All of the 'Modified B' sports programs that had been in danger of being cut in West Irondequoit due to the budget situation are being restored.
That according to West Irondequoit Athletic Director Anthony Lipani, who says that initially, he had anticipated being able to restore just 17 of the 29 sports teams, and that was being done because of a community-wide effort to raise donations. That effort collected more than $48,000.
But this week, Lipani learned that Mark Crane, owner of Mark's Pizzeria, is donating the rest of the money needed to reach the $95,000 level, which will allow West Irondequoit to restore all 29 teams.
Lipani says that Crane is no relation to the district's superintendent, Jeff Crane, but he says that Jeff Crane had coached Mark Crane when he was in high school, and that relationship obviously played a part in the interest of the pizza chain owner in the sports program.
The fundraising effort began after two failed budget votes earlier this year, which would have forced the district down to just 8 teams.
