News

18th annual Corporate Sports Challenge comes to campus

Mini-Olympics offers team-building for businesses and helps raise money for cystic fibrosis research

07/07/03

More than 350 businessmen and businesswomen from the Greater Cincinnati area will be running around campus on Saturday, Aug. 16, working their way through a mini-Olympic competition to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The 18th annual Mary Beth Comer Memorial Corporate Sports Challenge takes place at the University’s recreation park adjacent to the Cintas Center from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Between 35-40 corporate teams comprised of five women and five men are participating in the event, which includes an assortment of team-building competitions such as a relay race, standing long jump, basketball shoot, tug-of-war, team jump rope, obstacle course and a mystery event that usually involves the wearing of flippers. The fundraiser is an opportunity for company employees to enjoy a half-day of friendly, stress-free athletic competition while raising research dollars for the CFF. The competition ends at noon, when participants are served a barbeque lunch catered by Tony Roma’s restaurant. At 1:00 p.m. competition medals are awarded. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for both team and individual events. Last year’s corporate sports challenge raised $32,000 for CFF. This year’s goal is $35,000. The accounting firm KPMG is this year’s presenting sponsor, and WXIX Fox 19 is the media sponsor. Participants need five men and five women to form a team. The registration fee is $850 per team and includes breakfast, lunch, beer, t-shirts and a team photo. Teams have raised money for their registration in a variety of ways, such as company sponsorship, a half-and-half sponsorship—where team members raise half the entry and the company pays the rest—and mini–fundraisers. CFF can offer additional suggestions. For more information, contact Tom Brady at Cincinnati@cff.org or 513 533-9300, ext. 12.