To show their donors appreciation, the Pierce College men’s volleyball team hosted its first official Sponsor Night in the South Gym during their Santa Barbara City College match-up on Wednesday.
Sponsor Night is an event that Pierce’s coaching staff put together to acknowledge their generous supporters throughout the season.
“Last year we asked our players to go around and shake hands with local businesses and ask them if they would be willing to sponsor them as an athlete or sponsor us as a program,” said Lance Walker, men’s volleyball head coach.
Walker came up with some incentives to make it easier for sponsors to dig deep into their pockets and donate.
“If you donated $100 we put you in our brochure, and if you donated $500 we physically put your logo on our uniform,” said Walker. “The uniform sponsors are our top sponsors.”
Whether a couple of years with Pierce or new to this season, all the sponsors do their part in helping to keep the men’s volleyball program afloat.
“Without our sponsors we wouldn’t have a season this year,” said Walker. “There’s no way, especially with all the budget cuts.”
Pierce’s Athletic Director Bob Lofrano was impressed by the volleyball team’s efforts to raise their own money.
“We don’t really get a lot of money for our [athletic] programs,” said Lofrano. “It’s a really good cause, so good for them.”
Sponsors and their families were invited out to enjoy a Pierce game filled with raffle giveaways, cheaply-priced snacks, and a serve-a-thon.
“What we did was put T-shirts [on the court] and we brought [the audience] out here to serve the ball,” said Lucan Yanez, libero for the team. “If they hit a shirt, they got a coupon.”
The prizes varied from a $5 off coupon at Mr. Juice to a voucher for free acting classes.
The Highland High and Birmingham Community Charter High School volleyball teams were also in attendance, partaking in the activities and cheering the Brahmas on at every waking moment.
“The whole thing was to bring [high schools] in to cheer,” said Yanez. “They put some money into the program and if they won the raffle they got jerseys, Highland ended up getting the free jersey.”
Even though this event was advertised with banners and big giveaways, Walker is always looking for an opportunity to help his program.
“For me, Sponsor Night is every night,” said Walker. “We want to make Pierce volleyball a self-sustained entity. We can fund raise on our own.”
