By Soleil Woolard
For The Herald-Dispatch
Barboursville — Sports create communities where you least expect it, even in Appalachia, a Huntington City Council member said.
The Village On The Pitch fundraiser event will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Village Caregiving Headquarters, 575 Central Ave. in Barboursville, to raise money for both the women’s and men’s soccer teams of Marshall University.
Huntington City Council member Holly Smith Mount said she has been working on the fundraiser with several organizations to support soccer and the athletic program here within Appalachia.
“The things that the Marshall soccer program has done over the past handful of years have really put on the map as a soccer school,” Mount said. “I really think that is so important to showcase because who on earth would imagine West Virginia, in the heart of Appalachia, being full of soccer fanatics?”
The fundraiser will feature a fashion show, an auction of items and experiences with the team, refreshments, T-shirts, candles and Marshall swag.
Mount said one of the things she is proud of when it comes to the event is that it keeps the theme of the village and everything at the event is done by local organizations. The fashion show will feature local boutiques, drinks are provided by the Black Fox Social and Austin’s Ice Cream will be there to provide a sweet treat to beat the heat.
“I think this is really exciting to say that this event is truly a local grassroots effort to build some continuing momentum and raise some funds for this soccer program that have really helped bring a lot of folks to Marshall University and Huntington,” Mount said.
Mount said the event has sold all its tickets, raising over $40,000 for the soccer program.
Mount said not only is the event for supporting the soccer program, but it is about supporting the community of people that have gathered around it.
“Many of them are transplants into Huntington and so making them feel welcomed and valued is so important to me because these are my friends and I want them to be happy here and stay here and continue to raise their families here because their kids are also my friends’ kids,” Mount said. “Our city is not small, but it’s also not huge. It’s just nice to help people feel like they really are a part of the village.”
Soleil Woolard is a senior at Marshall University who is interning with the Herald-Dispatch for the summer.
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