NJSIAA announces financial results for 2016-2017 school year

Brett Carroll, Staff Writer
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), the governing body for scholastic sports in the state, last week announced its financial results for the year that ended on June 30.
According to the NJSIAA, overall revenues were down approximately $170,000, despite net assets for fiscal year 2016-17 increasing by approximately $160,000, to a total of $3.3 million. This was in large part due to a decrease in gate receipts during the football season, according to an NJSIAA press release.
Steve Timko, NJSIAA executive director, felt that last fall’s weather played a huge factor.
“During our 2015 football tournament, the weather was favorable and there was an overabundance of exceptional matchups,” Timko said. “As a result, our numbers were quite strong. We simply did not enjoy these same benefits during the 2016 football tournament. This, I think, is a clear indicator of just how vulnerable we are to factors beyond our control.”
As for reserve levels, the NJSIAA is continuing its commitment to bolstering them, according to the press release. 
“In the face of the multiple risks, it’s essential we focus on steadily increasing reserve levels,” Timko said. “This strategy mirrors that of many other non-profits that are our size, and it continues to be a very prudent approach.” 
Program established to inform athletes about opioid abuse
In other NJSIAA news, the Garden State Pharmacy Owners (GSPO) has established a program to provide relevant, potentially life-saving information to New Jersey’s nearly 300,000 high school student-athletes.
The GSPO Stop Opioid Abuse Program (SOAP) will regularly share student-focused materials with public, private and parochial high schools across New Jersey, according to the NJSIAA. Each school may then determine how best to distribute the information to its athletes, as well as to coaches and trainers.
Statewide distribution will be coordinated for SOAP by the NJSIAA. Some of the informational materials provided, both in online and printed form, will be provided by the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey (PDFNJ).
Other components of the SOAP initiative will include additional community outreach, regular updates to and interaction with state legislators and drug manufacturers, plus volunteer efforts by GSPO members.