North Carolina State University Athletics
Sign Up Now To Be WITH Partner Volunteer
4/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State's award-winning WITH Partners program, a sportsmanship initiative designed to improve fan tailgating experiences prior to home football games, continued to grow in 2009, its third season.
And the drive to recruit more volunteers for the 2010 season has already begun, according to program coordinator Morgan Rogers.
Volunteers commit to attending a one-hour training session the day before the game they choose and to arriving three hours before kickoff. In return, each volunteer receives a free ticket and parking pass to that game, a community service certificate and a WITH T-shirt.
Last season, 320 volunteers participated in the program, offering assistance to NC State fans in the tailgating areas around Carter-Finley Stadium during the Wolfpack's eight home games and providing help for visiting fans who might be unfamiliar with the game-day experience at the stadium.
Volunteers patrol the parking lots around the area, answering questions and promoting good sportsmanship.
In addition, WITH volunteers collected 1,018 designated driver pledges, which is a signed document from one member of a tailgating group who promises to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages before and during that particular game. Those who sign receive a bottle of Coca-Cola or water, a drink coozie and a WITH sticker.
Volunteers are encouraged to participate a single game or multiple games. All volunteers must be 18 years old, unless accompanied by a parent.
"I have really enjoyed my WITH experience," said Julie Beck, a volunteer in 2009. "As an alum, it's one way I can give back to my alma mater and be there to support the football team."
For more information about the program, visit the WITH partners homepage at www.gopack.com/withpartners.
The program has grown since it was initiated for the 2007 season, when there were 242 volunteers and 670 designated driver pledges. In 2008, there were 270 volunteers and 760 designated driver pledges.
Sign-up for the 2010 season has begun. For more information, contact Rogers at morgan_rogers@ncsu.edu.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
