Varsity Spirit President Bill Seely Named First-Ever Corporate Champion of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend
May 14 2024 - 7:45AM
Business Wire
Seely to rally business leaders, fundraise for
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit, a division of Varsity
Brands and a leader in cheerleading, dance team, and band apparel,
camps, competitions, and yearbooks, will serve as the first
Corporate Champion of St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented
by Juice Plus+®, the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital®.
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Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit,
a division of Varsity Brands and a leader in cheerleading, dance
team, and band apparel, camps, competitions, and yearbooks, will
serve as the first Corporate Champion of St. Jude Memphis Marathon®
Weekend presented by Juice Plus+®, the largest single-day
fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. (Photo:
Business Wire)
As Corporate Champion, Seely will engage business leaders to
become sponsors, start corporate fundraising teams and bring in new
donors to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: Finding
cures. Saving children.®
This year, St. Jude aims to raise $16 million during the
marathon weekend and anticipates the event will bring 22,000
runners and walkers to Memphis along with thousands of volunteers
and spectators.
Seely will play an essential role in achieving this year’s goal
by encouraging fellow business leaders to create corporate teams to
fundraise leading up to race weekend. In addition to raising funds
for St. Jude, marathon weekend contributes to the local economy and
generated an estimated $43 million in impact for Memphis’ retail,
transportation and hospitality industries in 2023.
“As Corporate Champion for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, I
am honored to lead the charge to raise funds and awareness for the
kids and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said
Seely. “Supporting St. Jude has always been my passion, and I'm
elated to expand our impact by uniting more business leaders behind
this mission."
Seely’s experience in profit and nonprofit sectors uniquely
positions him to advance this work while bringing the business
community together for a common purpose. In addition to his role at
Varsity Spirit, Seely is the founder of Crosscheck Athletics, one
of the largest nonprofit youth sports organizations in the greater
Memphis area. Seely has long supported St. Jude individually as a
St. Jude Hero and through Varsity Brands programs such as Team Up
for St. Jude and Spirited by Varsity. Varsity Brands has raised
more than $13 million for St. Jude since becoming a partner in
2011.
“We are deeply grateful to Bill for donating his time and
considerable expertise to rally business leaders across the country
behind St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend,” said Richard C. Shadyac
Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness
organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “This
expanded corporate support and Bill’s personal dedication will help
accelerate the ongoing work by St. Jude to increase global survival
rates for the six most common forms of childhood cancer from 20
percent to 60 percent by 2030. Together, we can make a difference
toward the goal that no child – anywhere - dies in the dawn of
life.”
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend brings in supporters from
around the globe to Memphis. Now in its 23rd year, the event has
raised over $140 million, and in 2023 alone, this inspiring weekend
engaged participants from all 50 states and representing more than
75 countries.
Support St. Jude and its hometown of Memphis by getting involved
as a runner, walker, or volunteer in this signature event.
Sign up for a Varsity Brands program here to help kids and
families of St. Jude.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the
world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other
life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures.
Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer
Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to
children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was
largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push
the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't
stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the
breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local
hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality
of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous
donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment,
travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child
live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories
of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission
by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following
St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to
its YouTube channel.
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Kurt Rossler 901.297.3512 Kurt.Rossler@alsac.stjude.org