By Fred J. Robledo
John Gasparian, the owner of American Reclamation, a company that provides rubbish removal and recycling services for multifamily and commercial businesses in El Monte, donated $2,000 to the Arroyo High School football team after learning that the Knights were well short of needed funds to purchase new equipment for the 2011 season. With more than 155 players in camp but only enough equipment for approximately 100 players, Arroyo’s football team conducted a carwash fundraiser over the summer in which players went door to door selling carwash tickets to raise the necessary funds to outfit everyone.

During the players’ door-to-door sales, they came across El Monte Councilman Juventino Gomez, who bought a ticket and was so impressed with how the players conducted themselves that he sought out a donor to help raise the funds Arroyo needed. That donor was Gasparian, who gladly cut the $2,000 check.

Gasparian and Gomez presented the check to coach Jim Singiser last week, then the two delivered a short speech to the team explaining that while athletics are important, academics come first.

Arroyo’s season opener is Friday against Ontario at Montclair High School at 7 p.m.

“For someone to graciously donate $2,000 is huge, it says a lot about our community and their willingneess to help kids,” Singiser said. “But the part that will stick with me is that it came from people I’ve never met before, who were impressed with our kids and wanted to help out.

“And now we have helmets and equipment for all the kids. It’s a win-win situation all the way around.”