Team donation to help family of neighboring teen

After Calhoun High School student Francisco “Paco” Vasquez drowned in the Oostanaula River earlier this month, his soccer coach asked schools in the region to help raise money for the funeral. Darlington responded immediately, collecting over $650 during the final region game against Calhoun on April 19.

"All the faculty and students here at CHS have a huge respect for the Darlington family since they’ve done what they did for Paco," Maldonado said. "When someone is in need, rivalry becomes nothing and brotherhood takes over. The urge to help one another takes priority, and this is proof." 

The Tigers’ coach, Owen Kinney, presented the donation to Calhoun coach Ruben Maldonado during halftime. It will be added to a fund that has been established on Vasquez’s behalf.

“Coach Maldonado and I have been friends and colleagues for the last 10 years or so. When he shared the tragic news about Francisco with the other coaches in our area, several parents and I began thinking of ways to help the Vasquez family,” Kinney said. “We decided to make the Calhoun-Darlington soccer game into a fundraiser to help cover the grieving family’s funeral expenses. The Darlington soccer program is honored to share our resources with a community in such great distress, and our most heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and relatives of Francisco Vasquez.”

Maldonado said he and the Calhoun community are very appreciative of Darlington’s efforts, adding that Vasquez will be remembered as a friend and athlete. “This loss has been very tough on all of us, especially my junior varsity boys, Coach Veal and myself,” Maldonado said. “It’s getting a little better, but the pain is still there. Personally, I thank Darlington for starting this [fundraising effort] for us.”

Maldonado added that the Armuchee soccer team also raised approximately $200 for Vasquez's family.