01
Facilities
Projects such as field house upgrades, storage, and grounds improvements that serve athletes for years.
Volunteer run · RSD13
Every athlete. Every season. Since 1966.
The Coginchaug Benchwarmers are the volunteer booster club behind Coginchaug High School athletics, raising millions of dollars over the decades to keep our kids in the game.
1966Founded in Durham, CT
60 yrsRunning a fair booth
$3.5MRaised for student athletes
100%Powered by volunteers
Our story
Neighbors on the grill, kids on the field
Founded in 1966, the Coginchaug Benchwarmers have spent six decades doing one thing: making sure money is never the reason a RSD13 student sits out. We're parents, alumni, and neighbors who flip burgers, run booths, and organize events, all so our athletes have what they need to compete.
What began as a small group of supporters has become a year round fundraising engine, best known for a food booth at the Durham Fair, the largest agricultural fair in the Northeast, that has been a Benchwarmers tradition for 60 years.
Field house upgradesFunded by decades of fundraising
The Durham Fair booth
60 years of fair food & full stands
Every September, our volunteers take over a food booth at the Durham Fair, the largest agricultural fair in the Northeast. For 60 years, the booth has been our biggest fundraiser of the year and a reunion for generations of Coginchaug families.
Watch the FOX61 feature on our booth →Where it goes
What your support becomes
Over the decades, Benchwarmers fundraising has added up to $3.5 million for RSD13 athletics and support items, including storage sheds, grounds improvements, scoreboards, and scholarships. Here's what that money buys.
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Equipment
Balls, bats, goals, and other gear that keeps practices and games running.
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Scoreboards
Scoreboard improvements that make games easier to follow for athletes, coaches, and fans.
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Scholarships
Annual awards that recognize graduating Coginchaug student athletes for their achievements, character, and contributions.
Beyond the booth
Fundraising all year long
The Durham Fair booth is our largest tradition, but the Benchwarmers support RSD13 student athletes throughout the year with community fundraisers that bring families, alumni, and fans together.
- Annual golf tournament
- Coginchaug alumni game
- Concessions at basketball games
- Banners
- Basketball program
Frequently asked questions
Learn more about the Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers support RSD13 athletics by helping pay for facility improvements, athletic equipment, and scoreboard upgrades. These projects give Coginchaug student athletes and teams the resources they need to compete and represent their school.
The Benchwarmers raise money through the Durham Fair food booth, an annual golf tournament, a Coginchaug alumni game, basketball game concessions, banners, and the basketball program. Community volunteers make these fundraisers possible, and the money raised goes back into local athletic programs.
Student athletes participating in Coginchaug High School and RSD13 athletic programs benefit from the fundraising. The Benchwarmers also award annual scholarships that recognize graduating student athletes for their achievements, character, and contributions.
You can become involved by completing the Benchwarmers application below. Members can help with fundraisers, volunteer at community events, and support projects that make a difference for RSD13 student athletes.
Join the Benchwarmers Family
Join the Benchwarmers family and make a difference for student athletes.