How We Sent 32 Kids to the Dome
by Menotti on Oct 18, 2010 10:58 AM EDT
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PrintAs fans, sometimes we yell at each other. Sometimes we complain about who is the least supportive and argue about who is the most supportive. Sometimes, our teams are overrated or underrated or rated just right. Sometimes, we lament or revel the state of a program, the attendance, or our own ability or inability to get back to campus to offer our support.
And sometimes, we cut through everything and make something magical happen.
Last Friday, I had the novel idea of sponsoring kids to attend the Pitt-SU game. My original intention was to gather enough donations to buy 2 of the $250 ticket packages for the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse - which would send around 22 kids and a couple of chaperones to the game.
When we very quickly broke through the pledge goal, it became apparent that this was taking on a life of its own. While I was on the phone with the involved organizations throughout the day, the donations continued to pour in. We collected so much that we were able to include an additional 10 kids from the Southwest Community Center.
With the dust settled, here are some stats on what we all helped make possible:
- $1,593.94 + my original pledge of $210 = $1,803.94 donated
- 66 donors
- 36 Orange Out shirts (we bought almost all of Manny's remaining inventory on Friday night)
- $360 in food vouchers
- 3 HCDM signed footballs (and an unknown amount of other swag - stickers, decals, etc.)
- 32 very happy kids (and 4 chaperones) sent to the Dome
We certainly have some money left over. When I am done working out the math and who needs to get paid back for what, we will probably put the remainder in a 501(c)(3) organization's account (be it a new one of our own or through a campus organization) and continue this awesome effort for future games.
I want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this happen. The organizations are extremely appreciative of our generosity and their kids had a blast. To quote Duane from the Boys and Girls Club, "It is so wonderful to expose children to opportunities like this."
Some more photos for your enjoyment:
Shirts lined up at Manny's - special thanks to Kevin Luk for purchasing them in person for us, as they don't accept phone orders
Excellent Orange hair
Cheering on the home team
Some seriously tasty Dome pizza
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That is great
I missed out on Friday, but if and when we do another one, I am in.
Great job to all those who helped out!
Next time lets get a win for these kids!!
Awesome.
Hopefully the loss didn’t dull the experience too much for them. So glad this worked out. I was talking to a friend here in New Orleans who went to Syracuse one year ahead of me. He actually worked with the Southwest Community Center at one point while in school and was very happy to hear some of those kids got to do this. Again, Menotti, bravo.
i'm sure regardless of the outcome of the game
that all the kids really had a great time saturday. they got a chance to go to a game and many of us may take that for granted every week.
Visit The Cuse Connection. The Newest Syracuse University Athletics Blog at http://www.CuseConnection.com
Keep us posted, I will be in on the next one!
Just think how awesomely huge with a little more advance? You know the blog world works in great ways!
the kids were wearing your shirts
I think that covers you for life!
by Menotti on Oct 18, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.
Buy my book "How To Grow An Orange"
by Sean Keeley on Oct 18, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
And TNIAAM commenter of the year, by a landslide, goes to Menotti.
Go, fight, and win.
by Alex O on Oct 18, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
The bar has been set high
Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.
Buy my book "How To Grow An Orange"
by Sean Keeley on Oct 18, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm in for next game
Such a great idea! Huge win for everybody – putting butts in the seats and helping local kids enjoy the great experience. Not to mention brainwashing the kids early (HTGAO style). :)
Thanks, Menotti!
God I was so upset about the game this weekend
But this makes it so much better. Great seeing these kids have a blast.
I might not be able to donate as much as I did this past time but I’m always down for donation, and if we spread the word there’s no reason we can’t get more kids to the games.
And like we said before, this is great for the kids to experience. And we’re getting some young, and loud, voices in the Dome!
When the game on the field grows a lemon, grow Oranges
The team may still have a lot of work to do to get back where they belong, but the program needs the support of the fanbase to get there. This showing is an instrumental statement that we are a united foundation on which Coach Marrone can rely. Keep this up. Coach’s philosophy is that the process starts within. He demands high character out of his team, and it is fitting that everyone here is willing to reflect that sentiment.
The Syracuse community sometimes forgets to recognize one of its true opportunities: the ability to bond together as a tight-knit community. With all the capabilities in front of us in 21st Century America, the community’s boundaries are no longer synonymous with the city’s borders. As fans, you have made this evident… but this was only a first step. Where do we go from here? Winning is a habit, not a one-time event.
I pledge that if this effort continues, I will be there with it. Thank you to Sean and Menotti and all others who are leading the way. Let me know how I can help you moving forward.
by TheRenegadePumpkin on Oct 18, 2010 12:26 PM EDT reply actions
Great Job!
Great job by all those involved. There are so many negative stories in sports that it is always nice to see a good one once in a while.
That first pic...
is a young hakim warrick, wes johnson, and rick jackson.
by CuseOrange.com on Oct 18, 2010 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So happy that this worked out well.
Let me know how I can help the next time!
by brendoh on Oct 18, 2010 2:16 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Next time I want to sit in the same section
and get these kids loud, unlike the debbie downers that were sitting on their hands in section 315.
Love the pic of the kid eating the pizza
As a fellow #fatkid and ex-maker of said sbarros pizzas in the dome, its gratifying to see patrons enjoy it.
pete thamel
nice twitter shout out from new york times writer and syracuse slum pete thamel
http://twitter.com/#!/PeteThamelNYT/status/27752938964
Get that girl a refill!
Good stuff
Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.
Buy my book "How To Grow An Orange"
Awesome stuff
Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
Well done
Weshould keep this going. It might snowball into….nevermind.
Seriously though, I wonder if there is a way to reach out to get more fans involved in something like this. Awesome idea & great work!
GO ORANGE
by bloodyyank44 on Oct 19, 2010 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions
This was an incredible job, everyone. Want to do it again for sure. And next time I’ll add in the full $44.
I’m willing to co-ordinate whatever is necessary if you want to go down the route of setting up a 501©(3) organization. It would take some start-up capital (not much… should be under $300). I can also communicate with the previously mentioned Professor Kenn at the SU Law Community Development Law Clinic to see if it’s something we can get SU students to work on as well.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
do you happen to know if student organizations of the university are, by default, 501©(3)?
Weighing whether to do it thru an RSO or keep it separate, as most of us donors seem to be alumni
FYI math!
in the paypal account = $1,593.94
pay tickets, concessions = ($1,110)
pay Kevin Luk for the shirts = $380 – my contribution of $210 = ($170)
Which means we have $313.94 in overflow money
Perfect
Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.
Buy my book "How To Grow An Orange"
by Sean Keeley on Oct 18, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
That's great
To those who donated, feel proud. Hopefully next time I will be able to help out as well.
Without Gerry McNamara we wouldn't have won 10 f-- games, not 10
Not sure if the loss ruined it a little
for the kids, but seeing the pics of the kids having fun made the loss a lot better for me…
Awesome job
Hope the kids got some great memories
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Great job guys.
Good luck this week.
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Oct 19, 2010 9:08 PM EDT reply actions
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