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CASTLETON -- With every call to a player who made the 2026 Vermont Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl team, head coach Ethan Curtis reminded them the reason this long-running gridiron classic against New Hampshire is held each summer.
"I told everyone, 'You and I are fortunate but there are people out there who are far less fortunate than us and that’s why we are able to play this game,'" Curtis said. "All these players realize and know that this game is bigger than all of us."
Vermont players have taken that message to heart — especially when it comes to fundraising efforts. The contingent from Vermont and New Hampshire — players, coaches and cheerleaders — have raised the most money in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl's 73-year history, at $72,000 and counting, according to general chairman Kristi Morris.
The Shrine game benefits three Shriners Hospitals for Children locations: Montreal, Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts. The Vermont-New Hampshire game has raised over $5 million in its seven-decade history for Shriners Hospitals, a century-old institution that has a large network of non-profit hospitals across North America to provide medical care for children and their families.
"For more than 70 years, the passion of our players, the leadership of the Shriners fraternity, and the generosity of our supporters have helped improve the lives of children," Shriners Children's Chief Philanthropy Officer Stuart P. Sullivan said in a statement provided to the Free Press on Wednesday, July 29. "This record-setting fundraising milestone will help ensure even more children receive life-changing orthopedic, burn, and cleft lip and palate care at Shriners Children’s in Springfield (Massachusetts), Boston, and Montreal."
After reviewing past fundraising totals at the Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday, July 28, Morris said the previous high was just short of $60,000. Shrine officials are hopeful they can reach $100,000 through continued donations, game-day ticket sales and other contributions.
This year's Shrine showdown is set for Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday, Aug. 1. Kickoff at Dave Wolk Stadium is 11:30 a.m. Vermont sees to extend its winning stream to four games, while New Hampshire owns a 50-19-2 all-time record over the Green Mountain State.
"We really hammered on the philanthropy part of it and the players have responded and it’s remarkable," Morris said. "A lot of people don’t like to think of it is as a fundraiser. A lot of people think of this as an all-star game, but it has much bigger meaning."
Morris said his organization has upped its fundraising strategies to increase contributions. They have made more directed efforts on social media, introduced gifts for hitting certain fundraising levels, earning commentative watches and game rings, and have continued to coordinate with Shriners Hospitals on sponsorship advertisements.
"My grandfather was a Shriner. For me, it’s special to be a part of something like this," said Curtis, sideline leader at Essex who played college football at Castleton. "The Shriners hospital wins. It’s special to be a part of that and to help as many people as possible."
Vermont lineman Colby Laggner of U-32 agrees.
"We are just grateful that we were able to raise money (for Shriners)," Laggner siad. "We are using football, which we all love, and we doing it for a good cause."
Contact Alex Abrami at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl sets fundraising record for Shriners Hospitals for Children
Continue reading...
"I told everyone, 'You and I are fortunate but there are people out there who are far less fortunate than us and that’s why we are able to play this game,'" Curtis said. "All these players realize and know that this game is bigger than all of us."
Vermont players have taken that message to heart — especially when it comes to fundraising efforts. The contingent from Vermont and New Hampshire — players, coaches and cheerleaders — have raised the most money in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl's 73-year history, at $72,000 and counting, according to general chairman Kristi Morris.
The Shrine game benefits three Shriners Hospitals for Children locations: Montreal, Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts. The Vermont-New Hampshire game has raised over $5 million in its seven-decade history for Shriners Hospitals, a century-old institution that has a large network of non-profit hospitals across North America to provide medical care for children and their families.
"For more than 70 years, the passion of our players, the leadership of the Shriners fraternity, and the generosity of our supporters have helped improve the lives of children," Shriners Children's Chief Philanthropy Officer Stuart P. Sullivan said in a statement provided to the Free Press on Wednesday, July 29. "This record-setting fundraising milestone will help ensure even more children receive life-changing orthopedic, burn, and cleft lip and palate care at Shriners Children’s in Springfield (Massachusetts), Boston, and Montreal."
After reviewing past fundraising totals at the Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday, July 28, Morris said the previous high was just short of $60,000. Shrine officials are hopeful they can reach $100,000 through continued donations, game-day ticket sales and other contributions.
This year's Shrine showdown is set for Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday, Aug. 1. Kickoff at Dave Wolk Stadium is 11:30 a.m. Vermont sees to extend its winning stream to four games, while New Hampshire owns a 50-19-2 all-time record over the Green Mountain State.
"We really hammered on the philanthropy part of it and the players have responded and it’s remarkable," Morris said. "A lot of people don’t like to think of it is as a fundraiser. A lot of people think of this as an all-star game, but it has much bigger meaning."
Morris said his organization has upped its fundraising strategies to increase contributions. They have made more directed efforts on social media, introduced gifts for hitting certain fundraising levels, earning commentative watches and game rings, and have continued to coordinate with Shriners Hospitals on sponsorship advertisements.
"My grandfather was a Shriner. For me, it’s special to be a part of something like this," said Curtis, sideline leader at Essex who played college football at Castleton. "The Shriners hospital wins. It’s special to be a part of that and to help as many people as possible."
Vermont lineman Colby Laggner of U-32 agrees.
"We are just grateful that we were able to raise money (for Shriners)," Laggner siad. "We are using football, which we all love, and we doing it for a good cause."
Contact Alex Abrami at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl sets fundraising record for Shriners Hospitals for Children
Continue reading...
