FEATURE STORIES

July 26, 2006

Corporate Sponsors Support Chiefs’ Camp

By Sara Dehn
UW-RF Public Affairs

The Kansas City Chiefs Summer Training Camp is made possible each year by many hundreds of people. However, some go rather unnoticed, such as corporate sponsors, who provide much needed goods and services, and back the camp financially.

The Ramer Sports Complex of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been host for the Chiefs since 1991, and is going to be participating for the 16th time this summer. The Chiefs keep coming back not only because of the volunteers and staff’s great hospitality, but because River Falls is an enjoyable community that gets so involved.

Corporate sponsors are part of that community image which makes the Chiefs feel so at home.

First National Bank of River Falls/Prescott is a proud sponsor of the summer training camp, and has been since the Chiefs first came to River Falls. Sue Langer, marketing vice president, said the bank is a sponsor because, “it helps bring people to River Falls, and hopefully encourages students (from around the country) to come to UW-RF for an education.” You can usually see First National Bank employees at the camp, soaking in all that the Chiefs and the atmosphere have to offer.

Some of the services provided by the businesses in, and around River Falls include phone services, transportation around town, ice for practices, refreshments for coaches’ meetings, and cash donations, among others.

Jeffrey Schwab of Midwest Wireless in River Falls said that the Chiefs, “bring a lot of ties into Wisconsin.” The Wisconsin marketing manager said his company is involved in the summer training camp because of the abundance of support it brings for the community. Midwest Wireless has been a camp sponsor for six years. They provide wireless phones for the coaching staff and owners, and this year, will be providing high-speed wireless internet at the field. “We enjoy it and have a great time when they’re (Chiefs) up here,” Schwab stated.

Bob Moody Jr., agrees, “You meet lots of great people.” His business, Moody’s Chevrolet, has also been a camp sponsor since the camp began in 1991. With the large quantity of people that come each year to visit the training camp comes a large quantity of business for local businesses.

 “Everyone has a good time,” said Moody, whose company provides vans and other transportation for trainers and coaches. Like many other sponsors, they support the camp because the camp supports the community.

2006 Kansas City Chiefs Camp Sponsors:

• City of River Falls
• Viking Coca Cola of River Falls
• MasterCard – MBNA
• Fed Ex Ground
• Fed Ex Home Delivery
• SSG Holiday – North/South
• Midwest Wireless
• First National Bank of River Falls – Prescott
• Lee Lines – Division of Laidlaw
• Lehmann & Larson Distributor
• Econo Foods
• Moody’s Chevrolet – Buick/Pontiac/Oldsmobile
• North & Southtown Cleaners & Launderers
• Baldwin Telecom, Inc.
• Bo’s N’ Mine
• Culligan
• Indianhead Sport Parachute Club
• Red Wing Ice
• River Falls Journal
• Rolf Halverson Fireworks