GHS Senior Donates $2,000 to Support GYFL’s Safety Efforts

Molly Spaeth and GYFL board president Frank Sarcone in Cardinal Stadium. Nov 19, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager

On Sunday, a Greenwich High School senior, Molly Spaeth presented a check to GYFL board president Frank Sarcone in the amount of $2,000. The check reflected funds raised over several years to raise awareness of changes to the game of football to prevent concussions.

Back in 8th grade Molly selected the topic for her Capstone project and continued her efforts throughout high school.

Molly created a sticker that she gave away at football games for several years.

“I didn’t sell the stickers. I gave them away, but people would give an optional donation,” Molly said on Sunday. “Most people gave $1.o0. One person gave $100.00.”

Molly Spaeth’s concussion awareness program sticker.

Molly, whose father is a BANC Raiders coach, is part of an avid football family. But, back at CMS, when Molly told her 8th grade teacher she wanted to research football safety and preventing concussions for her Capstone project, her teacher was skeptical.

“My teacher didn’t think it made sense for a girl to do a project on football, so I had to get my mother’s permission,” Molly recalled on Sunday, moments before presenting a giant check to GYFL board chair Frank Sarcone.

“This is a reminder of how we’re making the game more safe, and taking the head out of the tackle,” Sarcone said.

“For Molly to do this for GYFL is amazing,” Sarcone continued. “Her tireless effort over all these years is impressive. It tells me we’re doing a good job and that she’s paying attention.”

GYFL has initiated a multitude of changes in response to the advances in the medical science of concussions, and all GYFL coaches are concussion certified. The funds will go toward continuing GYFL’s efforts.