Summary
Raffle tickets. Chocolate bars. Coupon books. Car washes. Poinsettias. If youve spent enough time around youth hockey, chances are youve been asked to sell at least one of them. But does fundraising still have to work that way?On this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Christie Casciano Burns sit down with Ryan and Justin from Hero Picks to explore how technology could reshape fundraising for hockey teams, charities, and communities.Hero Picks was created around a simple question: What if fundraising felt less like asking people for moneyand more like inviting them to be part of something?Ryan and Justin explain how their platform combines fundraising with prediction games, friendly competition, leaderboards, prizes, unique experiences, and social engagement. Instead of simply sending another donation link to the same friends and relatives, teams can potentially create an experience that gives supporters a reason to follow along, participate, and stay connected. In this episode, youll hear about:Why traditional youth sports fundraising can create donor fatigue How Hero Picks is trying to make fundraising more interactiveWhy community and connection may be just as important as the money raisedHow individual players and families can participate through personalized fundraising linksHow leaderboards, prizes, and unique experiences can motivate participationThe difference between sports betting and Hero Picks prediction-based fundraising modelHow supporters can potentially engage with a team even when they live across the countryWhy transparency matters when teams are collecting and distributing moneyHow technology and AI can reduce administrative work while keeping a human elementWays teams can raise money not only for themselves, but for charities and access-to-hockey initiativesWhy Ryan and Justin believe fundraising could become far more experiential in the years aheadThe conversation also goes beyond hockey. Ryan and Justin share how the same model is being explored with veterans, first responders, nonprofits, combat sports, and other charitable effortsand why they believe experiences people cant simply buy may become an increasingly powerful fundraising tool.And yes, the group also asks the most important question of all:Can we finally retire the poinsettia fundraiser? Listen now for a conversation about innovation, community, youth sports costs, and what fundraising could look like when the experience becomes part of the reason people participate. Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Prepare, Believe, Reset: Is There a Better Way to Fund Youth Hockey?If your hockey organization is looking for new fundraising ideas, this episode may give you a very different way to think about the possibilities.#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyFundraising #YouthSportsFundraising #HeroPicks #HockeyParents #YouthSports #HockeyCommunity #SportsTechnology #HockeyTeams #NonprofitFundraising #FundraisingIdeasClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Hockey IQ: Scanning the ice, recognizing pressure, anticipating what happens next, making the right decision faster. Research shows these perceptual and decision-making skills can actually be trained. With NHL Sense Arena, kids can get extra game-like reps at home, working on hockey IQ, reactions, real stick-handling for skaters, while goalies can train reads and tracking. Save $25 on an annual plan with code OKPH at http://hockey.sensearena.com/okphHave A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!Follow Us On Social Media:Facebook GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube