In the myriad of big time sports on the intercollegiate level in the state of Florida, Florida Tech is still finding its way despite their successful history in some sports. Right now a Division II school with a growing interest in football, the Panthers sit back and watch in March as Florida Gulf Coast, and this year, North Florida make their mark in March Madness. For now, FT is looking for cost effective and innovative ways off the field to help their athletes tell their story and finance what is a first grade education.
Their biggest event right now to help athletes offset the cost that is above the Division II offering is Sporting Affair XXIII, which was held Friday, March 13, 2015 at Suntree Country Club. It is Florida Tech’s largest annual fundraiser is a day filled with golf, fun, contests, shootouts, good friends, food and drinks. While not unlike other golf outings, their event includes a great offering, The Chopper Dropper which alone has raised over $1 million for the school’s 550 student-athletes, all the money going into scholarships.
Simply put, 2,000 numbered golf balls are dropped from the Panther-copter, with a $50,000 Grand Prize for ball landing closest to the pin. It has become a great visual and game of chance for anyone to try, with the balls becoming a solid keepsake year over year. There is little overhead (other than the sponsored helicopter), and it is easy to figure out with just the requisite amount of tension. No golf skills needed, it’s more fun than the lottery and it has become the signature moment in fundraising for FIT.
Even more important is the impact on the student-athletes, with FIT bringing out the best success stories who have come from the event and “The Chopper Dropper.” A recent story in Florida today profiles golfer Justin McMaster, who used his skills on the links to become a topflight student with a graduate career, and Felicia Leftinger, who found her way to FIT by way of the monies raised from “The Chopper Dropper.”
While not yet in the glitz and glamour of March Madness that many of its fellow schools in the Sunshine State have enjoyed, FIT deserves credit for coming up with a unique promotion that created buzz and lifts its student-athletes.
Roar, Panthers roar.
