Farmers Insurance owner helps Longview Lobos build character, school success 

Student athletes throughout the Longview Independent School District (ISD) in East Texas are gaining a diversified set of benefits derived from a successful marketing partnership DistrictWON created for the ISD and a local Farmers Insurance agency.

On one side of the public-private partnership, the monetary support from the Longview, Texas-based Farmers Insurance for the Longview ISD community has allowed the Lobo sports teams to provide new game uniforms to its girls and boys basketball teams, according to Longview ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach John King.

“That, in turn, allows those two sports to use their equipment budget for needed items we would not be able to purchase,” King explained. “And the monetary donation will be used for other athletic teams in areas not covered by their budget.”

Support from Farmers Insurance also helps make positive differences in the ISD’s athletic and activities programs, said the athletic director.

“Support from Farmers Insurance assists us in ways our budget will not,” King said. “We are able to provide coaches with professional development, field equipment and other incidentals not covered in our budget.”

For local Farmers Insurance agency owner Sean Goram-Welch, the DistrictWON partnership forged with Longview ISD has allowed him to continue a personal relationship he had for several years with the school district as a Christian character coach while his son attended Longview High School.

“During COVID, I got cancer so I wasn’t able to continue my work with the school district as a character coach,” Goram-Welch said. “So, coming out of COVID, coming out of cancer and recovering from it, these things changed my life. I didn’t have the time to invest like I did when I was the character coach. I was looking for a way to continue to be plugged in and to support the kids, the school district, the administrators and the coaches.”

“I love what they do. I love their service heart,” he added. “It’s the same attitude I have; it’s about plugging into young kids and young people and helping them grow into being outstanding Christian young men and women. I was looking for a way to support them in a different manner as much as I was before.”

“DistrictWON, to me, was that avenue to be able to still show them support,” said the business owner.

Goram-Welch gave money to the Longview ISD’s athletic department and donated funds for team jerseys as a way “to let the kids know that people outside the school district care about them and are interested in their futures and successes as students.”

In Texas, he said, school districts don’t have huge athletic budgets, and the money raised for student athletes — whether it goes to purchase uniforms, or pre-game meals and post-game meals — is done through fundraisers and booster clubs.

“Longview ISD is not a rich school district and there’s not a ton of money laying around,” said Goram-Welch. “Any money we can scrounge together is to make sure these kids have a top-notch experience as a student athlete.”

The partnership between Farmers Insurance and the Longview ISD also has benefited the local insurance agency, he added.

For example, Goram-Welch said he put up a table, and did a give away and presentation at mid quarter during a recent Lobo football game.

“It allowed us to garnish some clients from the event, as well as increase recognition by the teachers and administrators that my agency was giving money and time back to the school district,” said Goram-Welch. “In turn, they have reached out and given the agency their business.”

Additionally, the company has had branded signage displayed during football and basketball games, and contributed posts on the school district’s social media pages.

“I have enjoyed this partnership and plan on doing it again next year,” Gorham-Welch said. “I think it has been worthwhile.”

Rocky River, Ohio-based DistrictWON creates meaningful brand connections within local communities through marketing partnerships between businesses and high schools. For more information on how to reach high school students, parents and administrators in a way that truly makes a difference in the community, visit https://www.districtwon.com, https://www.facebook.com/districtwon, or follow https://twitter.com/districtwon on Twitter.
###

Driving a community partnership: Kia of Lincolnwood teams up with Mather High School

With funding for athletic programs in the Chicago Public Schools extremely limited – every dollar counts, says Kenneth Lecomte, athletic director of Mather High School on the north side of Chicago.

And that’s what makes support from Kia of Lincolnwood so important for the Mather Rangers. A public-private partnership facilitated through DistrictWon, the Kia dealership that serves Lincolnwood, Skokie, Highland Park and the surrounding areas has made contributions to the athletics program at nearby Mather High School.

“The added funds we get with our partnership with Kia of Lincolnwood help greatly,” Lecomte said. “These added funds enable our athletes to continue playing other competitions in their chosen sport.”

Karol Sikora, general manager at Kia of Lincolnwood, says the partnership is a win-win situation for both parties.

“We like to support the young players and of course promote the Kia brand and our dealership within the community. It’s the perfect way for us as a brand to be present in the community.”

Kia’s “Movement That Inspires” marketing campaign that it publicizes through Mather High School events has resonated with the students and the local community.

“The slogan “Movement That Inspires” directly correlates with what our athletes do when they play sports, Lacomte said. “’Movement’ is what our athletes do every time they take the practice field, or anytime they compete in their chosen sport. And our coaches instill in our athletes to ‘inspire’ to be great at whatever they do in life. Go be your best.”

Kia of Lincolnwood also uses its community partnership to remind parents to talk to their kids about safety on the roads, particularly during nationwide events like National Teen Driver Safety week in October. Schools partnering with Kia spread the word on social media through tweets using the hashtag #MovementThatInspiresDW.

During Mather High School football games, announcers have highlighted Kia of Lincolnwood’s partnership with the school and banners display the Kia logo at games.

Kia generated a buzz when it displayed one of its newest models, the stunningly designed all-electric Kia EV6, during a high school football game.

“We took a picture with all the players in front of the car and the school principal. It was great to see all the young people coming and checking it out and taking pictures; it’s a good way to promote our business and our products and to be recognized in the community,” Sikora said.

The positive feedback about the partnership from the local community keeps rolling in.

“We have been having families arrive at our dealership and ask questions about the cars and a lot of people who live around our dealership came and said it’s amazing that we’re supporting the high schools,” Sikora said.

Rocky River, Ohio-based DistrictWON creates meaningful brand connections within local communities through marketing partnerships between businesses and high schools. For more information on how to reach high school students, parents and administrators in a way that truly makes a difference in the community, visit https://www.districtwon.comhttps://www.facebook.com/districtwon, or follow https://twitter.com/districtwon on Twitter. 

To adopt or not? High schools consider Name, Image, Likeness deals

Like what’s unfolding in college athletics, more and more high school student athletes across America are now allowed to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness (NIL), ushering in a new model of support for some of the nation’s youngest sports stars. 

But it isn’t happening without some controversy.

Currently, 19 states have modified or developed new policies about NIL, while almost a dozen others are considering it. And where NIL is permitted, headlines are being made. 

For example, Nike in May signed its first high school NIL deal with the Thompson twins, Alyssa and Gisele, who are soccer stars at the independent, co-educational college prep day Harvard-Westlake High School in California and members of the U.S. National Team system.

Reportedly, Nike’s multiyear commitment involves monetary compensation for the sisters, who both have committed to attend Stanford University when they graduate in a couple of years.

Then in October, Nike signed NIL deals with three more high school student-athlete standouts, including Bronny James, the oldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James and a senior who plays point guard for the boys basketball team at Sierra Canyon High School in Southern California.  

It’s been widely reported that the Bronny James-Nike NIL signing is the largest endorsement deal in NIL history to date and could even be the biggest deal in college or high school sports for Nike.

Of course, such high school NIL deals don’t currently compare with those being made at the college level, according to Peter Carfagna, chairman and CEO of Magis LLC, a privately owned sports marketing, management, and investment company. “It’s evolving,” the Harvard professor said recently.

How money can be earned also is evolving.

Right now, college student athletes may engage in NIL activity without fearing their eligibility could be jeopardized. High school athletes, on the other hand, don’t enjoy the same freedoms.

For collegiate athletes, the NCAA approved a policy that allows student-athletes to monetize their NIL effective July 1, 2021. No federal legislation or specific NCAA NIL rules have been established to date.

Meanwhile, high school student athletes must adhere to a patchwork of NIL regulations set up by their specific state athletic associations.

“Slowly but surely, state-by-state, NIL is happening,” Carfagna said. “However, at the high school level, there are many limitations and all sorts of guardrails.”

Opendorse, an NIL marketplace and technology company, reported on Oct. 11 that high school regulations for NIL rights are confirmed permitted in 19 states; confirmed prohibited in 19 states; and under consideration in 11 states.

Generally, in the states where high schoolers may be compensated for their NIL, it’s permissible provided that there is no recognition of the student athletes’ school, school logos, uniforms, or insignia. And then their list of ‘can’t do’ grows from there.

For instance, the Oregon School Activities Association last month changed a rule to allow student athletes in Oregon high schools to profit off their NIL. While there’s no maximum amount that student athletes may earn from NIL deals, there are plenty of rules about how they can earn the money.

Some of the guidelines instituted in Oregon regarding compensation include that student athletes can’t make money based on their athletic performance or achievement, and compensation can’t be used to lure a student to attend a particular member school of the association or to remain enrolled at a particular member school.

At the same time, compensation also isn’t allowed to be provided by the Oregon association’s member school or an agent of the member school, like a school booster club, foundation, employee, etc.

An Oregon high school student athlete also can’t promote activities, services, or products associated with, but not limited to, adult entertainment products or services; alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products; cannabis products; controlled dangerous substances; prescription pharmaceuticals; political parties and/or candidates; any product illegal for people under 18; or gambling, among many others.

Carfagna said athletic directors and student athletes at the high school level must be extremely careful about understanding and adhering to each state’s rules and regulations.

On top of that, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the national leadership organization for high school athletics and performing arts activities, isn’t so keen on NIL.

NFHS says it and its member state associations would not support a situation that would involve a member school and a student athlete entering into a professional contract while representing that member school.

“The NFHS and its member associations believe high school student athletes should not be able to benefit as professionals from something they do not own — that is their high school uniform,” NFHS CEO Karissa Niehoff wrote in a June 8 blog.

“Right now, within the 51-member state associations, while some state statutes are bringing high school student athletes into their language, no student athlete in a member school can be a professionally paid student by virtue of their identity as a student athlete in that member school,” wrote Niehoff.  

Peter Fitzpatrick, CEO of DistrictWON, which is at the forefront of the scholastic marketing/partnership industry, said that voices within the NFHS for a long time have pushed states not to adopt NIL in fear of losing the sense of amateurism and moving toward a commercialized market. 

“I think they got that wrong and should do everything they can to adopt it across the nation and move forward,” he said. 

And while Fitzpatrick supports “education-based” sports as much as every coach, athletic director, and executive director does, he’s “unfortunately seen many decisions by leadership relative to this issue and others that have ultimately hurt the advancement of these sports, while simultaneously watching club sports explode.”

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 9-0 decision in favor of NIL in June 2021 — which forced the NIL-opposing NCAA to develop its policy — Fitzpatrick said he’s consulted with Carfagna on the issue.

Carfagna has “made it very clear that defending NIL adoption in the courts will be a major uphill climb for state associations,” said Fitzpatrick. “Rather than deal with the inevitable and run up massive legal bills, states should be in a race to adopt NIL and provide the proper educational tools to help instruct their membership and student athletes how to utilize it properly.”

And while such efforts are happening in almost 20 states right now, both Carfagna and Fitzpatrick say it should happen faster.

“The race goes to the swift,” said Carfagna.

“I think [NIL] is fantastic and represents a terrific opportunity for student athletes,” Fitzpatrick said. “Think of all the student athletes that could earn hundreds or even a few thousand dollars from NIL.”

In looking at the college market, he added, the average NIL deal is worth $1,500-$1,800. “If a local company is willing to provide funding to a student athlete and help out the family, I think it’s a terrific opportunity,” said Fitzpatrick.

Both experts also think NIL could become very successful at the high school level.

“It could be a game changer,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think local businesses would love to sponsor student athletes across all sports and activities. The times have changed. Club sports will no doubt jump on this immediately and schools are going to need an answer.”

They also think that high schools should learn from the college experience by instituting good legal frameworks and structure with defined rules put into play. 

“Ideally, those rules would cut across all states, but we have seen the difficulty of trying to do that at the college level,” noted Fitzpatrick. “There will be downsides for sure and abuses of the program, but those cannot and should not stop forward progress. The Supreme Court ruling isn’t going anywhere.”

Rocky River, Ohio-based DistrictWON creates meaningful brand connections within local communities through marketing partnerships between businesses and high schools. For more information on how to reach high school students, parents and administrators in a way that truly makes a difference in the community, visit https://www.districtwon.comhttps://www.facebook.com/districtwon, or follow  https://www.linkedin.com/company/districtwon/.

 

 

Avon, Lorain athletics reach next level with support from family-owned Joyce Buick GMC

The Ohio athletic directors for the Lorain Titans and the Avon Eagles have nothing but gratitude for a local family-owned car dealership that continues supporting their student athletes.

Joyce Buick GMC in Avon, Ohio, is collaborating with both Avon High School and Lorain City Schools (LCS), where the dealership has sponsored their athletic departments through comprehensive marketing partnerships created by DistrictWON.

At Avon High School, for example, Joyce Buick GMC has made contributions toward naming the new tennis facility, where pickleball will also be played, according to Athletic Director Erich Frombach.

“What makes Avon special is the support we receive from our parents, community members, and our business sponsors,” Frombach said. “We believe our tennis and pickleball facility will be one of the best in northeast Ohio and we are grateful to partner with Joyce Buick to help promote the facility and events at this facility.”

LCS in Lorain, Ohio, received Titans uniforms for its wrestlers and boys and girls basketball players from Joyce Buick GMC — eliminating a cost that otherwise would have fallen on parents, according to Bryan Koury, director of athletics for LCS.

“The fact that we have local businesses willing to help our student athletes and community is tremendous,” Koury said. “We want our kids to look good and feel good when they compete, so for them to have classy uniforms like many of our surrounding communities really motivates them.”

Generally, such support for schools from a local business like Joyce Buick GMC has a positive impact on not just the athletic departments, but on other academic activities and programs, the athletic directors said.

“Raising the necessary funds to allow our youth programs to even exist is a huge hurdle, and uniforms are one of our primary expenses,” explained Koury. “This partnership allows us to increase the number of kids that participate because it’s less money that needs to be raised annually.”

According to Koury, data also shows that kids participating in youth sports are more likely to have success in the classroom, “especially when you take into account that our coaches have academic requirements.”

With that in mind, he said increasing participation really makes a difference both on and off the court and mat.

Likewise, Frombach said that the Avon High School-Joyce Buick GMC partnership will help attract tournaments, camps, and other events that will draw positive attention and promotion of both tennis and pickleball.

Teaming up for such partnerships also resonates with neighbors and the surrounding communities.

“We have been doing a great job of communicating to our parents and community about all that Joyce Buick GMC has done to help our youth,” said Koury with LCS. “It’s been very well received and much appreciated.”

“Anytime you have a generous family and business owner give back to the schools and community,” Frombach said, “it will show that Avon is a great place to live and raise your kids.”

And the gratitude goes both ways. Mike Joyce, president of Joyce Buick GMC, said LCS and Avon High School both have been instrumental in his company’s success through the years.

“We’ve been in business for 50 years and these communities have really been supportive of us, and we wanted to give back by supporting the schools,” he said. “I think it also gives us an opportunity to enhance the experience that the students have at the schools by providing some assistance with their athletic programs.”

At the same time, Joyce said the partnerships facilitated by DistrictWON also have given the company a chance “to express our gratitude to the communities and the people who rely on the schools for their education and to support both the students and the parents.”

Rocky River, Ohio-based DistrictWON creates meaningful brand connections within local communities through marketing partnerships between businesses and high schools. For more information on how to reach high school students, parents and administrators in a way that truly makes a difference in the community, visit https://www.districtwon.comhttps://www.facebook.com/districtwon, or follow https://twitter.com/districtwon on Twitter.