RESERVE — Coaches and athletic directors have learned something over the years: to raise money for athletics, get people to play golf.

That’s what the folks at East St. John High are doing this week with their first Alumni Golf Tournament. The event will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at Belle Terre Country Club in LaPlace.

All proceeds will go to the East St. John Athletics Fund.

Among those organizing the event is St. John the Baptist Parish Director of Recreation Kerry Watkins, who is an ESJ alum himself. Watkins said he was surprised the school never put together the traditional fund raiser before. Riverside Academy, St. Charles Catholic and West St. John have been holding very successful golf tournaments for years. This is East St. John’s first.

“No one ever took the initiative before to put it together,” Watkins said. “So far, the interest is great. It looks like we will have a great turnout. We’re getting sponsorships. We’re very excited.”

Saturday’s golf tournament will be followed by an Alumni Social at 7:30 p.m. at Belle Terre Country Club in LaPlace. All East St. John alumni are invited to attend.

East St. John head football coach Aldon Foster, who took over the program last year, said he was surprised that it had never been done before.

“Every other team in the River Parishes has one except East St. John,” he said. “Ours won’t be as big as those other ones because it’s our first one, but it will only continue to grow.”

Foster said fund raising for athletics and other extra-curricular activities is at a crucial point, especially after St. John voters nixed a  .25 percent sales tax increase that would have benefitted the School District with approximately $2.4 million per year.

After the measure failed 52 percent to 48 percent, School Board members suggested staff and program cutbacks may be possible.

“It’s very important to support the athletic department because there have been so many cuts,” Foster said. “Not only the cuts, but the price of everything is going up. The more money you can raise outside the gate the better off you’ll be. This will hopefully allow us to keep up with the Joneses.”

Wildcats softball coach Lester Jenkins said fund raising is huge for the smaller sports like his. His team recently held a car wash to raise funds, but also coaches have to think outside the box.

Jenkins organized the school’s first Bloomer Bowl (also known as a Powderpuff Football Game), where the girls played football and the boys “did all the other stuff.”

“They weren’t too sure about it at first, but since we had it kids have been asking if we’re going to do it again next year,” Jenkins said.

“The big thing for us is just to put some money in the account. The big sports pretty much get taken care of. Us smaller sports, it’s up to us. Any time you can raise money for your kids, it’s a good thing.”

Anyone interested in participating, sponsoring or donating items may call Watkins at 504-338-4105. Walk-ups will be accepted the day of the tournament. Tickets for the social are available at the school.