Local business raises $100,000 for Cy-Fair Sports Association

A fundraising effort organized by local business Louetta Automotive helped raise more than $100,000 for the Cy-Fair Sports Association.

The fundraiser, which ran from Aug. 5–Sept. 5, involved recruiting area football players to sell $50 Louetta Automotive gift cards for $10. With more than 10,000 gift cards sold, the players managed to raise about $103,000, said Devann Blake, Louetta Automotive's marketing manager.

"[The fundraiser] follows in line with our mission statement," she said. "Our vision is to make a difference in our communities and the lives of our customers. There are 1,600 players in the CFSA, and we wanted to be able to help and support them."

Most of the money raised will be used for improvements at the Cy-Fair Sports Complex on Schiel Road, said Henry Milton, chairman of CFSA's football committee. The CFSA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that operates largely on volunteers, has been working to develop the complex with the support of sponsors and donations. The organization offers football, baseball, cheerleading, lacrosse, volleyball, basketball and recently added soccer.

The complex consists of four high-school-sized baseball fields and two multi-use fields used for football during the fall and lacrosse during the spring. Milton said the money raised by Louetta Automotive would be instrumental in building for the future. Among the improvements the money will help fund are bleachers, concession stands, restrooms and more fields.

"In terms of the actual fields, we're looking at football and baseball first and foremost, but there are opportunities for other sports to expand as well," Milton said. "In the best case scenario we'll have new football fields ready for the 2014 season, but we expect them to at least be ready by the 2015 season."

Blake also said Louetta Automotive still has some leftover gift cards that the business plans to sell at the CFSA Super Bowl games Dec. 4 and 5. She said Louetta Automotive hopes to continue the partnership with CFSA next year.

"The goal is to have the partnership for many years to come," she said.