I have always thought, as I’m sure many of you have as well, that having the ability to play a sport at the professional level must be one of the greatest experiences, not to mention jobs, in the entire world. Now, I don’t think this simply because professional athletes get to perform their passion on the biggest stage, I don’t think this simply because of the glamour and respect that comes with it, nor do I even think this simply because of the monstrous checks being cashed for an athlete’s performance. The reason I think playing a professional sport is one of the greatest jobs in the entire world, is because these athletes have the ability to change lives of people they don’t even know, simply by doing their job.
The ability to find a true passion, to commit yourself towards mastering your goal while inspiring others in the process, is a feat that many dream of, but only few attain. However, there is a company that has consistently proved time and time again that professional athletes, organizations, as well as sports fans, can work as a cohesive unit and change the lives of people all over the world.
FanAngel, is a crowdfunding website giving sports fans all over the world the ability to engage with their favorite athletes and teams, raising money for those in need. These charitable acts are made possible through philanthropic events, and other charitable campaigns associated with specific athletes and organizations. Recently, FanAngel has announced their newest Crowdfunding-For-Performance Campaigns, which includes the “So Kids Can” campaign with the Washington Capitals, as well as the “Light It Up Blue” campaign with the NY Red Bulls. The Red Bulls have partnered with Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, while the Capitals have partnered with Monumental Sports and Entertainment (MSE) Foundation benefiting Horton’s Kids, a non-profit organization supporting at-risk children in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington D.C.
“MSE Foundation and the Capitals are excited to be partnering with FanAngel on our So Kids Can fundraising campaign”, states Elizabeth Pace, Executive Director of the MSE Foundation.
“We are proud that our players have pledged their own money to donate to this worthwhile cause. FanAngel allows our fans to join our players and show their support, too. I’m always impressed with how generous Caps fans are and I know they will step up to help make a difference for at-risk children in D.C.”
With two options to donate on the FanAngel website, fans have the ability to choose to “Pledge4Play”, enabling a fan to identify their donation directly with an athlete’s performance. As your favorite athlete continues to play better throughout the season, you, the fan, pledge to donate more based on their achievements.
“ It’s unique now that the players really feel it’s their responsibility to be involved in social responsibility,” says Christina Giunta-Quarino, Director of Community Relations for the New York Red Bulls.
“Instead of us having to go to them, they now come to us to see what they could do to make a difference. That mindset is a big change over the last 10 years with athletes.”
The second option to donate, “Pledge2Day”, is a simple donation page for whatever amount you would like. Your donation will be directly contributing your chosen athlete’s team or campaign, and of course, there is no limit to the amount of times you can donate. With these donations, each patron qualifies to win rewards and prizes geared towards sports fans everywhere.
Thus far, a total of $23,451 has been raised for the Capitals “So Kids Can” campaign through a variety of pledges. These donations have been made through performance payments as well as sponsor pledges, including Washington Capitals athletes such as Karl Alzner, Nicklas Backstrom, and Braden Holtby, as well as Elliot Segal from “Elliot in the Morning”.
“While it is great to be known for our performance on the ice, what we do off-ice is just as important”, says Karl Alzner, a defenseman for the Capitals.
“We participate in So Kids Can as a way to give back to the children of the D.C. community, and the So Kids Can page on FanAngel.com is a great way for our entire fan community to do that right along with us in support of Horton’s Kids.”
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Erit Yellen of FanAngel, an expert in the field of Crowdfunding for both teams and athletes. Erit is the co-author of the book titled, “Crowdfunding: The Corporate Era”, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Communication. Demonstrating a colorful 15-year career in the sports industry, Erit has worked with, as well as represented over 100 professional athletes, teams, non-profit organizations, and much more. During my conversation with Erit, she described her passion about working with FanAngel, and how these Crowdfunding campaigns help to identify new demographics in the sporting industry.
“What I know for sure from my years as an athlete, all the way through my professional experience, is that athletes and sports have the ability to impact the fans in so many ways. Many details of the sports industry are not properly covered or publicized the way they should be, and it has been such a privilege to work with a platform like FanAngel to help them tell their story”, says Yellen.
“99% of what happens in sports is good, and has a good impact on society. Many times, it seems the media thinks that fans only want to hear about the negatives in sport; however they also want fair journalism. If you’re going to cover the negatives, you need to cover the positives as well. FanAngel provides a fantastic view of different demographics, which are all incredibly new to the sports world. In real time, this is used to truly measure your fan engagement.”
As an emphatic fan of sports, journalism, and the overall altruistic cause, I truly believe that FanAngel has only just begun its journey of changing lives for the better. With offices in both New York City, as well as Park City, Utah, FanAngel looks to continue its ability to empower fans to engage, incentivize, and make a difference in sports.
“When you take sports to a personal level, everyone is going to have different level of philanthropies that they support, depending on what is important to them”, says Yellen.
“It’s so rewarding to see the immediate elation from sports fans when they realize they can engage themselves in these campaigns, as well as help those in need. As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Sports has the power to change the world’.”
For more information, check out the FanAngel webpage to get involved and help change lives through the world of sports.