Two Kansas City greater area high schools – Butler and Plattsburg – just received $5,000 each in funding — and they’re also in the running for a football field transformation valued at $1 million.
The school was randomly selected as a $5K Fridays sweepstakes winner through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights, a national competition celebrating small-town football and community pride.14 Missouri high schools (listed below) have received $5,000, bringing the total to $70,000. All schools are in the running for the grand prize.
This year, more than $8.4 million is up for grabs, including $25,000 for 40 finalists, $250,000 for four division champions and $1 million toward a football field transformation for one grand prize winner, announced Nov. 12.
Butler High School Athletic Director Richard Schacher applied in hopes the funding can help upgrade an outdated field that serves as a year-round gathering place for high school, middle school, youth programs, families, alumni, and local supporters. Funding would reduce ongoing maintenance challenges, improve the gameday and community experience, and create a lasting investment that shows students their school and town believe in them.
Plattsburg High School Athletic Director Hunter Adkins applied in hopes the funding can restore safe, reliable lighting to its practice field, which serves high school and middle school football, youth football, soccer, and track and field programs. Funding would extend usable practice hours, improve athlete safety, reduce wear on the game field, and ensure students from kindergarten through 12th grade have equitable access to a well-lit community facility.
So far, 65 Missouri high schools have applied, but there’s still time for more area schools to join the competition. Eligible schools in communities with populations under 150,000 can apply at FridayNight5GLights.com through Sept. 18. Weekly $5K Fridays sweepstakes winners will continue to be announced through the end of September, and as the competition moves forward, communities will have opportunities to rally behind their schools and vote.
Happy to connect you with representatives from Butler or Plattsburg High to share how they plan to put the $5,000 to work, what it means for their communities and what they’re hoping for next.














