Monday begins a new year for the Escambia County High School Athletic Club as it continues to work to fund all athletic programs at ECHS.

The Club, which began last year in the place of the former ECHS Quarterback Club, is holding a membership drive on Monday beginning at 6 p.m. in the library at Escambia County High School.

The Club led by newly appointed president Chris Walker is holding the drive to increase participation of parents outside of the Blue Devils football team.

“We want the parents of student-athletes to know that this is the ECHS Athletic Club and it’s purpose is to raise funds and scholarship awareness for all sports at the high school, not just football,” Walker said.

In athletics, programs such as the football and basketball teams are able to fund themselves through admission and concessions, but on the other end of the spectrum there are teams that do not draw crowds to their events and require extra help to support their programs.

The Athletic Club is being built around the hope that they can help supply those programs, which includes the baseball, softball, golf and track teams with the funds needed to operate.

“I really want to encourage the parent of any student-athlete to come out and join the Athletic Club,” Walker said. “We need members to volunteer to help raise funds, so our athletes can have the best facilities and equipment possible. We also want it to help parents become more aware of the scholarship opportunities that student-athletes outside of basketball and football have.”

Walker’s work ethic to the club has been something the Escambia County Athletic Director Mark Heaton has been happy to see.

The new president along with other officers including new secretary Kelli Ramer shows a good future for the club.

“Our two newest additions are Chris and Kelli,” Heaton said. “I’m very excited about these two new individuals as well as our other officers because of the vision they have for our athletic programs. Chris has really hit the ground running and has a great plan for the direction of the Club. I’m looking forward to working with all of them.”

To join the ECHS Athletic Club the cost is $5 for an individual and $10 for a family.