THE EXPERIENCES
“Providing custom-designed, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to kids who are battling cancer!”
Sporting KC Soccer experience - logan Chapin, HAYSVILLE, KS
Haysville, KS - Campus HS has almost become home to Gold Glove Charities. What we thought would be a single stop event has become an annual reunion! When we were introduced to Logan Chapin’s story, we immediately wanted to provide her an “experience”. After visiting with Logan’s mother, Renee, we knew we must design Logan’s experience around soccer!
At our Campus HS Colts vs Cancer Night, Logan and her family were honored at halftime of the Campus HS football game. After a pregame tailgate picnic (thank you Texas Roadhouse) and strength walk, GGC presented Logan with her experience during the halftime ceremony. GGC partnered with Sporting KC, where Logan attended a practice, met the players and coaches and attended a game as a guest of honor. We are not sure who enjoyed the player meet and greet more, Logan, or her siblings McKenzie and Carson!
grizzly bear Bottle-feeding experience - Emily Curry, HAYSVILLE, KS
When we first met Emily in Wichita, KS, she was a very shy but friendly teenager. While getting to know Emily, we asked “what are your passions”? Emily answered “BEARS!” Although hearing her love for bears seemed impossible to design an experience around, GGC simply said “game on!” and began researching! Shortly after that visit, GGC stumbled upon Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. GGC sent Emily to YBW, where Emily got to bottle feed a grizzly bear cub, as well as visit the rest of the drive-through safari.
At that time, Emily was the 2nd kiddo from Campus HS in Haysville, Ks that GGC was able to provide an “experience”. Emily was surprised with the trip announcement at halftime of a Campus HS boy’s basketball game during GGC’s Colts vs Cancer event.
Finding neverland cast meet -n- greet - Hannah Soderstrom, MAIZE, KS
Hannah Soderstrom, a confident prodigy of the theatre, was treated to a dinner at McCormick & Schmicks on the plaza, tickets to see Finding Neverland in Kansas City and a backstage meet -n- greet with a couple of cast members.
Hannah, who grew up in Maize, KS, has always been a student of the theatre. Confident and outwardly social at a young age, Hannah has become an amazing spokeswoman for the fight against pediatric cancer - specifically Leukemia and Lymphoma.
Hannah was a Gold Glove Charities honoree at our 2017 Wichita Wingnuts Night and, in typical Hannah-fashion, stole the show during an inning of player introductions performed over the PA when she began giving each player impromptu nicknames!
Hannah was also a GGC honoree at our Kansas City T-Bones Night in 2017. On the field prior to the game, Hannah was presented with her “experience”, along with 3 other honorees.
Weekend with the Sooners - Gracie Holmes, BONNER SPRINGS, KS
Gracie was one of GGC’s honoree’s at their 2017 Night w/the Kansas City T-Bones. Gracie had expressed a love of gymnastics so GGC reached out to the Oklahoma Sooners Women’s Gymnastics coach, KJ Kindler. Coach Kindler responded enthusiastically “We would LOVE to honor Gracie at a meet!” The Sooners sent Gracie a '“swag bag” full of Sooners gear. Gracie and her family then got to spend a weekend in Norman, OK and attend a practice with the team, as well as attend a meet the next day. While at practice, Gracie was the center of attention! She received lots of personal interaction with the team and coaches, and even got to spend time on the bars and mats.
It did not end there for Gracie! At the meet the next day, she led the team out of the tunnel during introductions, paired with senior Samantha Craus. Oklahoma sophomore Maggie Nichols, after receiving a bouquet of flowers as the Gymnast of the Meet, immediately ran into the stands and presented the flowers to Gracie! This was one of GGC’s favorite “experiences” designed, as the attention given to Gracie has been, to date, unparalleled.
Day with the ILLINI - Isaac parris, MONTGOMERY, IL
“BASKETBALL, BASKETBALL, BASKETBALL!” When GGC read Issac’s answer to the GGC Event Questionnaire’s inquiry What are your passion’s?, it was clear to GGC Founder Mike Martin what they needed to do: Provide Isaac an Experience!
As a former college basketball coach, Martin had a 25+ year friendship with Illinois’ men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood. A phone call later, and Isaac’s Experience was planned!
Isaac had the opportunity to attend the Illini’s pregame walk-through practice, eat the team meal with the players, hang out in the media room, meet and take pictures with the coaches and players and then attend the game that night while being introduced to the Illini faithful! Add in an autographed basketball, his own Illinois basketball jersey and Isaac had a day to remember!
A DAY WITH THE JAYHAWKS - CARTER ROBERTS, DERBY, KS
When GGC first learned of Carter, they immediately searched for his family on Facebook. What they found was a young man who had a common theme in his photos - Kansas Jayhawks! It seemed as though EVERY photo of Carter included a Jayhawk on his chest, so GGC went to work.
Having coached former KU player Clay Young on the AAU circuit, Mike Martin called on Clay to help out. A few days later, Carter’s experience was planned to include attending a practice and meeting the team, and attending a game that same night. And, his seats had a VERY SPECIAL view - right behind the KU bench!
One of the highlights of the night occurred without notice to the general fan base. When the players took the court prior to the tip-off, many of the players were wearing silver CARTER TOUGH silicone bands that Carter had given them at practice that morning.
Vikings game/facetime w/Adam thielen - Landon solberg, West Fargo, ND
Landon was GGC’s very first honoree in North Dakota and did they pick a great one! GGC first met Landon at their GGC Night with the Fargo RedHawks in 2017. GGC fell in love with the Solberg family INSTANTLY, and are in close contact with their family to this day.
As many in Fargo do, Landon LOVED the NDSU Bison and the Minnesota Vikings. GGC sent the Solberg family to US Bank Stadium for Landon’s first in-person Vikings game and later arranged for a 1-1 Facetime call with one of his favorite players, Adam Thielen.
GGC is both humbled and honored to have met, known and learned from Landon.
personal animal encounter Tulsa zoo/wildlife safari - Xander green
bonner springs, ks
One of Xander Green’s passions is animals……all animals. As part of GGC’s Braves Battle Cancer held at Bonner Springs High School in 2018.
As a part of Braves Battle Cancer, GGC held a pregame tailgate picnic (thank you Arthur Bryant’s BBQ) for family and friends. Xander was treated to a pregame meet and greet with the boys and girls basketball teams where he received an autographed Braves basketball. Then, at halftime of the boys game, GGC surprised Xander with an “experience” for personal animal interactions at both the Tulsa Zoo and the Tiger Safari in Tuttle, Oklahoma (no, not Joe Exotic’s place!).
While there, Xander got a behind the scenes tour while getting to feed elephants, Galapagos tortoises, rhinos, lemurs, flamingos and sea lions. One of Xander’s favorite memories is of the sea lion that sprayed him with water (at Xander’s request)! Xander also go an up close view and handling of a Flemish giant rabbit, wallaroo, lemur, python, and much more.
Weekend with FCKC Women’s Soccer Club - Eowyn Maynes, smithville, mo
Eowyn Maynes story was relayed to us by a mutual friend in Liberty, Mo., who asked us if there was an Experience that we could provide. After we spoke to her parents, Amanda and K.C., there was only one direction to go with her Experience: something SOCCER! To know the Maynes family is to know futbol, aka soccer.
We first reached out to Jeff Husted, a previous contact from the Kansas City T-Bones baseball club that now worked for FCKC of the National Women’s Soccer League. FCKC was amazing in their response, and worked quickly to secure a great experience for Eowyn and her family.
FCKC brought Eowyn to their practice facility and shared stories, drills and fun-time with her. Players rallied around Eowyn to make her laugh and smile, and even had Eowyn sign a soccer ball.
Eowyn then attended the FCKC game a few days later, and helped the officials and team captains by changing the pregame coin-flip to the pregame coin-throw! Then, at halftime, FCKC “retired” Eowyns own official jersey in a brief ceremony held at midfield.
