Sponsorship of the Maine Sled Hockey Program is an excellent way to receive the positive benefits of cause-related marketing with the single largest minority in New England…..people with disabilities. Last year our marketing and communications program delivered almost 400 thousand media impressions with a good number of them showing our primary sponsor’s marks or having their name mentioned in website, television, radio, and written media.

Please be aware that this is NOT simply a request for charitable giving. We are asking you to make a business decision. While most of your sponsorship will be tax-deductible to the extent that it does not provide a hard dollar value in return, such as for signage, etc; we are proposing an arrangement that will provide your company with an excellent, low-investment, high-impact opportunity to demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Program proposes to partner with Sponsors who will underwrite a portion of the 2006/2007 season expenses in cash or budget-relieving value-in-kind and will be very happy to offer the following cause-related marketing benefits to the Sponsor:

 Bronze Level - $250 ($230 tax-deductible if claimed as a charitable contribution) 

• Partner will be identified as a Supporting Sponsor of the Maine Sled Hockey Program on the “Our Partners” page of www.mainesledhockey.org.

Silver Level - $500 ($480 tax-deductible)…..all Bronze Level benefits plus: 

• The Program will give a Sled Hockey presentation to an audience of the Partner’s choice.

Gold Level - $1000 ($800 tax-deductible)….all Bronze and Silver Level benefits plus:  

• Partner’s Logo will be displayed on the Home Page of www.mainesledhockey.org.
• The Program will conduct an on-ice opportunity for the Partner and Guests.
• Rick Middleton will give a presentation and sign autographs in a personal appearance.

Platinum Level - $2500 ($2300 tax deductible)….all Bronze, Silver, and Gold Level benefits plus: 

• The Team will wear a Partner’s Logo Patch on competition uniforms.
• The Program will display a 6’ x 3’ banner of the Partner’s choice at all Events.

Making the Business Case...............

The market size of individuals in New England who are influenced by disability in their purchasing decisions is 4,640,886 individuals with an aggregate annual income of over $116 billion dollars. (2002 U.S. Census and Survey of Income and Program Participation)

People with disabilities in the United States have discretionary spending power of over $220 billion annually. (American Association of People with Disabilities)

83% of those influenced by disability and 78% with no connection to disability would be likely to switch brands to support the “disability cause.” 80% and 74% correspondingly indicated they would also switch retailers. (National Family Opinion, Inc.)

According to the 2000 U.S. Census there are approximately 2.3 million people with disabilities in New England. This is approximately one fifth of the population:

Return to Maine Sled Hockey Home Page

Maine Sled Hockey Program
255 Pine Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074
207-883-0420    207-885-5593 Fax
www.mainesledhockey.org
MaineSledHockey@maine.rr.com
Copyright © 2005, Maine Sled Hockey Program

Fast Facts: Sled hockey is one of the fastest growing disabled sports in the world with new sled hockey programs and sled hockey teams showing up everywhere. There are about 50 adult sled hockey teams and junior sled hockey teams in the USA. Sled hockey is played in several countries. Sweden claims to have originated sled hockey. The US Sled Hockey Team won the gold medal in the 2002 Paralympics. The Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League is the first organized adult sled hockey league in the USA. Sled hockey players are extremely committed to the sport of sled hockey and regularly teach sled hockey clinics and participate in sled hockey outreach events and sled hockey exhibitions. Anyone wishing to try sled hockey should have ample opportunities to play.