The Sport Management Club from the Falk College of Sport at Syracuse University raised $76,540 for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital as a result of its 21st Annual Charity Sports Auction. The ceremonial check was presented to Golisano officials Jan. 13 before the Syracuse University men’s basketball game at the JMA Wireless Dome.
During the Syracuse men’s basketball game Nov. 18, supporters purchased items and placed bids on sports memorabilia, electronics, jewelry, gift baskets, experiences, and trips, among other items. In addition to the in-person event, an online auction ran through Nov. 23, allowing supporters to bid on hundreds of items.
Apex Entertainment served as Title Sponsor for the 2025 auction.
Proceeds from this year’s Charity Sports Auction benefited the Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center (UPAC) at the Nappi Wellness Institute. UPAC is a full-service pediatric and adolescent primary care clinic that provides well-childcare, adolescent medicine, foster-care support through its ENHANCE program, behavioral health integration, immunizations, and other family-centered services to children, adolescents, and young adults.
“At Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center, we take care of 11,000 patients from 25,000 visits every year,” said UPAC Director Dr. Steven Blatt. “These are children and families like every other family in the community, but often with economic or logistical challenges in their life. We at UPAC have done many things to help them, but the money the students have raised will help with the extras."
The auction donation will create a Sport Management Club of Syracuse University Endowment in honor of Blatt and is being highlighted by recognition at the playground at Upstate Children’s Pavilion, and naming in the UPAC elevator lobby on the fourth floor of the Nappi Wellness Institute.
From left to right, The Upstate Foundation Development Director Cassandra Rucker, Falk College student organizer James Stickel, The Upstate Foundation Assistant Vice President of Development Dave Bartell, and Sport Management Club faculty advisor Jeremy Losak.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Falk College Sport Management Club for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital,” said Dave Bartell, assistant vice president of development for The Upstate Foundation. “Through their leadership, dedication, and passion for service, these students are making a meaningful difference for the children and families served by the Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center, and we are honored to partner with them in this important work.”
The Sport Management Club is a student-run organization in the Falk College of Sport. Since its founding in 2004, the club has raised more than $849,000 for local charities. Previous beneficiaries of the club’s annual charity auction include Boys & Girls Clubs, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY, the Central New York SPCA, Upstate Cancer Center, Special Olympics New York, Food Bank of CNY, the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission Alliance, American Diabetes Association, Make A Wish CNY, Meals on Wheels, the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center, Vera House, and Tillie’s Touch.
Over the years, the club has contributed more than $125,000 to The Upstate Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. Notable gifts include $20,000 to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in 2009–2010, and $30,444 to the Upstate Cancer Center in 2011–2012.
“Students from the Sport Management Club, for the past 20 years, have done what I think is one of the most important activities you will do, not only in college but in your life, and that’s making efforts to help people in your community,” Blatt said.
The Sport Management Club meets weekly during the academic year. For more information about the annual Charity Auction, visit X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or the Charity Sports Auction website. To promote the auction, student organizer James Stickel appeared on WSYR’s Bridge Street program.