Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010

Prep teams vie for grants

Public can vote on Facebook

Brian Hoyle saw three high school football players walk toward him. Hoyle, who had an idea to share, knew he had one chance with the three adolescents.

How did he get their attention immediately?

A $1,000 contest was not a bad place to start.

At the VYPE High School Sports Expo on Aug. 21., Hoyle, director of marketing at Eye Care Associates in North Raleigh, showed the three players what he thinks is a fun way to help raise money for their team. The organization will give away five $1,000 grants to high school teams or organized groups throughout the Triangle for the Gear-Up with Eye Care Associates contest.

To enter, teams have until Sept. 17 to submit a two-minute or less video highlighting team success and what makes the school worthy of the grant. Eye Care Associates will select 10 finalists and post the videos on its Facebook page where fans can vote by "liking" their favorite video. The five videos with the most "likes" will be awarded the $1,000.

Hoyle said he was encouraged by the reaction from the three players. He also was surprised at what the three did with the new information.

Hoyle watched the players whip out either their iPhone or BlackBerry to text message teammates and friends about the contest.

"When I see students breaking out their iPhones," Hoyle said. "That lets me know it's going to be a success."

The football players were Myer Krah, Vad Lee and Jamaal Williams from Durham Hillside. The three were wearing their game jerseys, as they had won their first game of the season the night before.

"We actually started brainstorming right there," Williams said of their potential video. "It's easy to have fun with the video. We can get the whole school involved."

The contest has worked to help make the fundraising process exciting - both for the sponsor and the schools.

Hoyle said his company wanted a new way to give its money instead of just writing multiple checks. And for players like William, making a video is much better than selling discount cards, discount books or having car washes.

"We dread the fundraising," he said. "We're going to push really hard for this. We're going to get the principal, coaches, teachers, parents and relatives involved."

Hoyle also wants to use the video to teach athletes about the importance of their eyesight.

Hoyle learned from Pete Friesen, head athletic trainer for the Carolina Hurricanes, that the visual system is one of the most overlooked in an athlete's body.

"If we can get them to think about their eyes more," Hoyle said, "then maybe they will follow the doctor's recommendation for their regular eye check."

Hoyle explained the contest to parents and booster club members as a way for athletes to be leaders in their school by using the video to promote proper health.

"When you're a booster club trying to find money, this is awesome," said Kate Eberle, who will lead Holly Springs' video entry. "What kid doesn't want to be in a video?"

At a breakfast meeting with students, parents and booster club members before the Expo, Hoyle asked people to raise their hand if any school didn't need money for this year's athletics or organized clubs. No one did.

Hoyle's next question: "How many teams or booster clubs could use $1,000?"

Every hand was raised.