LEARFIELD and Team IMPACT to Highlight Young Team Members During Upcoming College Basketball Games

Syracuse, Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida, UConn and SMU to Host Upcoming Team IMPACT Days

PLANO, Texas (Feb. 9, 2022) – LEARFIELD and Team IMPACT will curate special experiences for Team IMPACT children and their families at six upcoming men’s and women’s college basketball games. Team IMPACT’s unique multiyear program matches children facing serious illness and disabilities with college athletic teams across the country. In September, Team IMPACT and LEARFIELD announced a relationship to ignite stronger, more purpose-based opportunities, combining their passion for college sports with helping to change the lives of others.

On Saturday, February 5, the Syracuse University men’s basketball team and their Team IMPACT teammate, eight-year-old Mason Campbell, hosted four additional local Team IMPACT children and their families at the Carrier Dome during the Orange’s game against Louisville. Born with spina bifida, Mason has been a member of the Orange for more than two years.

Similar experiences are scheduled to take place across the country in the coming weeks as LEARFIELD and Team IMPACT deepen connections between men’s and women’s college sports teams across the U.S., with children facing unthinkable medical circumstances. Additional upcoming Team IMPACT Days include:

  • 12 — Kansas men’s basketball, hosting Oklahoma
    • 16-year-old JP Bemberger, who battles sarcoma, was introduced to Team IMPACT by his hospital-based social worker. He has been matched with the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team for one year, developing meaningful and supportive relationships with everyone connected to the team. JP works diligently in physical therapy and was able to walk the Allen Fieldhouse court with his teammates cheering him on.
  • 15 — Oklahoma men’s basketball, hosting Texas
    • Jude Starkey, 12, is currently in remission from pediatric cancer. Matched with the Oklahoma men’s basketball team for the past two years, Jude was a part of wishing Coach Kruger a happy retirement and welcoming Coach Moser to Norman.
  • 19 — Florida men’s basketball, hosting Auburn
    • 16-year-old Elijah Perbanti is a two-time survivor of Leukemia. He has been matched with the Gators for two years and has truly developed an incredibly supportive relationship. Eli and his family stood by the team and served as a source of inspiration during Gator forward Keyontae Johnson’s medical emergency.
  • 25 — UConn women’s basketball, hosting St. John’s
    • Daniela Ciriello is a nine-year-old living with Cooley’s Anemia, requiring blood transfusions every four weeks. Daniela has been matched with the UConn women’s basketball team for more than two years, bringing joy to the team with her infectious personality and TikTok challenges.
  • March 6 — SMU men’s basketball, hosting Tulane
    • Beckett Burge is a six-year-old who fought hard to beat childhood cancer. He has been matched with the SMU men’s basketball team for four months. Beckett is energetic and has enjoyed shooting hoops with the team. The Mustangs recently sent video messages for Beckett to watch after his port was removed, a special day for all involved.

“At Team IMPACT, our vision is to create a world where every child facing serious illnesses and disabilities feels supported by something bigger and every team is transformed by a greater purpose,” said Team IMPACT CEO, Seth Rosenzweig. “We’re thankful for our partners at LEARFIELD and each of these schools for coming together to build more meaningful experiences for our families and student-athletes, creating memories and bonds that will last a lifetime.”

“Working with Team IMPACT and JP has been awesome,” said Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas men’s basketball. “JP inspires our team and a couple guys have really formed a strong bond with JP.  We love supporting JP and value our partnership with Team IMPACT.”

“Mason being matched with Syracuse men’s basketball through Team IMPACT has been such an amazing experience for Mason,” said Jesse Campbell, Mason’s mother. “The relationships that Mason has made with several of the players and coaches has been so heartwarming, and it’s been incredible to see his confidence grow these past few years. It’s been so nice for him to be part of this team and always feel welcome — we are forever grateful.”

About LEARFIELD
LEARFIELD is a leading media and technology services company in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics; ticketing, ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT’s unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disabilities onto college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win – effectively building confidence and independence. Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 60,000 student-athletes. If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit www.teamimpact.org.

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Media Contacts
LEARFIELD: Jennifer Duncan, [email protected]
Team IMPACT: Katie DePaolo, [email protected]