Sport Management Club raises $57,021 at 15th Charity Auction

A check is presented on a basketball court during a game
Syracuse University’s Sport Management Club presented a check for $57,021 to representatives from Make-A-Wish Central New York on Feb. 11 at the Carrier Dome. Shown here are (from left) Make-A-Wish CNY Director of Corporate Philanthropy Kate Veley, Auction Co-Chair Caroline Johnson ’21, SPM Club President Sam Marteka ’21, and Make-A-Wish CNY President and CEO Diane Kuppermann.
The Sport Management Club at Syracuse University raised $57,021 for Make-A-Wish Central New York as a result of its 15th Annual Charity Sports Auction. During the SU men’s basketball game on Nov. 16, 2019, at the Carrier Dome, supporters placed bids on more than 500 items, including sports memorabilia, electronics, jewelry, gift baskets, trips, and tickets to sporting events.

The SPM Club is a student-run organization in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’ Sport Management Department. Since its founding in 2005, the club has now raised $524,000 for local charities. Previous beneficiaries of the club’s annual charity auction have included Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Clubs, Golisano Children’s Hospital at Upstate, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY, the Central New York SPCA, the Upstate Cancer Center, Special Olympics New York, Food Bank of CNY, the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission Alliance, American Diabetes Association, and McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center.

“Once again, the outstanding Syracuse University Sport Management students have exceeded our expectations,” said Diane Kuppermann, president, and CEO of Make-A-Wish Central New York. “Their energy, effort, and passion for our mission was evident throughout the process. Their professionalism and drive resulted in this extraordinary gift that will benefit local kids battling a critical illness. Their contributions to the most vulnerable in our community will have a lasting impact.”

Make-A-Wish serves 15 counties around Central New York, granting wishes and helping strengthen and empower children battling critical illnesses.

“Our Sport Management Club was founded on the principles of teaching our members the value of civic engagement, community service, and social responsibility through sports,” said Michael Veley, Rhonda S. Falk endowed professor and director of Sport Management, who also serves as the organization’s faculty advisor. “The countless hours of dedication by these students to ensure that the charity auction would make wishes come true for local children and their families is extremely gratifying. Collectively, we are honored to support our community.”

The Sport Management Club meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays during the academic year in Falk 200. For more information, contact SPM Club president Sam Marteka, svmartek@syr.edu.

For more information about the annual Charity Auction, visit Twitter @SPMAuction, Facebook and Instagram @spm_auction.