IMBLER — It is not often one receives more money than requested, but that’s exactly what occurred for the group pushing to build a track at Imbler High School.

The group recently received notification the Ford Family Foundation not only accepted its request for $25,000, but doubled the amount the nonprofit is giving to the cause to $50,000.

“We were pretty surprised when the Ford Foundation notified us,” Ian Gordon, a committee member of the Imbler Track & Field Community Project, said. “The Foundation said the amount was a testimonial to our community involvement.”

With an estimate of $1.3 million needed, the group has raised almost $440,000 toward the goal.

The group working to make a new track possible is not just asking foundations for donations. The group has been active in the community with numerous projects and fundraising activities working toward the goal.

“We have almost 200 individual donors already,” said Gordon, a Summerville resident who has three children at IHS, two who compete in track and field. “That is a lot of folks behind us.”

From a Halloween Run-a-Thon to working to the local Imbler Grange to have a Chili Cook-Off, the group continues to raise money toward the track. The most recent push was a Christmas tree raffle highlighting the Grinch, an endeavor raising $1,325.

The current track used by the Imbler track and field team is comprised of gravel and dirt. Despite the lack of a quality facility, the track and field team finished second in state at the 1A state track meet in Eugene last season.

The team frequently travels to other schools for practice time on updated tracks. In the 2023 track season, 69% of sixth to 12th grade students in Imbler participated in track and field.

The project hopes to build an eight-lane rubberized track along with the needed amenities for field events at Imbler High School. Plans also include throwing areas and pits along with lights.

“Once we get going, we have many in-kind donations, folks willing to do much of the prep work for the track, and that saves us money,” Gordon said.

The group also has a backup plan, one that would build a six-lane track without lighting.

“If we go to that plan, meets would be small and we would not be able to host a district meet,” Gordon said.

To get the word out on the need for a local track, the group recently started a YouTube channel with testimonials from current and former student athletes. That can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@ImblerTrack.

The push toward the $500,000 mark will continue in May as the group is planning a gala dinner complete with music and food. The date is still be decided but information will be released soon, according to Gordon.