Celebrating five years of fun, fitness & charities
Imagine getting out of the office to have fun with your coworkers, all for the sake of charity. That’s the idea behind the Corporate Cup Challenge, an annual two-day event where local businesses come together to participate in recreational activities, build community relationships, and support Johnson County nonprofit organizations. The event features 10 activities suitable for anyone’s athletic ability: bowling, flag football, basketball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, cornhole, euchre, tug of war, dodgeball, and an obstacle relay course. “There’s something for everyone,” says Cathy Richards, Corporate Cup chairperson.
This year’s event marks the fifth anniversary of the Corporate Cup Challenge. It will be held Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, with more than 350 participants and some 35 companies anticipated. Hosting the events again this year are two area churches that enjoy promoting healthy competition, Mount Pleasant Christian Church at the Community Life Center and Community Church of Greenwood at The Gathering Place. The Corporate Cup kicks off with a bowling tournament on Friday afternoon at Southern Bowl. The rest of Friday’s activities will be held at the Community Life Center, followed by all of Saturday’s activities at The Gathering Place.
The 2013 proceeds will raise money for two local charities, Franciscan St. Francis Hospice House and Sheltering Wings. “Since it’s our fifth anniversary, we thought we’d let our two largest sponsors who have been with us since the beginning (Franciscan St. Francis Health Sports Medicine Center and ADVANTAGE Health Solutions) choose the charities,” says Cathy. Corporate Cup Founder Jess Carrasquillo says loyal sponsors and participants have made the charitable generosity possible. “Because of them, over $35,000 has been distributed to local charities through the past four Corporate Cups. That money has helped thousands of people.” For example, one of last year’s beneficiaries, Kids Against Hunger, said the gift they received from the Corporate Cup donation fed 20,000 people. Sponsors and contributors donate thousands of dollars in door prizes to the Corporate Cup as well, such as dinner-for-two packages, rounds of golf, and Pacers tickets.
Jess, owner of Easy Street Insurance, says that in 2007 he felt like God put the idea for the Corporate Cup on his heart as a way to help people. “I’ve been to similar events where coworkers competed against other companies. As a sports fan, I thought it would be a great way for people to have fun outside the workplace with their coworkers. My wife, Sandra, gave me her blessing; so I ran with it.” He assembled a team of friends and leaders from the community to launch the first event. “We put it on. People liked it, and now we’re in our fifth year. This anniversary is a major achievement for us. We’ve given a lot of money to charity and have had a lot of fun along the way.” This year’s t-shirts will feature the number five to honor the milestone.
“It’s a win-win-win event,” Jess says. It promotes health, teamwork, and camaraderie among coworkers. “It’s one thing to work together. It’s a completely different thing to compete together. It really builds a different type of bond and relationship.” The event gives businesses the opportunity to compete against fellow rivals outside the comfort of their offices. Imagine the battle of the banks in dodge ball, volleyball between hair salons, or tug of war between our major hospitals.
It also provides networking opportunities for all the participants and volunteers. “The Corporate Cup really started as people coming together to have fun, but a lot of other great things happen during those two days,” says Jess. In the midst of the fun and games, “it’s really about bringing people together to build relationships and develop leadership skills.” Many intangibles happen through the event each year, from people helping people to participants doing business together. “I hear stories all the time about people connecting through this event.”
Corporate Cup trophies are awarded to the winners of two divisions, the American Conference (companies with 50 or less employees) and the National Conference (50+ employees). Medals are awarded to individuals placing in the first three places in each event. The Spirit Award is also given to the company displaying good sportsmanship, showmanship, and team spirit.
Every year, new company teams participate, but Jess says over 90% of past participants (players and companies) return year after year. “Participants always say they can’t wait to do it again next year.” The inaugural event had 200 participants. That number has nearly doubled this year as the event continues growing.
“The Corporate Cup has a lot of moving parts. It’s several smaller events that lead up to the main event,” Cathy says. The planning committee, made up of volunteers, spends months preparing for the event, finding venues, recruiting volunteers, encouraging participation, and securing sponsors. Cathy serves as Vice President of the local Lee & Associates commercial real estate office. She has been involved with the Corporate Cup since the beginning and has served as chairperson for the past two years.
She met Jess at a Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce networking event. He told her he was looking for people with a passion for sports to help with a new event he was starting. “I played softball in college and was a three-sport athlete growing up, so I have a huge passion for athletics and team building,” Cathy says. She joined the leadership team for the first Corporate Cup, and the rest is history.
“I never get tired of hearing the stories afterward,” she says. “People still talk about the Corporate Cup at the water cooler the following week, laughing about how sore they are or how they haven’t played dodgeball since grade school. The company team building among coworkers is incredible. The event can produce the same results as a company retreat; and because this is out of most people’s comfort zones, amazing things come out of it. All of a sudden, you’re high-fiving your boss who’s on the floor because he just dove for the volleyball! It’s amazing how the energy and competitive drive come out. It’s fun to see so many companies jump right in. They might not even know what they are coming to do, but they know they are there to support a great cause.”
The participation fee is $25/person for up to two events and a t-shirt. These fees and the sponsorship funds make up the net proceeds for the charitable organizations. Want to participate without putting on your tracksuit? Volunteer as a referee, greeter, or scorekeeper. The event is open to the community, so anyone can cheer on the participants or stop by to make a donation.
Cathy says this is her last year as the chairperson of the planning committee. “I am ready to pass the torch on to another energized leader who will take the Corporate Cup Challenge to the next level.” However, she says she is a “Corporate Cup lifer” and is excited about changing her role from organizer to participant in the years ahead. The Corporate Cup Challenge became a 501(c)3 organization last year, a big accomplishment for the team. Cathy says she will likely be a part of the board of directors for a while. The planning committee hopes the event will continue to grow, giving even more money to local charitable organizations that positively affect the Johnson County community.
It’s time to put on your sweatband and make a difference! Start building your “dream team” today.
For more information about the Corporate Cup including sponsorships, volunteering, and participation, visit CorporateCupChallenge.com.
Katelyn Bausman is a lifelong Southsider. She is a freelance writer/editor and handles communications and event planning for an international ministry. She and her husband, David, enjoy calling Center Grove home.
