Being inundated with requests from every organization their child is involved with can leave a parent feeling like they’re being hit from all sides. In some instances, it can feel like an additional cash grab after already paying entry fees and uniform costs.
That’s why the coaches of the girls Under 14 Innisfil Stampeders soccer team, Mark Campbell and Kraig Schwartz, opted for something different.
They avoid the traditional popcorn and chocolate sales, sending half the money to either the Royal Victoria Hospital or a local charity for the third season in a row. In the last two years, they’ve donated over $5,000.
“We did the popcorn and chocolate but it’s overdone,” said Campbell, “(Now) we end up with the same dollars, but we’re actually raising more, half of which goes to RVH.”
Both Campbell and Schwartz participated in sport fundraisers as kids as well as charity fundraising. Once coaches themselves, they decided from day one that fundraising needed to be part of the team and not just for the players.
“They (the players) have to see they can give to others and help others who are less fortunate,” said Campbell.
The team held their first fundraising event last weekend with a barbeque and car wash at the Sobeys on Innisfil Beach Road in Alcona. They added the car wash last year, allowing people to drop off their car while they did their shopping and then grab a hot dog on their way out.
“It totally increased our sales,” said Campbell. Having the support of Sobeys also helps. Sobeys donates the parking lot and the barbeque with all supplies for the barbeque given at cost.
“Our success wouldn’t be possible without the help from local businesses,” said Campbell, “Sobeys steps up every year and surpasses our expectations every time.”
When the team was trying to choose which charity to donate to they decided it would be in the area of cancer since so many people are affected by it, Campbell said. With RVH trying to put the money together for the new cancer centre, it was a perfect fit.
“It’s the closest hospital and will help everybody,” said Campbell.
The barbeque raised $2,200 this weekend, but that is only the beginning of the events the team has planned. Two more car washes and barbeques will be held over the summer as well as the team’s second annual golf tournament.
The players also participate as a team in the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) walk and adopt a needy family at Christmas.
Taking part of the money not slated for RVH, the girls donated $800 to a single mother with three children. As part of the exercise, the team went to Wal-Mart where they split up into three groups to get as much as they could from the children’s wish lists.
“They had a blast,” said Campbell, adding the players are now thinking about others and realizing that without them the kids wouldn’t have had anything at Christmas time. “We want them to know they’re in a privileged spot.”
While the benefits of the fundraising seem to be innumerable, one of the most important benefits is that it’s fun. At the car wash, since they’re outside having fun, other kids come out and join them in what Campbell describes as a ‘feeding frenzy’ of kid activity.
“The kids remember the fundraising (at the end of the year) because we keep it different,” said Campbell.
It’s a tradition they plan to continue, while challenging other teams to follow their lead
“By the time they’re 17 or 18, our hope is we’ve spread the word so other competitive teams will start doing it,” said Campbell. “At $5,000 over two years times ten teams … it adds up so quickly.”
The next two barbeques are scheduled for July 12-13 and Aug. 16-17 with the golf tournament on Aug. 23. Anyone interested in more information or wishing to be a sponsor for the golf tournament can visit the website at www.www.soccerstars1994.com
