Support My Club to deliver 2,000+ items to local high school clubs and teams.

PHX, Ariz. –- A group of citizens in support of Arizona’s innovative students and their futures have come together in partnership with Support My Club to ‘flash fund’ over 2,000 items to local high schools this week.

Support My Club aims to engage community members in fulfilling the needs of public high  school extra-curricular clubs and teams. Knowing that the collective pooling of resources creates greater impact, Support My Club initiated the Collaborative Flash Funding campaign. Through this movement, 33 donors/couples allocated significant personal funding towards Academics, Activities, Arts or Athletics. They could also set specific parameters determining just how or where the funds would be distributed- i.e. certain geographic areas, schools, categories.

Support My Club founder, Amy Armstrong, created the organization to equip students to pursue their interests, reduce sponsor and coach out-of-pocket costs, and minimize time spent on fundraising so participants can focus on their club’s activity. The importance of equal access to extracurricular activities for all students is well-documented and income-based differences in club and team participation are on the rise, and these differences greatly affect later life outcomes. “Research continually shows that structured after-school activities work to engage students, keep them in school, and keep them from participating in risky behaviors,” said Armstrong. Support My Club works to reduce these disparities by ensuring that students have the tools and opportunities needed to pursue their passions, talents and ideas – regardless of their zip code or parent’s socio-economic status.

In addition, for every $100 of value received in donations, the students complete 1 hour of community service in gratitude, thereby completing a full cycle of philanthropy and further engaging the students in teamwork and paying it forward. 

The Collaborative Flash Funding campaign supported 88 public and charter schools across the state and the 2000+ items were allocated to 387 different clubs and teams, most of which have a student population where many qualify for free/reduced lunch and where students have the most need. Items fulfilled include a variety and cover a diverse price range including: paint brushes for the art club, a screen printing machine for student government, a composter for the recycling club, registration fees for a leadership conference, catcher’s gear for the baseball team and a guitar for band. Support My Club operates under the mantra of that if you build Stronger Students, you have Stronger Schools which create Stronger Communities. 

Donors include (several not listed for anonymity):

Media Opportunity:  Media are invited to attend the following deliveries and capture the truly incredible moments when a club receives their items:

Wednesday, 12/14: 

3:00pm: Camelback High School: 4612 N 28th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Thursday, 12/15:

11am: McClintock High School: 1830 E Del Rio Dr, Tempe, AZ 85282

12:15pm: Tempe High School: 1730 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281

            Established in 2012, Support My Club uses an e-commerce model for allowing high school groups in athletics, academics, arts and activities to post their specific needs to the site. Donors use the site to “shop” for needs, add them to their cart and then fund them with their tax-deductible donation. Support My Club staff then delivers the items directly to the club. On any given day, posted requests can range from a $5 oven mitt for the culinary club, to a digital camera needed by a yearbook club, to nuts and bolts needed for a robotics club. Clubs can also post a need for registration for a conference they wish to attend, an upcoming trip, or a skills camp.