Volunteers to handle youth football finances

July 29, 2010

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

A group of volunteers has created an organization to oversee funds for New Castle’s youth football teams.

The action continues Red Hurricane head football coach Frank Bongivengo Jr.’s supervisory role while removing himself from the finances.

The program is the subject of an open records dispute, which will be heard in late August. In addition, Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating approximately $3,200 in purchases related to the program.

“I don’t want to put my wife (Karen) and myself through that again,” Bongivengo said about initiating the change.

Pat Minenok will serve as head commissioner of the group New Castle Youth Football. Other commissioners are Patsy Cioppa, Jeff Morell and Craig Anderson. Minenok said he and Cioppa are the co-signers on a new bank account created for league operations.

The youth program is for district students in grades three through six. However, it is not operated by the school system, which funds teams starting in the seventh grade.

In March 2008, the school board supported Bongivengo’s request to supervise the city teams. The county’s youth football league said it would ban New Castle from play unless Bongivengo took over, the coach told the board.

In volunteering to run the program, Bongivengo asked for permission to operate the Taggart Stadium concession stands. He said the money would be used for youth football expenses and contribute to the district program.

The school district made an initial investment of $23,000 to purchase equipment and pay vendors owed money from the defunct youth teams.

Bongivengo addressed the controversy in a letter to parents.

“Although some have tried to bring it down, we can assure you that the main priority of this program is our children,” he wrote. “Our goals remains the same ... teaching our young children the fundamentals of the game as well as providing them with a structure(d), safe and fun environment.”

He added that the commissioners will provide open access to financial records upon request.

Approximately 110 have registered for the upcoming season, Minenok said.

Students in West Pittsburg, the city’s South Side and East Side play for New Castle Black and practice at Deshon Field. The New Castle Red squad, which practices at George Washington Intermediate Elementary, is made up of youth from the North Hill, Mahoningtown and the West Side.

Sign-ups will continue through tomorow from 5 to 8 p.m. at Taggart Stadium. Next week, registration will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at George Washington and Deshon Field.
Minenok estimated that 155 students participated in the 2009 season. He expects to surpass that total for the 2010 campaign.

For additional information, call Minenok at (724) 714-1447.