Clintonville Quarterback Club hosts annual test drive

By Scott Bellile

The glory of Clintonville Quarterback Club’s Dodge Booster Club Fundraiser is, as varsity football coach Scott Werfal puts it, a large donation comes straight from one source.

“It’s a nice fundraiser. We don’t have to tap anyone in our community to hand out any money,” Werfal said.

The annual test drive, sponsored by local car dealership Klein Dodge, raised $4,320 off of 216 test drives at Clintonville High School on Thursday, Aug. 13. That surpasses the program’s national average of 130 test drives and a $2,600 donation, according to Dodge.

Compared to last August, this year’s event drew 15 more drivers and raised an additional $300.
Adults paid nothing to go for a spin around the high school parking lot in a 2015 Dodge Durango, Grand Caravan, Charger, Dart or Journey. Each drive brought in $20 for the Quarterback Club.

As part of the Dodge Booster Club Fundraiser national program’s guidelines, workers were not permitted to push sales on attendees. Since 1993 Dodge’s fundraisers has raised over $5 million for schools nationwide.

“It’s an easy fundraiser, so I wanted to make sure I supported them,” said Clintonville resident Kelly Smith, who test drove the Dart with her friend Lanie Taylor of Clintonville. Smith said they shared a fun ride full of laughs.

The Quarterback Club sold old football jerseys at the event to make room for the Clintonville Truckers’ new home and away Nike jerseys.

Truckers fan Allyson Schwietzer, age 11, found herself a meaningful jersey. The daughter of former Truckers football player and current defensive coach Harvey Schwietzer, Allyson found a Truckers jersey with her father’s old number. She said she will wear it on the field this fall when she works as a water girl.

Klein Dodge owner John Klein said his sales team is committed to giving back to Clintonville.

“We enjoy working with the parents and students of our community,” Klein said. “We are happy with the community turnout for the event. Clintonville sports programs have always been important to our family and we are happy to help keep the enthusiasm high for the athletes and parents in our school district.”