How Team Arkansas Raises Money for Breakthrough T1D

Money donated to individual team members by family, friends and neighbors

Business and Industry from around the state sponsor the Team by donating from $1,000 to $25,000.  And each sponsor is featured on the Team's cycling jersey.  Now, of course that Team jersey is worn on the day of the BreakthroughT1D Ride ... but more there is more!

Cyclists wear their jerseys repeatedly.  It is not a "one and done" world.  Once a jersey is placed into a cyclist repertoire it brought out and worn again and again.  Sometimes for years and years.  

Your name or your company's name gets repeated exposure from a Team Arkansas sponsorship!

Working in the concession stands at Simmons Bank Arena for a percentage of profits and tips.  

In the fall of 2022, we decided we needed a fundraising model that would increase the size of the pool from which we can recruit riders for Team Arkansas.  We needed to remove the perceived barrier to joining the team - the fundraising scare.   

We needed to give prospects an avenue to raise funds that did not require them to either have money, have friends with money, or know companies that can be sponsors.   

Team members came up with the Simmons Bank Arena opportunity.  At the arena, we can work in the concession stands and the arena donates to JDRF a set percentage of sales from the concession stand worked and a set percentage of tips earned by team members working that concession stand.

Team members work at the arena and if sponsorship funds are available, they receive sponsorship money to match money earned at the arena.

Team members willing to work can easily raise the $4,000 to $6,000 needed to participate in a ride.

The Team also has non riders working at the arena simply to help the team raise money.  These rare people are are Team Heroes.  They don't ride with the team, but they work hard to help raise funds for Breakthrought T1D.