May 8, 2025
Umatilla High Athletics Receives $115K Boost from Community-Driven Fundraising Effort
By Kyle Coppola
Umatilla High Athletics Receives $115K Boost from Community-Driven Fundraising Effort
UMATILLA, Fla. — In a powerful display of community support and school spirit, the Umatilla High School Athletic Association presented a check for $115,000 to Principal Brent Frazier on Wednesday night. The donation, made possible through four major fundraising events over the past year, was officially delivered by president JD Ross.
The funds will support all Umatilla High School sports programs, helping to cover essential expenses such as gear, upgrades, training equipment, transportation, and officials’ fees for games and competitions among other things.
(Outgoing president J.D. Ross gives the fundraising check to Umatilla High principal Brent Frazier. Photo Credit Sarah Sebree.)
“This incredible gift is a testament to what can happen when a community comes together for its student-athletes,” said Principal Frazier. “We are grateful to the Association and everyone who contributed.”
Among the most successful fundraising events were the annual Bulldog Night and the Umatilla Athletics Golf Tournament—two staples in the local sports calendar that brought in a significant portion of the funds.
The Association also used the occasion to introduce its newly elected board president, Ryan Wiles, who will take the reins moving forward. Community members interested in joining the association or becoming sponsors are encouraged to reach out to Wiles at ricochet343@gmail.com.
The Athletic Association has emphasized its commitment to inclusivity and transparency, keeping its doors open to all who wish to get involved. They also encourage families and supporters to follow their social media pages to stay informed about events and volunteer opportunities.
With this substantial contribution, the Umatilla Bulldogs are poised to enter the upcoming sports seasons stronger than ever—backed by a town that clearly believes in their future.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
