Husky Ticket Project Gives Back to UConn Sports Fans, Community
The Husky Ticket Project is an organization in the UConn community that serves the underprivileged in the Connecticut area for UConn athletics. Founded in 2018, three UConn alumni - Kevin Solomon, Jeremy Longobardi and Kevin Kortsep - sought to figure out how to increase the fan turnout at the sporting events throughout the year.
“We brainstormed and came up with three thousand dollars to send up to 300 kids to football games that fall,” said the program founder Kevin Solomon.
“With just a little social media, email marketing, and basic outreach, we were able to raise more than double our goal.”.
The Husky Ticket Project has since grown at a steady rate over the years, but just last year, the organization raised over $100,000 to take its mission to the next level.
As of this fall, the Husky Ticket Project distributed close to 10,000 tickets for local Connecticut youth organizations.
“The smiles on the kids’ faces when we see them at games,” said Solomon on what the most rewarding part of his job is. “Some of our most formidable memories, both as a college student and as lifelong fans, have been at UConn games.”
Solomon reflected on the fun history of UConn national championships and special moments in the sports community. He wants to give the youth in Connecticut the same opportunity to witness those experiences.
“For many of the kids we send to games, this is their first opportunity to enjoy a sporting event in this life,” Solomon said. “We’ve heard kids talking, for the first time, about their college aspirations and it all stems from their experience at these games.”
COVID-19 proved to be challenging for the UConn sports community. The Husky Ticket Project had to get creative with the way they would go about helping the community since they couldn’t send anyone to games. One thing they did was surprise kids from the Mansfield Youth Services with cardboard cutouts that cheered on the Huskies throughout the winter. But in terms of the pandemic, the Husky Ticket Project took advantage of the fundraising they were able to do.
A creative way they were able to give back and have some fun was through the hot sauce challenge, which started after the Marquette game with UConn fan Bryan Penfield.
The Husky Ticket Project started a social media challenge capitalizing on the hot sauce craze. The “Hot Sauce Challenge” encouraged fans to donate with each shot of hot sauce they took to hold themselves accountable for doubting the men’s basketball team.
This challenge turned into a major fundraising campaign across Twitter as the organization accrued over $100,000. The money raised will help send around 10,000 kids to games in the future.
“During the hot sauce challenge, we had everyone from Dan Hurley, Geno Auriemma, Dan Orlovsky and Rebecca Lobo on an ESPN broadcast,” Solomon said. “The D’Amelio’s, Byron Jones, and so many other prominent UConn stars got involved. The support we’ve received from former Huskies has been incredible.”
Marc D’Amelio, a UConn alum, has been very prominent in supporting the university’s sports program. He and the Husky Ticket Project have worked to increase the fandom of the UConn sports community.
“Not only has Marc D’Amelio been a supporter of Husky Ticket Project since the beginning, but he’s also been a great friend and mentor as well,” Solomon said, reflecting on the help he received in support of the organization.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the help of Dan Toscano, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, who helped us get our feet under us.” He said.
Something else the Husky Ticket Project is excited about is the long-awaited return of the new and improved UConn football team. Head coach Jim Mora leads the pack and has been busy all offseason getting talent to add to the already star-studded roster.
“Coach Mora is bringing excitement back to the Rent. He’s engaging fans, recruiting hard, and bringing the right student-athletes to UConn,” Solomon said.
This year, the Husky Ticket Project is excited to be back in the Big East and send kids to see rivalry games. They sent almost 250 kids to the UConn women’s game against Tennessee and will send about 5,000 total this season to men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and men’s ice hockey games.
“The atmosphere [at the games] has been so much better and that creates an even more memorable experience for our kids,” Solomon said.
To learn more about the Husky Ticket Project and to get involved, visit their website and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
