McClurg, who is entering his first season as the team’s head coach, and Sandvig, a managing member at Viking Financial, got together this year and ironed out the details on a unique fundraising effort that both hope will soon lead to drastic improvements within the program.
By way of Viking Financial’s Charitable Gifting through Merchant Services (CGMS) program, businesses that sign up will donate to the Pirates every time they process a transaction using a credit card. Through the program, Viking will match each transaction’s processing rates – typically 50% of the net fees – and redirect those funds to an account controlled by the Santa Ynez football booster club.
Ten local businesses have signed on since the program was brought to Santa Ynez in January, but Sandvig and McClurg say they are hoping many more will follow.
“We think if we can get this in front of a bunch more businesses, we can take that 10 and get it up to 50 or 100 really quick,” Sandvig said. “One hundred businesses on the program could push off $15,000 to $20,000 a month. That’s ultimately what we’d like.”
After Viking came up with the program, Sandvig, a 1992 SYVUHS alumnus who played linebacker and center, said it was only natural for him to try to bring it to Santa Ynez.
The Pirates, however, won’t be the only team looking to take advantage of the passive charitable donations. Sandvig said that several schools have signed on for the program, from San Luis Obispo down to San Diego.
Viking’s initial idea for the program, according to Sandvig, was to separate itself from the competition, “but at the same time, we figured it’s a great way to be philanthropic at the same time as running a business.”
“The match has been good for us,” he added. “We like dealing with high schools, and I love dealing with football coaches. It’s just been a great environment to be around.”
McClurg said he was on board as soon as he heard about the program. His father’s business, Brent & Jeff’s Flooring in Santa Ynez, is among the companies that have already signed on, and he said the support from all of the businesses has been appreciated.
“I think in the Valley that people are so ready to help support any of the sports because I think half the people or business owners, they either went to Santa Ynez or their kids played here,” he said. “They know how hard we work to keep the programs afloat, so I think people are always looking to help. And when you know that your donation is not coming off your bottom line, it’s kind of a no-brainer – and I think as soon as business owners have this put in front of them, they’re able to look at it subjectively and go, ‘Wow, this makes a lot of sense. Let’s do it.’”
The Pirates have some of the early donations earmarked for new shoulder pads and helmets. Beyond this season, though, McClurg said he already has several long-term plans for the funds.
“We’re not just looking for new helmets every year,” he said. “I want a new weight room that’s twice the size (of the current one) that can accommodate two teams at the same time. It would be great to have a field house under the bleachers where we could meet before and after practice. There’s a lot of things that we’d like to do to really take this program to the next level and not have to scramble every year to raise $50-70,000. We want to have coffers and start thinking long-term. We’re trying to establish a program.”
Sandvig expressed a similar sentiment.
“We’d like to come down here in 5-10 years and see the fruits of our labor as a company, and some of the community’s fruits that they’ve generated,” he said.
For more information on the program, visit www.vikingcares.com/sypirates.