PEABODY — One year ago, the Peabody Tanners Youth Football and Cheering League program was in shambles.
Today, things are looking up. The program kicked off its 2017 season last week with its annual jamboree, where approximately 300 players and cheerleaders participated in the intra-squad scrimmage day. They all sported new equipment and new uniforms, recently purchased by the league.
Last year at this time, allegations of financial wrongdoing and unsafe equipment swirled about the program and its president, Jacqui Pence. A police tip in September 2016 led to an investigation of a “theft problem” in the league. As a result of the probe, Pence admitted in court that she stole $27,712.81 from the program. She was ordered to make restitution, stay away from league officials, complete 100 hours of community service and participate in psychotherapy sessions. The case left the league on the brink of financial ruin.
That’s when Bill Woods and an army of Peabody parents, coaches and friends stepped in and raised more than $30,000 to keep the program going.
“We were facing a difficult situation with so many needs and we had to take action to keep the season from falling apart,” said Woods, who is now the league president. “The first thing we did was to get the kids out canning, which brought in about $8,000. Then we got the concessions under our control to the point where we made out pretty well over the last half of the season.”
Woods, whose family owns P.J. Woods Insurance in downtown Peabody, said the league received sizable donations from many local individuals and businesses, including the North Shore Flag Football League, Peabody Tanners Softball, and both Peabody Little League and Peabody Western Little League.
“And we had a very successful calendar fundraiser where we sold calendars that had daily drawings, and that brought in $22,000. All that combined and we were back in the black,” said Woods.
Woods, who had been a coach in the league for about five years, hung up his whistle when he received a phone call in early October.
“I got a call from Shawn (Hubauer, president of the Northeastern Conference Youth Football League) asking me to step in as interim president. As a resident and local businessman and youth sports coach, I saw it as an incredible opportunity. I knew the families, I knew the pulse and character of the community and knew we had the volunteers and resources to bring the program back.”
Woods said NECYFL set up a 5-member board of trustees to oversee Peabody operations until the city had its own independent board back up and running. During Pence’s tenure, the board served no function.
“From what I know, the board wasn’t actively involved at all so it was important to remedy that,” said Woods. “I approached the trustees at the beginning of this year to get approval for an 11-12 member board that would function as a board should function.”
With a new board in place, the league ramped up its fundraising efforts to include a profitable golf outing, which was held at The Meadow at Peabody on June 4.
Other improvements included total transparency with respect to finances. Periodic income statements, itemizing down to every penny of revenue and expenses, are available for public viewing on the league’s website.
Woods said that the league had been working hard and is optimistic that this fall’s season will be a special one.
“If you surround yourself with good people, good things will happen,” said Woods. “My hat is off to all of the people who worked so hard to bring the pride back to this program.”