WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren OhioCafaro Foundation makes donation to the Bo Rein Stadium Renovation Project

Cafaro Foundation makes donation to the Bo Rein Stadium Renovation Project

NILES, Ohio - Anthony Cafaro, Sr. presented a very special gift to student athletes at Niles Mickinley High School in the form of $200,000 courtesy of the Cafaro Foundation.

The money will help give the district's football stadium a major facelift. The Bo Rein Stadium Renovation Project is expected to cost approximately $2.5 million for the work to update the stadium built in the 1930's during the great depression.

"It was really hard to get a lot of excitement around it because they felt the things we were doing were luxuries not necessities," said Project Chairman Tim Parry. "And unfortunately, last year we had some events that caused us to move some games, cancel some games, and people see the necessity of putting turf down and things like that."

Parry says in some cases the field was all mud and it was unsafe to play. In fact, they had to move last year's homecoming game to Girard because of deplorable field conditions.

But Parry feels the money donated on Friday will go a long way in repairing this historic stadium.

"The first phase right now is put turf down for the playing surface and then moving forward we'll have some new restrooms, locker rooms down in the north end zone and then structural repairs for the stadium. A new press box, stadium back seats, and try to make it a first rate facility like it was in the 60s and 70s," Parry said.

"The city of Niles has always been special. Special to us, to our company, to our entire family," Cafaro said.

Student athletes are ecstatic about the generosity of the Cafaro Foundation and others in the community.

"I would like to say thank you on behalf of the Niles girl's soccer team and all the other Niles sports for your generous donation of the new field, and hopefully we'll get an opportunity to play on it. I'm really excited," said student athlete Casey Sedinza.