Last week, the Polson Youth Soccer Association announced that Mike and Janna Taylor donated $25,000 to the new fields north of the Mission Valley Aquatics Center. Sarah Beck Smith, one of board members for the PYSA, said the Taylor family has been in talks with the association for about a year. “We really started discussing possibilities in earnest this past spring,” she said.

In an interview this past week, Mike Taylor said that he and his wife have been looking at giving something to the community for awhile. “We were thinking of donating to a sport ... something that would bring people together.”

He said that his kids played soccer when they were young, and that they know several soccer families. “We are hoping that our donation to this cause will help get others to donate,” he said.

As far as others donating, Sarah Beck Smith said, “There are a few other organizations that have expressed interest in donating.” A donation of $25,000 will get a field named after the person or group that donated, but she stressed that any amount of money will help their cause.

The eastern-most soccer field will be named the “Senators Mike and Janna Taylor” field in honor of sponsors Mike and Janna Taylor. Mike Taylor served in the Montana Senate for eight years, while Janna Taylor served in the House for 8 years and is completing her first four-year term in the Senate. The Taylors first became interested in the local soccer program through friend Michael Hewston, who currently serves as the Polson High School girls’ soccer coach. They are strong supporters of youth in the community, and believe “sports make better students and citizens” by promoting activity, team work, cooperation, strategy, and uniting all walks of players. They are aware of the immense popularity of soccer world-wide and are excited by the prospect of a local Polson kid going on to play soccer in the national or international arena. “We are fortunate to be in a position to support the youth in our community and excited to do it,” Janna said.

With the help of the Taylor’s $25,000 donation to the soccer complex project, PYSA has raised well over half of the funds needed to complete the project in 2016. PYSA has also received funding from sources such as the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Polson Rotary, Greater Polson Community Foundation, Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation, and the Rolfson Charitable Trust, as well as many private donations. Much of the development has been made possible by a gift from the Mildred Weber Hanson Estate.

There are three field sponsorships still available at the new soccer complex. A $25,000 field sponsorship includes one regulation-sized field named in your honor with recognition on engraved plaque at the soccer complex and other print pieces associated with the complex.

There are different price levels for donations made to the PYSA. Up to a $1,000 donation gets recognition in print and on their website. The next level is a $1,000 plus donation that gives the contributer recognition in print and website and a brick on a pathway by the concession stand. A $5,000 donation gets recognition in print and the website, a brick on the pathway by the concession stand, recognition on a plaque at complex. A $10,000 donation receives gets recognition in print and the website, a brick on the pathway by the concession stand, and recognition on a plaque at complex. The same goes for a $15,000 donation. Lastly, a $25,000 will receive all of those same things, plus a field named in your honor.

If you are interested in being a field sponsor, contact Sarah Beck Smith at 406-261-0641.