Which School Rules on the Softball Field?

In a unique twist on parent-led school fundraisers,  dad Michael Dell'Aquila organized a softball tournament last year between his kids' school, Fox, and . (Cipriani won.)

The event was so successful that Dell'Aquila has expanded the tournament this year to include and elementary schools.

This year's tournament will be held Sunday, Jan. 22 at 9 a.m. at Red Morton Community Center in Redwood City. Fox will rematch Cipriani and Sandpiper will play Central. 

"It all came to me last year when then Fox PTA President Paige Perez came to me asking if I would host an event as an auction item in Fox’s yearly PTA auction.  I thought, hey, why not a school-versus-school softball game, we can auction player slots, each school is guaranteed a certain amount from the proceeds with the winning team getting an additional amount," explained Dell'Aquila. 

"So, this year I decided to include other schools from the district Central and Sandpiper were excited to compete with Fox and Cipriani Schools on for an even larger purse to go to the school’s PTA or budget.  Each school decides where the money shall go."

Dell'Aquila said each school is guaranteed at least $900 that can be donated to either the individual school's PTA, or to School-Force, the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District education foundation. 

In addition to the guaranteed $900, the winning school the event gets an additional $500.00, second place team gets $400.00.

Dell'Aquila understands the importance of concessions at a sporting event. " (Last year) I was able to solicit donations from Costco and Safeway so we may sell drinks and snacks to the spectators." Proceeds from snack sales will be split between schools.  

"It was such a positive event; badly need money was raised in order to supplement cuts to the school’s budget, everyone had fun," Dell'Aquila added.