhelmed at the amount raised that she plans on getting together with the boys to help them decide what to use the money for. "I am going to be sitting down with the boys to brainstorm other things they could use the money for besides Washington, DC and sports," said Clark. "I know Aidan has expressed an interest in the Spain exchange and a Washington, DC trip himself. We might be able to help Ian out with after high school expenses too. This is all in the early stages of planning because I never expected this much money to deal with!"

[Teena Lowery]

More scenes from the fundraiser