Offset the Growing Cost of Sports with FlipGive
As parents, we want to give our children every chance in the world. The reality is that not everyone can afford the same opportunities now that schools and community programs are so rare. Take sports for example, the growing cost of having your children play sports can be taxing. While sampling sports helps foster a love for them, it can also get expensive. According to FlipGive.com, a cash-back site for youth sports teams, a recent survey showed that 87% of parents are stressed by the cost of youth sports. Not only that, but 47% of them allocate between 10-25% of their annual budget to kids' sports! To offset costs, parents are making major trade-offs, primarily in the areas of entertainment (92% reported a reduction in spend) and travel (74%), but also in essentials like savings (41%) and clothing (49%). “Extra shifts, second jobs, foregoing groceries, selling family possessions - these are the lengths parents go to give their kids access to a sport they love,” said Mark Bachman, co-founder and CEO, FlipGive. “Parents are really burning it at both ends,” continued Bachman. “The things they would do to alleviate stress are actually being cut back.” FlipGive focuses on helping parents manage the cost of sports by providing a fast, easy, and free fundraising solution that is powered by online shopping. Team members are provided with a team page that links to over 500 retailers. Every purchase made through the site generates cash back for the team. “Back to school has traditionally been another one of those stressful times for parents,” says Bachman. “With FlipGive, they can do their shopping and generate much-needed funds at the same time.”
Partnering with Dikembe Mutombo
In June of this year, FlipGive partnered with eight-time NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo as a shareholder and global ambassador in an effort to help ease these concerns, and promote FlipGive’s practical approach to fundraising. FlipGive and Mutombo’s goal is to help raise $100 million for youth sports over the next five years. Since its launch in 2014, FlipGive has already helped raise nearly $10 million for groups and teams. “I’m thrilled to be a part of FlipGive because together we can help more kids remain active and engaged in sports,” said Dikembe Mutombo. “Too often I’ve seen talented athletes unable to move forward without proper funding. By working with FlipGive, I’m able to highlight the importance of youth sports and educate younger generations on how they can achieve their athletic goals through effective online fundraising.”
We were recently able to meet with Mutombo in Atlanta to learn more. Spunk even did a short interview about his partnership with FlipGive and the importance of youth sports:
Question 1: What sports did you play growing up?
Mutombo: basketball, soccer, and karate
Question 2: Why do you think youth sports are important?Mutombo: They help [kids] to develop and learn teamwork, discipline, motivating yourself, how to make proper decisions, and how to accept defeat.
Question 3: Why did you partner with FlipGive?Mutombo: It is a great company and concept. It allows young people to raise their own funds.
*He has 3 children playing sports and understands the growing costs.*
Question 4: How are you helping to promote FlipGive?Mutombo: Using Instagram and Twitter
This is great. We already do a lot of our shopping online anyway, so now it can serve 2 purposes.
Exactly their hope!