Virtual Racker Rivals Big Red 2020
Racker Rivals Big Red 2020 – The Virtual Face Off
Racker Rivals Big Red is a exhibition style celebrity hockey event that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Racker’s Early Childhood Programs in Cortland, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties!
Racker Rivals Big Red went VIRTUAL for our 2020 game, raising $157,200 for people with disabilities in our community. This spirited exhibition hockey game pairs NHL stars, Cornell Hockey alumni and local celebrities in support of programs for children with disabilities in our community, and in 2020 it took place entirely online.
2020 marked 6 years of Racker Rivals Big Red. This year, the game was four weeks of spirited campaigning between Team Racker, coached by Greg Hartz, President and CEO of Tompkins Trust Company, and Team Cornell, coached by Cornell Big Red men’s hockey coach Mike Schafer. Pledging began June 15, 2020, with players battling for their team to take the top spot. A digital scoreboard kept track of each team on their quest for the trophy.
In 2019 alone, more than 600 donors pledged their favorite player, over 50 businesses sponsored the event and the players, more than 40 hockey athletes played in the game including stars from the NHL/AHL, Cornell Men’s Hockey coaches/alumni, and local celebs. We had dozens of volunteers to help the event run smoothly and there were thousands of fans in attendance to cheer on their favorite teams!
This hockey game has become one of the area’s most popular charity events, drawing countless people to Lynah Rink at Cornell University for a great time and to raise money to support critical programs for people with disabilities in our community.
Find out more information about how you can be a part of Racker Rivals Big Red in the future by calling 800.336.1660 (607.272.5891) or emailing info@racker.org.
For sponsorship inquires or to request a sponsorship brochure, please contact Bob Brazill, Director of Community Relations & Development at Racker, by calling 607.272.5891 ext. 224 or by email at BobB@racker.org.
Thank you Ned Dykes of the Cornell Hockey Association (www.cornellhockeyassociation.com) and Diane Duthie (www.dianeduthiedesigns.com) for donating time and expertise to capture amazing images year after year!