Off Script: Panthers Partner with Tickets for Kids
9/20/2017 1:00:00 PM | General
Pitt Athletics Donates Experiences for Area Children, Families
Across the country, sporting events bring individuals of all backgrounds together. Whether its summer nights at a baseball game, or winter evenings in a hockey arena, sports have the ability to unify a population through shared fandom and experience.
With growing costs and a high demand, these events may not be as readily available to some members of a community's population. Pittsburgh, however, is at the forefront of changing this trend, headed by the Tickets for Kids Foundation.
Founded in 1994 by Susan Weiner, Tickets for Kids is a Pittsburgh-based organization that partners with organizations across the country to provide tickets and experiences for disadvantaged children and their families. In 2016, Tickets for Kids merged with Minneapolis-based Tix for Tots to expand into a nationwide effort.
Since its founding, Tickets for Kids has distributed more than 2.6 million tickets, valued at more than $51.3 million. In 2016 alone, Tickets for Kids distributed an excess of 160,000 tickets, valued at more than $5 million.
Among the more than 175 donors on the Tickets for Kids roster, the University of Pittsburgh athletic department provides experiences for each of its ticketed programs. Since the start of the 2015 season, the University of Pittsburgh has contributed more than 4,100 tickets through the Tickets for Kids initiative at football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball and wrestling. Opportunities are also available for the program at men's soccer, gymnastics and baseball games.
"Tickets for Kids is a great way for the ticket office, and the athletic department, to get involved and give back to the community," said Director of Ticket Operations Ben Smith. "We have been fortunate enough to be able to provide experiences for kids in the region at all of our ticketed sports and hope to continue to grow our relationship with the Tickets for Kids program."
Smith, along with Deputy Athletic Director Christian Spears, were honored for their contributions to the Tickets for Kids program on Sept. 14, as the foundation hosted "The Sweat Pants Dance," at Highmark Stadium.
"The Sweat Pants Dance event was an experience that I'm ecstatic we were able to be a part of," Smith added. "It gave us an opportunity to connect with some of the kids who have attended Pitt events, as well as reach out to other members of the organization and expand upon the partnership."
In 2016 alone, the Panthers donated 2,246 tickets, including 1,761 football passes. Pitt also saw Tickets for Kids groups at men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and wrestling, as its partnership with the organization continues to increase.
"The opportunity for Tickets for Kids children and families to be on a college campus and see student-athletes compete gives them the inspiration to think about their future and the hard work necessary to make that future happen," said Carolyn Falk, Ticket for Kids' Program Director. "In addition, we love working with the staff in the athletic department – they are a joy to work with and make our partnership easy!"
For more information on the Tickets for Kids Foundation, visit their website at www.ticketsforkids.org.
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With growing costs and a high demand, these events may not be as readily available to some members of a community's population. Pittsburgh, however, is at the forefront of changing this trend, headed by the Tickets for Kids Foundation.
Founded in 1994 by Susan Weiner, Tickets for Kids is a Pittsburgh-based organization that partners with organizations across the country to provide tickets and experiences for disadvantaged children and their families. In 2016, Tickets for Kids merged with Minneapolis-based Tix for Tots to expand into a nationwide effort.
Since its founding, Tickets for Kids has distributed more than 2.6 million tickets, valued at more than $51.3 million. In 2016 alone, Tickets for Kids distributed an excess of 160,000 tickets, valued at more than $5 million.
Among the more than 175 donors on the Tickets for Kids roster, the University of Pittsburgh athletic department provides experiences for each of its ticketed programs. Since the start of the 2015 season, the University of Pittsburgh has contributed more than 4,100 tickets through the Tickets for Kids initiative at football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball and wrestling. Opportunities are also available for the program at men's soccer, gymnastics and baseball games.
"Tickets for Kids is a great way for the ticket office, and the athletic department, to get involved and give back to the community," said Director of Ticket Operations Ben Smith. "We have been fortunate enough to be able to provide experiences for kids in the region at all of our ticketed sports and hope to continue to grow our relationship with the Tickets for Kids program."
Smith, along with Deputy Athletic Director Christian Spears, were honored for their contributions to the Tickets for Kids program on Sept. 14, as the foundation hosted "The Sweat Pants Dance," at Highmark Stadium.
"The Sweat Pants Dance event was an experience that I'm ecstatic we were able to be a part of," Smith added. "It gave us an opportunity to connect with some of the kids who have attended Pitt events, as well as reach out to other members of the organization and expand upon the partnership."
In 2016 alone, the Panthers donated 2,246 tickets, including 1,761 football passes. Pitt also saw Tickets for Kids groups at men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and wrestling, as its partnership with the organization continues to increase.
"The opportunity for Tickets for Kids children and families to be on a college campus and see student-athletes compete gives them the inspiration to think about their future and the hard work necessary to make that future happen," said Carolyn Falk, Ticket for Kids' Program Director. "In addition, we love working with the staff in the athletic department – they are a joy to work with and make our partnership easy!"
For more information on the Tickets for Kids Foundation, visit their website at www.ticketsforkids.org.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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