Rich Lichtel was a teacher, mentor, friend, and football coach. A standout quarterback at Bloomsburg University, Rich paired his love of the game as a coach at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School. More than a coach, Rich mentored both athletes, and those not so inclined. He led, by walking beside you, with his arm around your shoulder. At age 60, Rich died too young.

Shortly after his death, the Rich Lichtel Fund was established with the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), with a simple mission "to help kids". Over time, this evolved to build a fieldhouse to honor his legacy.

In 2017, the Wildcat Foundation, the education foundation that provides support to the Mechanicsburg Area School District (MASD), approached stakeholders of the Rich Lichtel Fund with the proposal to partner to provide improvements to facilities at John H. Frederick Field, home stadium for football and other extra-curricular activities for MASD.

With a lead gift from the Rich Lichtel Fund, the Wildcat Foundation embarked upon this Building the Future Together, capital campaign effort. When complete, the stadium will boast refurbished a concession stand, updated public restrooms, officials' locker room, and training room, a new ticketing center, and a fieldhouse honoring Coach Lichtel. Until all funds are pledged or donated however, this will be a phased project. While we continue to raise funds, Phase 1 begin in July, 2020 with anticipated completion of the fieldhouse and support facility for the 2021 season.

This campaign is supported by individuals, local, regional and national businesses, and foundations. We began with a lead gift from the Rich Lichtel Fund, in addition, the Wildcat Foundation has committed nearly $300,000 to Building the Future Together.

We recognize and thank the following, who have given or pledged at least $1,000, through March 22, 2021.

Aetna Foundation | John Althouse | American Legion Post 109 | Shannon and Greg Andersen | Myra Badorf | Estate of Paul A. Bahn, Jr. | Jason Baker | Tracy and David Besselman | Paul Bigham | Andy Bitz | Bobby Rahal Toyota | Taralyn and Richard Bradley | Meghan and Peter Brown | Peter R. Brown, DMD, LLC | Tonya Brown | Adrianna Brumbaugh | Chris and Paul Calvanelli | Leigh Ann Chow | James Cotterman | Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Assoc., Architects | Russell Daniels | Leslee and Dan DeLong, Jr. | Delta Dental Community Foundation | Janet Diller | Michelle and John Duggan | Ashlyn Ecker | Jeanne and Don Farinelli | Joan and Dale Flor | Gerald Forry | Fry Communications | The Graham Company | Mike Greene & The Homestead Group | Meghan and Marc Harder | David Harris | Ryan Hartman Family | Marianna and Rich Heeter | Heritage Investment Services Fund | Patti and Thomas Hinkson | Kelly Hollinger | Julia and Russell Huff | Janice Hummel | Barry Isett Assoc. | Julia and Aaron Jackson | Dr. and Mrs. F. Wilson Jackson, III | Rachel and Paul Jarabeck | Jean Louise Keefer | Holly Laufer | Dr. Mark K. and Tiffany Leidy and Family | Susann and L.E. Lichtel | Jeanmarie and Reese Lichtel | Rich Lichtel Fund | Lobar, Inc. | William Lord | Lower Allen VFW Post #7530 Monica and Michael Malpezzi, Malpezzi Funeral Home | MASH, Class of 1981 | Jessica and Nathan McWilliams | Mechanicsburg Area Parent Teacher Organization | Mechanicsburg Borough | The Mechanicsburg Club | Mechanicsburg Education Assoc. Mechanicsburg | Music Alliance | Dawn Merris | Jeffrey Mitchell | Cristine and John Mizerak | Benjamin Moll and Family | Linda Miller and William Murray | Dr. Ryan Olsen | Angela and Robert Ortenzio Family Foundation | Nancy and Rocco Ortenzio Family Foundation | Orrstown Bank | Kathy and Nathan Patterson, George and Rita Patterson Fndt. | The Paulus Family | Sharon and Michael Perry | Kristina Prengaman | Remco, Inc. | Tina and Eric Rensel | Angelica and Ben Ried | Jennifer Rogosky | Marjorie Kreitzer Rutter | Pat and Chuck Schaal | Joseph T. and Helen M. Simpson Fndt. | Dr. Ranny Singiser | Danielle and Andy Steele | Matt Stern | Jeanne and Ron Souder | Renee and Lowell Thomas | Cindy Thompson | Joseph Underkofffler | Karen and Alan Vandrew | Marie Hanlon Ward | Lorrie and Gary Weber | Phyllis S. Weber | Emmeline C. Wevodau | Wildcat Foundation | Keith Williams | Christine and Alan Wirt | Dottie and Tony Zettlemoyer

Established in 1998, the Wildcat Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) education foundation that provides financial support to benefit students and teachers at the Mechanicsburg Area School District (MASD), Cumberland County, PA. Annually, the Foundation invests between $60,0000-$115,000 in programs and projects not typically included in the District's budget, align with our mission, and impact all of our MASD students and faculty.