Interviews with top National Gymnastics Day fundraisers
12/12/2008
This year’s National Gymnastics Day and Tyson Fitness Challenge were a huge success. With help of our member clubs and athletes, a record $201,203 was raised allowing us to reach our $1 million goal for Children’s Miracle Network! They all did such an amazing job using their talents to help children across the country. Elizabeth Simonson from USA Gymnastics had the chance to talk with the top fundraising clubs and individuals and get the inside scoop on their experiences this year.
1st Place Individual
Emma Timblin- Northern Elite; Flanders, N.J.
About Emma:
Age - 10
Level - 8
Favorite Event - Floor
Coaches - Sergio Estrada and Jackie Morris Estrada
Hours Trained per Week - 16-20
Favorite Meet - 2007 IGC Halloween Meet
Favorite Skill - Giants
Favorite Color - Blue
Favorite Musician - Taylor Swift
Favorite TV Show - Wizards of Waverly Place
Elizabeth Simonson: Why did you decide to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network?
Emma Timblin: Because I thought it would be a good way to help children who don’t have what I have and don’t get to experience the things that I do.
ES: Who did you ask for donations?
ET: My family, friends, neighbors, friends’ parents, people out of state. It wasn’t hard because a lot of the people I asked were close to us so I knew what to say and I knew how to ask them.
ES: Do you do any other charitable fundraisers through your club?
ET: No, but if there were any I would sign up for them.
ES: If you could change one thing about your experience this year, what would it be?
ET: I would go to more people to help raise more money.
ES: What was your favorite memory from this year?
ET: Knowing how many children and families I am helping with these donations and it was a lot of fun.
ES: If you could say anything to someone thinking about participating, what would you tell them?
ET: I would tell them that it’s a great experience and you can have fun doing it, too.
1st Place Club
Gymnastics World- Broadview Heights, Ohio
Club Owner- Ron Galim
Elizabeth Simonson: Why did you decide to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network?
Ron Galim: My wife and I have been in this business since 1975 and we believe in teaching the child, not just the sport. We teach the kids that there is life outside of gymnastics. There are people out there that have need help and we have the opportunity to give that to them.”
ES: Do you do any other charitable fundraisers with your club?
RG: Our gym participates in the Christmas Yuletide Hunger Program which allows families to be adopted anonymously from the Cleveland area that need help with Christmas gifts and other needs. We typically adopt 2 or 3 families each year and donate items from their list.
ES: You’ve been the winning club 5 times throughout our 8 year partnership with CMN. Is there anything special that your club does each time you win?
RG: Not really. We have never publicized the results, sent press releases, etc. I do not want the kids to think they are doing this for Gymnastics World's sake. Part of our "message" to them is we are doing it simply because it needs to be done.
ES: Does one year feel more rewarding than the others for any reason?
RG: Each year brings a greater feeling of reward simply because it confirms my hope that the kids have bought into the concept of altruistic behavior. They are learning and developing a sense of responsibility to others.
ES: What was your favorite memory from this year’s fundraisers?
RG: My favorite memory from this year was with one of our new team member. When we were checking up on the kids’ progress with the fundraising she said that she had raised $975. Her dad used his credit card points to buy her two iPods and she set up an auction/drawing for each of them. She used the money from the drawings to donate to CMN.
ES: If you could say anything to a club thinking about participating next year, what would it be?
RG: We are blessed with the opportunity to work with the best kids in the USA, day after day, week after week. Compared to a "normal" child, our kids are blessed with healthy, strong and flexible bodies. They have the family supporting their efforts to achieve excellence and all too often, they develop a sense of self-importance to a degree that often causes selfish behavior. Our responsibility to each and every child is to teach them as a person, not to coach them as an athlete. Heck, most anyone who studies and observes can learn the sport, but only some will ever be called teachers. The others are coaches. Your participation and support of the Children's Miracle Network is one strong way of working with your gymnasts as kids, not athletes; it is one way to help them realize what life is like for other kids their age; it helps them develop a stronger respect for their good health as well as learning how to become a valuable member of their community.
2nd Place Individual
Michelle Moock- Gymnastics World; Broadview Heights, Ohio
Elizabeth Simonson: Why did you decide to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network?
Michelle Moock: I really like helping kids out and when I heard about all he people it really made me interested in helping out and giving money to the kids.
ES: Is this your first time participating in this fundraiser? If no, how many years have you participated?
MM: This is my 3rd year doing this fundraiser. I also do an American Girl fashion show to raise money for children’s cancer research and I’ve been doing that for 5 years.
ES: How did you encourage your teammates to participate in the fundraiser?
MM: When they see me doing it they also like to get involved because I get a lot of money. Sharing with them how much it would help the kids also makes them want to join. Just being in the gym helps encourage them to help, too.
ES: Who did u ask for donations?
MM: I asked for a little bit of my family and a couple of my mom’s friends. I also went door to door with one of my friends who isn’t a gymnast and asked for donations.
ES: What was your favorite memory from this year’s fundraiser?
MM: Finding out that I won second place and raised $4000. Also knowing that I helped a lot of people with the money I raised.
ES: If you could say anything to a club/athlete thinking about participating, what would you tell them?
MM: I would tell that that it’s a really great cause and if you know anybody or think of people in the hospital I think you can put your heart to it and raise some money. From $1 to $1000, any money can help.
ES: What is your favorite TV show?
MM: Full House
ES: What is your favorite color?
MM: Pink.
ES: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
MM: Seafood.
ES: Favorite music group?
MM: Jonas Brothers.
2nd Place Club
Massachusetts Gymnastics Center- Boston, Mass.
Club Owner- Mike Colarossi
Elizabeth Simonson: Why did you decide to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network?
Mike Colarossi: We’ve been doing a fundraiser for almost 10 years annually so we jumped on board when USA Gymnastics announced that they were partnering with CMN.
ES: How did you encourage your students to participate in the fundraiser?
MC: We run a cartwheel-a-thon and anyone that raises over $25 gets a t-shirt for the event and we funnel the money to Children’s Hospital Boston. It’s a great cause and the big push that we put on is kids helping kids. It really encourages a lot of the kids to participate.
ES: Did you get any help from local media or your local CMN hospital to promote the events?
MC: We didn’t do a whole lot this year around, we have in the past. We’ve used media and Children’s Hospital Boston has helped us as well.
ES: If you could say anything to a club/athlete thinking about participating, what would you tell them?
MC: I think it really helps build relationships with the community, gives the kids a sense of being and helping out, and it really goes right along with our philosophy of teaching the kids a lot more than gymnastics. We’re teaching them how to participate in their communities and be active.
ES: What was your favorite memory from this year’s fundraiser?
MC: Just the number of participants we had. It keeps growing each year and its great to see so many kids jumping in and helping out.
ES: If you could change one thing about your experience, what would it be?
MC: We would have hyped it up with the media a little more, but other than that it went very smoothly and was a great experience.
3rd Place Individual
Mary Kate Cacchione- Northern Elite; Flanders, N.J.
Elizabeth Simonson: What is your favorite book?
Mary Kate Cacchione: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
ES: If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
MKC: Tacos.
ES: Why did you decide to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network?
MKC: I decided to raise money because I went to do an exhibition at the specialized hospital and thinking about what they have to go through every day makes me realize that I shouldn’t be afraid of anything.
ES: Do you do any other charitable fundraisers with your club?
MKC: No because our club just opened in April, but we’re working on finding more
ES: Who did u ask for donations?
MKC: My family, friends, parent’s friends and co-workers, and neighbors
ES: What was your favorite memory from this year’s fundraiser?
MKC: Going to the exhibition and meeting all the children and seeing that in the first half hour of putting up my site I raised $500.
ES: What is your favorite color?
MKC: Purple and green together.
3rd Place Club
John Macready’s and John Roethlisberger’s Flip Fest- Lake Francis, Tenn.
Club Owners- John Macready and John Roethlisberger
Elizabeth Simonson: Why did you decide to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network?
John Macready: John and I always like to try to give back and do some sort of charity event every year and when USA Gymnastics approached us about working with Children’s Miracle Network and they way that they go about doing it we just wanted to be in on it. Ever since we launched it last year the kids have just loved it and really jumped on board with making it a yearly thing. I think it teaches the kids a lot when they come to camp about giving back.
ES: How did you encourage your students to participate in the fundraiser?
JM: We get everybody together, usually about 200-250 people, and explain to them what the CMN does and how fortunate they are and how many kids want to be in their position. We love to give back in this happy time of being at summer camp. We put everybody in categories and tell them they can either do a tie-dye t-shirt for $15 and all of the money goes to CMN and they get to tie-dye their own Flip Fest t-shirt that says “I Gave Back”, they can be in the “just donate” category, or they can choose not to participate at all. We always stress that you do not have to donate, it is purely up to you, but most of they kids usually give at least a little bit.
ES: Did you get any help from local media or your local CMN hospital to promote the events?
JM: No we just do it all in house
ES: What was your favorite memory from this year’s fundraiser?
JM: We had one girl, when I gave my speech about giving back, I had a girl come up and I said “you can give 25 cents or you can give $5 or $10, whatever you guys want to give.” As I was getting out the balloons that they write how much they want to give on, this girl wrote that she wanted to give $77. I asked her if she was sure she wanted to write $77 or did she mean $7. She said no, $77. I asked her if she was sure that was ok and she replied, “Yeah, I have way too much money.”
ES: If you could say anything to a club/athlete thinking about participating, what would you tell them?
JM: I would tell them that it’s a good feeling getting everybody behind something like this and it’s an easy cause to get behind because of what CMN does. A lot of people might look at it and think of the time that it takes, but I just stress to them that if you raise even $100, that’s enough. If you take the time to mention it just one time to your club, that’s enough. Don’t worry about doing too much or too little, just get in there and do something and you’ll really fell the benefits of it.
ES: If you could change one thing about your experience, what would it be?
JM: I don’t really have anything that I would change. I think it runs really well. I would love to maybe have more interaction with our local hospital during the summer.
