Athletic teams donate experiences to charity

Winter in South Dakota is hard enough with space heaters and down comforters, but conditions can be life threatening for some who lack basic utilities, or even shelter. This year, social services are seeing record numbers of those in need, and Augustana College is teaming up with The Community Outreach to help families right here in the Sioux Empire.

The Community Outreach is a faith-based, ecumenical organization that annually raises funds for the working poor community. Money raised is used for the prevention of eviction and utility disconnection. Currently, The Community Outreach is able to give $12,000 a month in assistance with rent and utilities.

However, because needs are so high, the money goes quickly and is usually gone by the seventh business day of the month.

To help bolster resources, The Community Outreach is hosting its first ever "Experience This" Live and Online Auction, with a goal of raising $5,000 by Dec. 15.

"People can bid on the chance to experience something not usually made available to the public," volunteer coordinator Sean Salyer said. "All of the money raised from the auction will then go to our general fund to be used to prevent eviction and utility disconnection."

Salyer turned to Peter Roberts, a long time friend and supporter of The Community Outreach, to ask for Augustana's support.

"As an employee of the Sports Information Department, Peter, along with his direct supervisor, were more than willing to show their support with donations," Salyer said. "With Augustana's support we are confident that we will be able to raise more money and be able to keep more families together in their home, with their heat on during South Dakota's fierce winter months."

Augustana College donated three package deals for the public to bid on, including a behind the scenes look at a basketball doubleheader, a football game and a wrestling duel. Each package allows one individual the chance to join the staff at a home game to "experience first-hand the in-game operations that sports information provides."

The Augustana experiences in the auction also allow the winner to observe and participate in the pre-game, in-game and post-game activities. The winner will be provided with a meal, as well as two free passes to the game, in addition to their free entrance to the event.

Roberts, who covers most of the major sporting events at Augustana as head statistician, feels the Augustana sporting prizes are invaluable experiences.

"It's a unique event that not everyone gets to participate in," Roberts said. "My job requires a lot of technology as we interface between the statistics system and score/video boards, provide live-feed stats for the web, and analyze the game from a statistical perspective."

Each of the Augustana auction experiences will allow the winner to follow the game through that statistical and technological view, which Roberts promises to be action packed.

"The action can get a little hot and heated considering how fast the game might be moving," he said.

Augustana's involvement is important to the project because it is an icon of higher education in the Sioux Falls area, and because it has access to a hard to reach demographic – college students.

"The Community Outreach reaches out to strong community partners to help raise awareness, and support to help address the needs of our community," says Salyer. "Augustana has answered that call every time The Community Outreach has reached out for support, and we at The Community Outreach are forever grateful.  It is because of Augustana's willingness to become involved with Sioux Falls and the struggles it faces that we can better achieve our mission."