The Old Rochester Regional High School Athletic Booster Club has reached its goal of becoming a nonprofit organization. It will also be in charge of its own finances following a vote from the ORR School Committee on Wednesday night.

Former president Shawn Walsh told the ORR School Committee that the club, founded in 2004, received its charity status in July.

Walsh estimated that the group has raised at least $300,000 for school sports in the past ten years.

“Not to pat ourselves on the back, but without that funding we wouldn’t be as well equipped and the athletes wouldn’t be as well prepared,” said Walsh.

The group raises around $20,000 each year through its annual phone-a-thon. Other funding sources are the Bulldog Snack Shack and a calender. Some also hold their own fundraisers for their particular needs throughout the year.

As the school budget only includes the salaries in the athletic department, the booster club’s fundraising goes a long way to providing for the needs of each team, noted Superintendent Doug White.

In addition to uniforms and equipment, the club also purchases varsity letters, awards and certificates for athletes. Each year, the club also gives out $6,000 in scholarships to graduating athletes.

With its nonprofit status, the group requested control of its funds from the school district, which has done all of its accounting since the club’s inception.

The school committee voted unanimously to transfer $11,744 of the group’s funds from ORR to the booster club. The organization will continue to be subject to the school's fundraising policies.