AGENDA #3c
March 17, 2005
Dear Council Members:
CarolinaPros, Inc. is a 501©(3) organization consisting of, but not limited to, former student-athletes who played basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under legendary Coach Dean Smith. Co-founded by Rick Fox (UNC ’91) and King Rice (UNC’91), its mission is to provide a non-profit vehicle for former players to achieve community service objectives through strategic giving. CarolinaPros, Inc. has identified six target areas: l. mentoring ; 2. financial literacy; 3. bridging the digital divide; 4. talent identification and skill development; 5. scholarships; and 6. donor education.
One of our major fundraising events is the annual World’s Greatest Alumni Game week-end. This year’s events are August 25-27 here in Chapel Hill. In addition to the game, the week-end includes an evening with cards and stars (Las Vegas style casino night), a bowling tournament in which disadvantaged kids from Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are teamed with athletes, a press conference, a business seminar involving athletes and business interests, a celebrity banquet, Feed the Children (food and personal care items are distributed to at least 400 families), a fan appreciation extravaganza, and a post-game appreciation event. Last year more than 10,000 attendees spent more than $250,000 in Chapel Hill, including $17,000 for stays in 70 hotel rooms over three days and nights.
Each year we are excited to bring these events back to Chapel Hill, and we will continue to add events. However, our support from the town has been minimal. CarolinaPros has the potential to reach the level of the CIAA Tournament in terms of revenues that it will drive to Chapel Hill each year. The city of Raleigh has partnered with the CIAA to eventually double the size of that event as well as the resultant tax dollars, and we are confident that Chapel Hill and CarolinaPros can enjoy a similar partnership, especially as we develop the programs listed above and establish a permanent facility here. CarolinaPros will be an active part of our community year round.
For the last two years we requested the involvement of our city’s transportation system, to help minimize the parking and traffic issues on campus. We now know to submit such a request directly to the Town for this year. If spectators are able to park and ride rather than pay $7.00 and face traffic congestion, then the Town will directly benefit and parking woes for our spectators will be greatly diminished.
Town support of the World’s Greatest Alumni Game Week-End will enable us to more effectively promote our events in hotels, restaurants, businesses, and other locations throughout the community. The mission of CarolinaPros to “team up to help others” is one that we invite you to share with us.
Our expenses and fees for last year’s events were $115,000. We respectfully request financial support in the amount of $20,000, which will cover a portion of our costs, for marketing and advertising, air and ground transportation for our special guests, disability and arena insurance, and security.
Thank you for your consideration. Although the RBC Center in Raleigh has indicated an interest in hosting our game this year, we would like to feel that there is a welcome, permanent home for us here in Chapel Hill. CarolinaPros, Inc., I strongly believe, can truly be one of Chapel Hill’s finest natural resources.
Respectfully,
Angela Lee, President
CarolinaPros, Inc.
(919) 338-1486