This document provides information and guidelines for organizing a Sports Celebrity Dinner fundraising event. It discusses the history and objectives of such events, including raising funds and promoting community involvement. Details are given for planning the event such as forming committees, inviting celebrities, and determining a program format. The format outlined includes a social hour, dinner, and awards program to recognize student athletes and present a special award. Guidance is offered on logistics of engaging sports celebrities to participate.

1. Fundraising for your athletic
program
“Sports Celebrity Dinner”
By Dave Pierce

2. Professor Dave Pierce - Bio
• Undergraduate Sport Management Co
• Instructor of Sport Management
• SMGT-UNG Program Coordinator
• Apprenticeship/Internship/Practicum
Education
M.S.S. in Sport Management – S.A.
B.S. in Education – Lakeland College
Lifetime Secondary Education Teaching
Certificates: History/Health/P.E.

3. Exploring Fundraising Events
Modest events Major events
• Coupon sales •Golf Tournaments
• Car washes •Sports Celebrity Dinner
Minor events
• Auctions
• Raffles
• Fun Runs

4. INTRODUCTION
• This type of event will be the highlight of the
year for you. This event will pull your campus
community and your surrounding community
together. It is a fun event for all involved and
you will be able to raise needed funds for your
programs.

5. OUTLINE
• Sports Celebrity Dinner History
• Objectives
• Planning the Event
• Program Format
• Summary

6. Celebrity Dinner History
We stared the sports Celebrity Dinner
Idea back in 1979. We began small
with just over 50 people attending our
first event. The last year that we put
on our event we had over 1000
people in attendance. We lasted 24
years having the celebrity dinner.
Remember that fundraising is friend
raising.

7. Objectives/Goals
•To raise funds for our athletic program
•To have an outstanding event that helps
promote our school
•To promote public relations for our school
•Create better community Involvement

8. Planning the Event
“Who is Involved”
• Citizens Committee on Athletics
• Student Athletic Advisory Committee
• Faculty & Staff
• Coaching Staff
• Athletic Staff
• Sponsors
• Food
• Awards

9. Strategies for the Event
• Select award recipients
• Select master of ceremonies
• Select & Invite Celebrities
• Public relations
• Whom to invite (target areas)
• Sponsor contacted
• Facility setup
• Dinner menu
• Ticket prices
• Other

10. Program Format
Complimentary Social Hour (6:30-7:30pm)
•Autographs from celebrities
Dinner (7:30-8:30pm)
•Instructions
•Invocation
•Door Prizes
Awards Program (8:30-9:30pm)
•Thanks to Sponsors
•Welcome by President
•Master of Ceremonies (Recognizes Celebrities at tables)
•Student Awards
•Special Recognition Awards (Community Service)
•Sport Personality of the Year Award

11. Sport Celebrities
• Details for including a sports celebrity
– Define & determine the number of hours and how
scheduled & accounted for
– Does celebrity have the right to refuse an
engagement
– How far in advance does the event need
scheduled
– Time frame of celebrity in the event
– Hotel and travel accommodations
– Termination clause for immoral behavior

12. Celebrities

13. Follow Your Dreams