Every Icebowl in the US groups together and finds one single non-profit organization, to donate the funds to...I dont know the exact numbers last year, but i suspect the total was pretty high...By doing this we could give a lump sum that would/might get discgolf some much needed media coverage. Also, the funds could be given to the non-profit via the PDGA which could use it as a write-off.
I think the Lance Armstrong foundation would be perfect considering Chris Himing already has a solid relationship going with them.
SO.....?

Alternative idea: The PDGA uses $1 from every membership and gives it to charity at the end of the year every year and finds a way to make itself $1 per membership more efficient.

Wouldn't it be more efficient to work on getting the ICEBOWL charity more coverage? Getting noticed when you give to charity requires giving a lot more than we're giving no matter what our intent or good intentions.

I made a suggestion that we start a garbage can program for parks, especially those with courses, that have our logo and a basic message about the sport. That would get a lot more mileage than this IMO.

Or, continue with each Ice Bowl raising money for local food pantries and the like, thus continuing to reinforce that the disc golf environment is good for the community and possibly get some local media coverage. Think global, act local. It won't get you large sponsorship, but it does help keep courses in the ground. Around here, that's probably our bigger fight.

Or, continue with each Ice Bowl raising money for local food pantries and the like, thus continuing to reinforce that the disc golf environment is good for the community. Think global, act local. It won't get you large sponsorship, but it does help keep courses in the ground. Around here, that's our fight and probably more important than a few more bucks in a small handfull of 'pro' pockets.



I think this is an excellent point. The local ICEBOWL has a relationship that is recognized by locals. A good thing.

Darn, you quoted me before I got the edit in. Thought better of bringing up the increased media exposure tie with possible increased purses. Oh well ......

Are the LOCALS really recognizing your efforts?
Doubtful.
Will the media(on a slow news day) play into a relatively small org. donating $300,000 to a charity. YES. Dont forget, the story plays better that it was a national effort. Do not relate your local charity with the Lance Armstrong foundation...If the LAnce Armstrong foundation realizes we have a yearly commitment with them we could have future events which combine the two...

Are the LOCALS really recognizing your efforts?
Doubtful.
Will the media(on a slow news day) play into a relatively small org. donating $300,000 to a charity. YES. Dont forget, the story plays better that it was a national effort. Do not relate your local charity with the Lance Armstrong foundation...If the LAnce Armstrong foundation realizes we have a yearly commitment with them we could have future events which combine the two...



IMO, the inverse may be more accurate. Local media will be more likely to recognize the effort than national media. Also, your $300K number seems unrealistic given the actual attendance of these events.

As a reference to the philosphy of the Ice Bowl and attendance (a bit old), check out:

Ice Bowl (http://www.disclife.com/icebowl.shtml)

2001 attendance was estimated at just over 4000 players. Again a bit old, but far from the numbers needed to generate $300K.

Are the LOCALS really recognizing your efforts?
Doubtful.
Will the media(on a slow news day) play into a relatively small org. donating $300,000 to a charity. YES. Dont forget, the story plays better that it was a national effort. Do not relate your local charity with the Lance Armstrong foundation...If the LAnce Armstrong foundation realizes we have a yearly commitment with them we could have future events which combine the two...



IMO, the inverse may be more accurate. Local media will be more likely to recognize the effort than national media. Also, your $300K number seems unrealistic given the actual attendance of these events.

As a reference to the philosphy of the Ice Bowl and attendance (a bit old), check out:

Ice Bowl (http://www.disclife.com/icebowl.shtml)

2001 attendance was estimated at just over 4000 players. Again a bit old, but far from the numbers needed to generate $300K.



I second this position. And follow it up with the observation that this, IME, is exactly what has happened in Houston. The overall benefit, I'm sure the public is more aware than they would have been. Dollar benefit, in the loose change category.

Also, your $300K number seems unrealistic given the actual attendance of these events.
2001 attendance was estimated at just over 4000 players. Again a bit old, but far from the numbers needed to generate $300K.



Second Harvest in this region has about a 7.5 : 1 ratio of food value to dollars. That is to say that for every $1.00 in donated cash they can provide more than $7.50 worth of food.
Maybe that is how the overall value is computed. And why they prefer cash to actual cans of food, though they are grateful for that too.

According to the latest issue of DGWN, there were over 200 Ice Bowl events in 2007 with 8,982 players that raised $197,995 dollars and 35,834 pounds of food.

I can tell you that the news coverage on these local Ice Bowl events is widespread. It lets folks in many different communities learn what disc golf is about and see the sport and our players in a positive light.

All these different newspaper articles and local TV news stories about Ice Bowls are an excellent way to promote the sport to the masses. It would be tough to improve on this formula.

According to the latest issue of DGWN, there were over 200 Ice Bowl events in 2007 with 8,982 players that raised $197,995 dollars and 35,834 pounds of food.

I can tell you that the news coverage on these local Ice Bowl events is widespread. It lets folks in many different communities learn what disc golf is about and see the sport and our players in a positive light.

All these different newspaper articles and local TV news stories about Ice Bowls are an excellent way to promote the sport to the masses. It would be tough to improve on this formula.



Thanks Discette! If I were to speculate, and I love to speculate, it might not be too long before some local affiliate says hay, I wonder how wide this network of local events is? And then sends a story to the national office. Gee... I wonder if the PDGA might not be able to point this out to some local news affiliate with an open ear?

BTW - before some enlightened poster comes back and corrects my spelling, I meant the pun.

Also, your $300K number seems unrealistic given the actual attendance of these events.
2001 attendance was estimated at just over 4000 players. Again a bit old, but far from the numbers needed to generate $300K.



Second Harvest in this region has about a 7.5 : 1 ratio of food value to dollars. That is to say that for every $1.00 in donated cash they can provide more than $7.50 worth of food.
Maybe that is how the overall value is computed. And why they prefer cash to actual cans of food, though they are grateful for that too.



Along these lines, one of the biggest problems is getting fresh fruits and veggies. Recently, there was a food shipping convention here in Houston that had (if I recall correctly) 400 tons of fresh food left over, a big chunk of which got donated to the local food bank. They were jazzed!

Ice bowls have been donating food and cash on small local levels for more than 10 yrs, and our sport is not exploding or gaining any new exiting coverage. The reason being that most icebowls give to the same charity every year, and said charities have come to expect it rather than become surprised and 'jazzed' about it. I think a national level of fundraising directed at a popular charity(i.e. the armstrong foundation) will help us more than you can possibly shut down. I also would like to see the PDGA provide bumper stickers that say simply 'PLAY DISCGOLF'. 8 cents a sticker.
The current system of donation is fine for some, but the story is lagging in the local media scene. And yes i know, any media is good media, but cmon,,, A bunch of people bundled up in the snow not showing the SPORT aspect of the game, but instead just seeing a couple of ten foot puts go in...Yeah, great...The armstrong foundation still sells fundraiser bracelets that could be sold at all icebowls...
Do not cloud the fact that local news covers stories because they are different and unusual, and have a positive light...I think you would get the same local media coverage by raising money for a national cause as you would local. The local media does not care who you raise money for, they just want a story.

Just want to chime in that Ice Bowl attendance numbers may not be the best indicator of possible money raised. For example, in the Denver area we run a "Winter Warriors" series, which starts the first weekend of November and culminates in our Ice Bowl. Money raised throughout Winter Warriors goes into the Ice Bowl donations, so if you were to look merely at our money raised vs. Ice Bowl players, it would be misleading.

exactly

exactly

excisely

bump.

Indubitably!