Blue Sky Coffee Shop Fundraiser | Photo Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University’s Club Cheerleading partnered with a local coffee shop, Blue Sky Coffee, to have a fundraiser and raise money for their club on Sep. 17.
Club cheerleading
There are many different club sports on the WSU campus, including a club football team and club cheerleaders who cheer for them. In addition to cheering for games, the team performs for other events around campus, such as Raiderthon.
Jake Wells, the club sports program director, oversees the club while delegating leadership positions to members of the club. They have been established for years, usually having between 10-20 members each year.
“In terms of when they started, they have been around since 2011,” Wells said.
The cheer team will be traveling to Chicago with the football team this Fall for their first away game, and the fundraiser was to raise money to cover their expenses for the trip, including transportation, rooming, and overall travel.
Blue Sky Coffee spotlight
Blue Sky Coffee is a coffee shop located just outside of campus but is still a part of the college. They opened in April and have been growing ever since. Customers mostly consisted of faculty at the opening, but they have been branching out now that school is back in session.
Megan Daisy, a barista at the shop, gave some specific details about how the coffee shop operates.
“We are about more than just coffee. It is a very open environment for customers and the staff, we have a say in what drinks we serve and the decor,” Daisy said.
When you walk inside the coffee shop, you can immediately see that it is different from regular coffee shops. The walls are all made either of blackboard or whiteboard material so customers can draw and leave messages on the walls.
In addition to this, they have a bookshelf that customers can help themselves to, and a “Creation Cabinet” full of art supplies, puzzles, games and more. This way, customers are entertained while they drink their coffee.
“Getting coffee here is more of an experience than you’ll get at other shops. We like to make personal connections with customers,” Daisy said.
Fundraisers
It is not uncommon for small businesses in the area to partner with WSU clubs to raise money. This is the first official fundraiser that Blue Sky Coffee has put on, but they will have others in the future.
Matthew Stevenson, the owner of the coffee shop, gave some information on how interested clubs can get in contact with them for a potential fundraiser.
“Groups can set up fundraising events with us by reaching out on socials or email @info.blueskycoffeedyt.com,” said Stevenson.
In addition to fundraisers, they also are interested in showing up at events. The first one they attended was the Fairborn art festival, Village Artisans 40th Annual Art on the Lawn on Aug. 10.
The Fairborn Art Association puts on the event every year with artists, live music, and food vendors, giving Blue Sky Coffee the opportunity to grow their business.
If you are in a club sport, or a club in general, at WSU be sure to check out businesses around campus to see if there are any fundraising opportunities for you.
