@MizzouFootball, Shelter Insurance partner to bring Special Spectators to Memorial Stadium
9/23/2017 10:55:00 PM | Football
The special spectators made an appearance at Saturday night's game
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For a brief moment, 54,000 fans, regardless of where they had come from or who they were rooting for, joined together in thunderous applause. It didn't matter if they were supporting the Tigers of Auburn or the Tigers of Mizzou; all of the spectators packed into Memorial Stadium were cheering on the families brought onto Faruot Field by Special Spectators.
In partnership with Shelter Insurance and Mizzou Football, Special Spectators was able to do what they do best: provide a VIP, all-access game day experience for kids battling serious illnesses and their families. And for these families, these kinds of days can provide much needed normalcy.
Awesome to have our #Mizzou @SpecialFans in attendance tonight. #MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/Pdb7MlugsI
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) September 23, 2017
"It's great for the kids and their families," Blake Rockwell, Executive Director of Special Spectators, said. "You can hear them the whole game. They're laughing, screaming, just having a good time. Just getting to go out as a family, and be able to just enjoy each other's company. Just to be able to go a couple hours without a worry. The reality is that for some kids, this is the greatest day of their life."
These days are special for the kids and the families, but it is just another game day for Special Spectators, a small 501 (c) (3) non-profit based out of New York, New York. The organization, built by Rockwell on the support of a strong volunteer network and gracious donations, has served over 9,000 families at over 400 different kinds of athletic events. Today marked the first time that Special Spectators partnered with Mizzou, and the full VIP experience had by the kids was something most fans never get to have.
The kiddos from @muhealth participating in the coin toss at our @MizzouFootball game day sponsored by @Shelter_Ins pic.twitter.com/VTTC4jlwcf
— Special Spectators (@SpecialFans) September 24, 2017
The kids and their families were invited to a tailgate that featured unlimited food, a locker room visit that included meeting some of their favorite Mizzou players, field access, and the chance to be at midfield for the pregame coin toss.
"Being able to go into the locker room and try on helmets and pads, things like that just make the kid's day special," Rockwell said. "Being out on the field, getting to have a tailgate party like we did today where the kids can eat as much as they want in a really comfortable setting, it was truly a great day."
The kids and their families weren't the only ones impacted by today's festivities, though. Mizzou players and coaches were able to gain valuable perspective, and even had a little fun with the special spectators before today's game.
THANK YOU @MizzouFootball fans 4 the warm welcome. Send these kiddos an encouraging note by texting "FightTiger" to 77453. Thx @Shelter_Ins pic.twitter.com/EYsCeDGKjT
— Special Spectators (@SpecialFans) September 24, 2017
"When we were down on the field, players were going out of their way to fist bump and high-five the kids," said Anna Hargis, the Director of Advertising for Shelter Insurance. "Coach Odom was great. He made a point to go up to every family and just say 'Hey, thank you so much for being here'. That seems like such a small gesture, but the reality is that those kinds of things are a huge deal. For kids to see that and receive that, and for parents and siblings to be a part of that, it is so much bigger than people realize."
This day will be one that the kids and families from Columbia, Missouri, will never forget. But the Special Spectators organization never stops working to make the day special for the next set of families, and there are several ways to get involved with the life changing organization.
"Visit us at specialspectators.org, which is our website," Rockwell said. "You can donate your time as a volunteer, or donate money. But if you want to help tonight, all you have to do is text 'Fight Tiger' to 77453, and then send a personal message to the families. It is a wonderful way to make an immediate impact on these families."
