Going All In
In order to fundraise for the Team Impact All in 5k, I had to lean heavily on my personal social network to spread the word about the event. I first met with Wesleyan’s athletic director to inform him about Team Impact’s mission with the 5k. We spoke about how we could grow the organization on campus and how we could raise as much money as possible. As a result, I presented at the varsity coaches biweekly meeting, including 30 varsity coaches and 20 assistant coaches at Wesleyan. I spoke to them about the organization, its mission, and the event itself, focusing on how the Wesleyan community had the opportunity to come together and raise money for something really special.
In addition to speaking at the coaches meeting, I presented in front of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)—consisting of approximately 60 members in addition to a few staff members of the athletic department—educating them about the organization and how they can contribute to its mission. This later led me to speak in front of approximately 300 Wesleyan athletes about the event in an effort to grow fundraising efforts. I posted repeatedly on social media, urging anyone and everyone to donate to the cause. I arranged a “Team Impact” night at a local restaurant I work at, in which some of the proceeds were donated to Team Impact. My boss and I created flyers and social media posts to advertise the “event” to the public, in addition to explaining what the organization is and why it is so important.
After only about 2 months of fundraising, Wesleyan was able to raise just under $2,000, which was one of the largest contributions in the entire country by any campus. In October of 2023, Wesleyan had hundreds of athletes come together and walk/run the 5k in honor of Team Impact. Being the director of this 5k was a challenging, yet extremely rewarding experience, forcing me to get creative with overcoming logistical roadblocks that would hinder the success of the event. For example, the diverse schedules of students participating in the 5k made deciding on a specific date and time especially difficult. It was challenging to accommodate, so I decided to send out a poll to determine the date and time that the majority of students would be able to attend. Raising this money for Team Impact meant so much to me because my contribution helped give more children the opportunity to be a part of a team.
As an entire organization, Team Impact raised $160,000 across 90 campuses with over 2,000 participants, bringing the entire country together to support Team Impact. My goal for 2024 is to raise over $3,000. My plan is to start advertising the event earlier to get a head start on fundraising efforts. Additionally, I am going to seek out contributions from various businesses that may be interested in donating. I am continuing to educate people about the organization and how people can contribute to the cause, as well as trying to expand my fundraising efforts beyond just my team. Raising this money will allow more children with serious disabilities and illness to be matched up with a college sports team, creating lifelong relationships that will change the lives of everyone involved.
