While many colleges nationwide are slashing campus budgets, curtailing travel and issuing pink slips, the University of Wisconsin table tennis team is doing a terrific job raising some dough. When the Badgers Table Tennis Team tries to rake in big bucks at their Big Ten Conference school, they often turn to pizza sales. It's convenient - right in the heart of the Madison campus - and who can resist great pizza! Mister, will that pie come with extra cheese? How about a few extra toppings of Canadian Bacon or try our new veggie pizza?
 
While the buzz on campus every fall is the University of Wisconsin Badgers football team with hoops and women's hockey in the limelight later; pizza to-go is quietly building a fan base among table tennis lovers. "We have done pizza sales through Gumby's Pizza and lately Papa John's,'' says Wisconsin table tennis team member Richard Qian. While just about every student is strapped for cash these days, the fundraising idea is working at Wisconsin. "We usually have five pizza sales a semester and bring in on average $100 per sale,'' he says.

Compared to other costs on the Wisconsin campus, pizza is a fantastic deal. For instance, it costs $39 for a single general admission ticket to see Wisconsin play football against tiny Wofford College of Spartanburg, South Carolina on Sept. 19 in Madison. And most fans can already predict the outcome of that gridiron contest! A slice of pizza is much cheaper and it's for a good cause.

Pizza sales in Badger Country are a tradition that pays for the table tennis team's transportation, tournament fees and equipment. Usually team supporters and board members help with pizza sales by taking one or two hour shifts. "Not only is it an opportunity for us to fundraise, it's also a great opportunity for us to get our name out there,'' says Qian, a Wisconsin senior and a table tennis team leader. "We have recruited a few members this way.'' Qian, who also serves on the NCTTA Media Relations Committee, is not just about selling pizza and playing table tennis around the clock. He finds time to hit the books, and hopes to one day take his smarts to Wall Street, New York City's financial hub. 

While fundraising is working well at Wisconsin, friend-building is the name of the game at Mississippi College. When Mississippi College hosts its Dixie Division NCTTA tournament Oct. 31 at the Baptist Healthplex on campus in Clinton, Mississippi, a number of area restaurants will show their support of the MC table tennis team and visiting players.
 
At the 2008-2009 Dixie Division tournaments at Mississippi College, visiting players got handed free coupons from such restaurants as Chick-fil-A or received offers from Bops for a free scoop of ice cream. Last year, Little Caesar’s in Clinton treated the MC team, with players from China, Venezuela, and the USA, to three large pizzas for their lunch break. For the upcoming October Dixie Division tournament, Clinton's Subway will show its love for the MC team by giving them free box lunches. Building relationships with area businesses, and ensuring that loyal college alums and school leaders attend tournaments is a winning formula at Mississippi College with its nearly 4,900 students. It's also happening at other schools in NCTTA circles.
 
About 90 miles south of the MC campus, the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg is the host site for the Mississippi Open table tennis tournament on Sept. 26. The event should build support for the Olympic sport in the Alabama-Florida-Louisiana-Mississippi area. It could even raise a few dollars before it's over. Dixie Division Director Herb Bennett is the mastermind behind this fall's Mississippi Open. Bennett, who also works closely with the USM team, is hoping for a big turnout of players at the fabulous Payne Center. The tournament surely won't outdraw the crowds at USM Golden Eagles football games or be splashed on the front page of "The Hattiesburg American.'' But it's one good way for table tennis to get more exposure in the South where football is king.
 
Got some great table tennis fundraising plans that are working for your club? Let us know about them, and we will try to include a few in future NCTTA Newsletters. Email Andy Kanengiser, at publicrelations@nctta.org