Special Spectators Partners with DoGoodBuyUs for Father's Day

This is an exciting week for Special Spectators. We've partnered with DoGoodBuyUs, the first e-marketplace offering charities and nonprofits an exclusive outlet for promoting merchandise, to launch our Special Spectators Golf Package for Father's Day. 50% of the profits from your purchase will be donated to Special Spectators to help us pursue our mission.

This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

To order your Special Spectators Golf Package, please click here. Place your order now to ensure delivery by Father's Day.

Project 1-2-3: Day 32 - A Hall of Fame Day

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

In August 2006, Special Spectators, along with the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana, hosted three seriously ill children from Memorial Hospital. The kids enjoyed the enshrinement dinner, meeting the new Hall of Famers and other legends of the game like former Michigan Head Coach Bo Shembechler.

Below is an enlarged invitation from the 2006 Special Spectators Gala autographed by every living member of the newly enshrined Hall of Fame class. Can you name any of these legends?

Reminder: Need a gift for Dad or your favorite golfer? Order your Special Spectators Golf Package presented by DoGoodBuyUs. This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

Project 1-2-3: Day 31 - Going Bowling

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

The first (and only) Special Spectators event to take place at a college football bowl game was at the 2005 Motor City Bowl. Thanks to tickets provided by the University of Akron athletic department, families from the Children's Hospital of Michigan attended the game. They also enjoyed a delicious lunch in a luxury suite courtesy of Levy Restaurants' operation at Ford Field.

Reminder: Need a gift for Dad or your favorite golfer? Order your Special Spectators Golf Package presented by DoGoodBuyUs. This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

Project 1-2-3: Day 30 - The Biggest Event

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

On October 4, 2005, Special Spectators hosted its biggest game day event ever. Approximately 175 people attended our event at North Texas for a Thursday night game. Over 100 student-athletes visited with the children and thanks to Levy Restaurant's operations at Texas Motor Speedway, everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner.

The Special Spectators tailgate at North Texas

The crew from Texas Motor Speedway who provided the delicious dinner

Great food means happy faces

Reminder: Need a gift for Dad or your favorite golfer? Order your Special Spectators Golf Package presented by DoGoodBuyUs. This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

Project 1-2-3: Day 27 - Share Your Favorite Tailgate Recipes

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

As we prepare for Memorial Day weekend and the official start to the grilling season, we want to know your favorite tailgate or grilling recipes.

The tailgate party is an important part of the Special Spectators game day event. Along with the games and special visitors, a delicious meal helps complete a successful pre-game party.

It's not easy, however, to always provide a diverse menu and capture the regional cuisine. So share with us and our readers, your best and tastiest tailgate and grilling meals. Enter your recipe in the comment area below and you'll help us strive for the perfect game day event.

Thank you and have a very safe and happy Memorial Day 2011!

Reminder: Need a gift for Dad or your favorite golfer? Order your Special Spectators Golf Package presented by DoGoodBuyUs. This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

Project 1-2-3: Day 26 - "If I had hair . . ."

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

Over the last nine years, we've met some incredible children. Their presence, demeanor, grace and spirit are truly inspiring. Many are wise beyond their years and possess a sharp sense of humor.

This was on display during the Special Spectators event at Oklahoma State in 2010. Head Coach Mike Gundy invited the kids to stand in the tunnel as the Cowboys took the field at Boone Pickens Stadium. Up to this point, the event had been full of excitement - a tour of all the facilities including the locker room and field, introduced to the alumni at the pep rally, a pizza party, and the first to greet the team at "The Walk".

As the kids waited for the team to emerge from the locker room, however, it was obvious that the kids' enthusiasm was high.

And then Morgan from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma had the perfect line. "I'm so excited. If I had hair it would be standing on end."

We'll have more on this event later in "Project 1-2-3".

Below is a picture of Morgan and the other Special Spectators with Coach Gundy in the tunnel.

Reminder: Need a gift for Dad or your favorite golfer? Order your Special Spectators Golf Package presented by DoGoodBuyUs. This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

Project 1-2-3: Day 25 - Volunteer Volunteers

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

The Special Spectators events at the University of Tennessee have featured some very memorable moments - delicious tailgates in the shadows of Neyland Stadium, visits by the Volunteer men's basketball team and a stadium announcement in front of more than a 100,000 orange-clad fans. Many thanks to the members of the East Tennessee (Knoxville) chapter of the National Football Foundation for volunteering their time and resources to host these events! These Volunteers are real volunteers.

The Special Spectators tailgate tent at Tennessee

Members of the men's basketball team visit with the children

Big smiles!

Reminder: Need a gift for Dad or your favorite golfer? Order your Special Spectators Golf Package presented by DoGoodBuyUs. This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

Project 1-2-3: Day 24 - Lunch with Pete

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

The Special Spectators tailgate is a great place for the kids to meet guests such as cheerleaders, student-athletes and mascots. The game day event at Purdue featured a visit by Purdue Pete who brought gifts for the kids, signed autographs and posed for pictures.

Remember: Order your Special Spectators Golf Package presented by DoGoodBuyUs. This exclusive package includes a dozen Nike One Vapor Speed golf balls, an Automatic Umbrella with 42-inch coverage, Eco Golf Tees in an organic cotton pouch, and a 5-Function Golf Tool (with a divot tool, cigar cutter, club face brush, stroke counter, ball mark and belt clip).

Project 1-2-3: Day 22 - The Suite Life

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

Each year the Special Spectators event at Oklahoma State provides a very unique opportunity. Thanks to Stillwater National Bank and its Chairman, Robert Rodgers, the children watch the Cowboys from the comfort of the bank's luxury suite at Boone Pickens Stadium. The families have several options of delicious food and the dessert cart is always popular.

The Special Spectators at Oklahoma State show off their thank you cards from Cowboy Head Coach Mike Gundy in the Stillwater National Bank suite.

Project 1-2-3: Day 21 - A Tip of the Cap

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

By Blake Rockwell
Executive Director


On day 3 of "Project 1-2-3", we introduced you to Fletcher in the post, "Little Ladies Man." Fletcher was, as are all the children we're fortunate to serve, an amazing youngster - wise beyond his years and a great sense of humor.

On September 11, 2004, Special Spectators hosted its first game day event at the University of Oklahoma. Late in the third quarter, the kids and I headed toward the field for the stadium announcement which was scheduled between the third and fourth quarters.

Moments before the announcement, the kids asked me to join them on the field. Three younger boys stood in front of Fletcher and me as the announcement began. The crowd cheered loudly for the kids and I turned to acknowledge the fans behind us. As I did, with my back turned slightly to the boys, the stadium suddenly erupted into a thunderous roar. I didn't know why. When I turned back to face the kids, I noticed Fletcher. This ten year-old boy had courageously removed his OU cap to reveal his bald head and began waving it to the crowd. The place went nuts!

The picture below captured this moment beautifully.

Project 1-2-3: Day 20 - The Game Day Event

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

The three previous post for "Project 1-2-3" focused on three separate segments of a typical Special Spectators game day event - the tailgate, the special access moments and the stadium announcement.

What does it look like when all three flow into one exciting day? Take a look at these videos:

The story of one Special Spectator and his day at a Northwestern football game is featured on the Big Ten Network.

KXLY reports on the Special Spectators event at Washington State.

The 2010 game day event at Oklahoma is showcased in this video.

Want to Help Create Magical Sporting Days for Seriously Ill Children? Special Spectators Looking for Perfect Agency and Event Co. Partners

Special Spectators, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (www.SpecialSpectators.blogspot.com), creates magical days for seriously ill children and their families at sporting events across the United States. We will be hosting dynamic, fun-filled events at college football games all season long. Our plans are big. And we are in play! But, we need a bit more firepower.

What We Do
We pursue our mission, in partnership with our collegiate partners, by providing tickets to games and designing robust days filled with special surprises and experiences in and around the stadium. Special Spectators is designed to create fun for the entire family and provide a pause from the difficulties they face battling a loved one's illness. And, we have just forged a hands-on strategic partnership with one of the top collegiate sports marketing companies in the country. We now seek an agency partner who can grow with us - helping us take care of all kinds of events, creative and executional needs - and who is looking for a charity with which to align. This will be an incredibly mutually beneficial relationship.

How Can Your Company Get Involved?
More than seeking charitable contribution - we are seeking the perfect partner whose company, clients and employees can benefit in countless ways from involvement with Special Spectators. We are looking for the perfect agency partner with diverse experience in experiential marketing, event production, digital, social media, creative, strategic, mobile and more. A potential partner should have experience in the sports industry and embrace our mission and values. This is an excellent opportunity to potentially provide an unrivaled, valuable sponsorship opportunity for your existing clients and build your business by showcasing your work and services to sponsors of our game day events. In addition, by officially partnering in this way, a partner agency or events company gives its employees a national program in which to participate. We know that employees are looking for more out of their companies; this type of partnership provides an incredible cultural boost for your teams.

More Background
Since 2002, we've hosted about 6,000 patients, parents and siblings at roughly 185 games - mostly college football. Our game day events provide the quintessential Saturday experience complete with tailgate parties, mascots, cheerleaders and marching bands. Special Spectators doesn't just TAKE kids to games, but makes them a PART of the games by providing special access to people and areas of the stadium that are not accessible to most fans. Our youngsters tour locker rooms, meet coaches & players and walk on the field during a time out. You and your team would have a hand in making all of this even more powerful and happen at greater scale.

Special Spectators is poised for dramatic growth as we prepare for the 2011 football season. In the past week, we've added three major collegiate partners - one with average attendance over 80,000 and other two with average attendance over 100,000 per game. Including television and radio coverage, our potential audience is not only sizable, but has very desirable demographics.

If this inspires you - please contact us right away. If you are interested in learning more or discussing how we can collaboratively create magic, inspiration and cherished memories, please contact Special Spectators Executive Director Blake Rockwell at BlakeRockwell@gmail.com. Visit our other pages to view photos and video of some of our most incredible family experiences:

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Special+Spectators&aq=f
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/specialspectators