We are excited to announce the Ed Feeney Access to Athletics Fund!

Retired PHS coach Ed Feeney’s career is legendary. From 1979 to 2007, he coached the Portland High School Girls Basketball team, taking them to 11 Western Maine Championships and 3 Gold Ball State Titles. With more than 400 career victories, he was inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

One thing always troubled him—the students who couldn’t attend practice, didn’t try out, or left teams because they didn’t have the right gear. Once, when a student showed up for a game in sneakers full of holes, Ed gave him the shoes he was wearing and drove home in his socks.

Today, school budgets pay only for basics like uniforms and helmets. Portland’s high schools have hundreds of talented and enthusiastic athletes without the resources to participate. Many of these students don't even try out because they lack athletic clothing, footwear, or gear needed for practice.

A friend of Coach Ed Feeney, who wishes to remain anonymous, has given FPPS a $50,000 matching donation to launch the Ed Feeney Athletics Fund. When coaches, teachers, or school social workers learn of a student who lacks basic athletic gear to play sports, we can now purchase that gear for students.

Any contribution to the Ed Feeney Athletic Fund will be matched dollar for dollar; $100 becomes $200, $1,000 becomes $2,000. When we reach our full goal of $100,000, we plan to expand the program to middle school sports. 

The benefits of participation in sports are tremendous. Beyond physical fitness, participation in school sports fosters friendships, strengthens self-esteem, improves grades, and strengthens community.  Let’s make this available to all PPS students. Please give!

Celebrate team sports
Honor Coach Ed Feeney
Provide equity of opportunity for all athletes
Build stronger sports teams
Donate to the Ed Feeney Athletic Fund