WSC Hosts Workshop for the Community Sports Consulting Program
By Stephanie Miller, WSC Staffer

On Tuesday, March 22nd at Malcolm X College, World Sport Chicago hosted the Spring Workshop for the Community Sports Consulting Program, a new initiative that strives to support Chicago non-profit sport clubs and organizations by providing educational workshops, networking opportunities and consulting services that address clubs’ organizational and programmatic needs. The workshops serve as an opportunity for clubs to hear from World Sport Chicago on the program’s latest updates, guest speakers, and to meet with like-minded Chicago clubs who use sport as a vehicle for social change. The Spring Workshop focused on sports marketing and sponsorship, with an emphasis on how organizations could improve and increase their branding presence and fundraising opportunities within their communities. Representatives from sports clubs and community organizations throughout Chicago attended and heard from Girls in the Game guest speakers Amy Skeen and Kristi Skala and Executive Vice President Chief Sales and Marketing of the Chicago Cubs, Wally Hayward.

As fellow Consulting Program participants, Girls in the Game Executive Director Amy Skeen and Training and Evaluation Manager Kristi Skala understand the challenges that urban sports organizations encounter. A 501(c)3 organization, Girls in the Game provides a variety of sports programming and educational opportunities that focus on nutrition, fitness and development in order to encourage Chicago girls to learn life skills valuable both on and off the athletic field. Skeen and Skala discussed challenges such as funding, finding resources, educating coaches and positively impacting students and solutions that they have implemented within their organization. While Girls in the Game only serves female athletes, many of the themes discussed resonated with Consulting Program participants who host co-ed programs, programs for people with physical or visual disabilities and/or sport-specific programs.

Wally Hayward, EVP of Sales and Marketing for the Chicago Cubs and former senior advisor for Chicago 2016’s Olympic and Paralympic Bid, discussed ideas and strategies on how small Chicago sports clubs can increase their branding presence and thus expand their fundraising opportunities. He emphasized the importance of networking and creating opportunities within ones’ community by approaching local businesses for their support, particularly those that athletes, coaches and their families frequently visit. Additionally, the use of social networking and media is an easy and cost-effective way to keep a brand’s identity in the forefront of the community and thus encourage more program participation and partnering opportunities.

World Sport Chicago will continue to host educational workshops and support services for Chicago sports clubs to further network, connect and create new partnering opportunities. If you know of a non-profit sports club or organization who may want to get involved in the Community Sports Consulting Program, please contact Stephanie at smiller@worldsportchicago.org.