Media Contact
Javier Lopez Medinaceli
Godfrey – At Lewis and Clark Community College, athletes don’t just train and compete; they also work to financially support their own athletic programs. One of the main ways they do this is by participating in fundraising activities at professional events, especially St. Louis City SC matches and St. Louis Blues games.
Fundraising involves working at these events to raise money that then goes directly to the college teams. At a smaller institution like Lewis and Clark, these funds are essential to cover important expenses during the season.
Men’s Soccer Head Coach John Duhn explained the importance of these activities, saying, “Raising money is an essential part of college athletics.” He also highlighted the difference between large and small universities, stating, “Whether you are a bigger school and you have rich donors or you are at a smaller school like Lewis and Clark and you take part in fundraising activities.”
Regarding the specific impact of working at professional games, he added: “Attending activities such as the St. Louis city soccer games are massive for the men’s soccer program.” As he explained, these funds directly help the team because “This pays for additional food gear and overnight trips for the program.” Finally, he summed up his vision by noting: “I think the fundraising program we have as an athletic department supports our student athletes in so many ways.”
On the other hand, Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach Jacob Bilyeu also made clear the practical value of fundraising. He commented: “The fundraisers allow us to pay for various trips and gear that we wouldn’t get without them.” He also explained how these events enable the program to grow year after year: “Each event allows us to pay for more gear year by year as well as new trips such as going to Florida and Texas in the coming years.”
The impact of these activities goes beyond the economic aspect. Working at high-level events such as those of St. Louis City SC and the St. Louis Blues allows athletes to experience the professional environment up close, learn about sports organization, and strengthen values such as responsibility and teamwork.
At Lewis and Clark, fundraising is not just an extra activity; it is a key part of athletic development. Thanks to this collective effort, teams can improve their resources, plan new trips, and offer more opportunities to their student athletes.
