Making a Difference Every Day for the Youth in our Community |
Established in 1994, the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation was first known as the Atascadero Athletic Foundation. We were formed with the sole purpose of raising funds to improve the track at Atascadero High School. Then principal, Jim Stecher, recalls the six-lane, dirt track that flooded every winter. Now the students of Atascadero High School and the members of the community enjoy a sleek nine-lane, all-weather track.
After the completion of the track, our group remained intact and began to turn our attention to other needs in our community – lights and bleachers for the high school football field, improvements to the baseball and softball fields, a new concession stand – The Top Dog, and the oversight of the Greyhound Hall of Fame. As the needs of the community changed, so did the name. Members of the foundation board saw the need to expand our support beyond athletics. There was a need to respond to the deadly national trend of substance use, which had tragic implications for the residents of Atascadero and the surrounding communities. The foundation name changed to the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation to incorporate the needs beyond athletics. Today, the foundation continues to head up the Greyhound Hall of Fame, but our focus has shifted to providing substance use Awareness ~ Prevention ~ Intervention ~ Education, through the LIGHTHOUSE Program. LIGHTHOUSE is a collaboration between the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation, the City of Atascadero and the Atascadero Unified School District. LIGHTHOUSE is about disaster and rescue, chaos and peace. Its purpose is to provide safety, protection, and recovery through support and services. The Atascadero Greyhound Foundation is proud of the work we do to make our community a better place. Our philosophy is “We Not Me” and we rely on the support and volunteerism of everyone in our community, both individuals and businesses. Our motto is Making a Difference Every Day for the Youth in our Community. |