FORT SILL, Okla. (Dec. 17, 2015) -- Fort Sill thanked 78 local community sponsors for their generosity during its annual Sponsorship Appreciation Ceremony Dec. 8, at the Patriot Club.
Their cash donations and in-kind gifts were valued at almost $300,000, said Logan Ralston, Fort Sill Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's Commercial Sponsorship and Advertising coordinator.
"It's great to see sponsors doing this because all the donations go toward events for the community, Soldiers and their families," he said. "Sponsorship builds a connection between Fort Sill and Lawton, because we have a lot of Soldiers who live off post."
Sponsored events ranged from unit 5k runs to FMWR events to the Fires Seminar to the Army 10-miler team to the St. Barbara Ball to award ceremonies.
Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, thanked the sponsors.
Sponsor donations help reduce the Army's cost of events, which results in greater participation, especially for junior Soldiers and their families, the general said.
Lawton-Fort Sill is one community, and sponsorships strengthen the community relationship, Rossi said. Community events help Lawton learn about Fort Sill, and help Soldiers learn about Lawton.
"None of the sponsors do this for recognition, they do this because they feel it is the right thing to do and they want to contribute," said Rossi, during another sponsor event, the Toys for Kids program opening Dec. 14.
During the sponsorship ceremony, Rossi; Col. Glenn Waters, Fort Sill Garrison commander; Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Puckett and Brenda Spencer-Ragland, Fort Sill FMWR director, presented a certificate of appreciation to each sponsor organization. Sponsors were recognized at the bronze, silver, gold, platinum and patriot levels.
Pam & Barry's Team RE/MAX Professionals was one the sponsors recognized. Why do they sponsor?
"Because without Fort Sill, without people serving this country, we wouldn't be here," said Pam Marion, broker associate. "Really, that's why we do it."
Corvias Military Living was another sponsor honored. Some of the events Corvias sponsored included the month of the military child, Easter Eggstravaganza, military spouse appreciation night, 75th Fires Brigade run, Devil Dog run, summer concerts, Army 10-miler team, Family of the Year, Fallen Soldier memorial run; and the holiday tree lighting activities -- which it has done for several years, said Amber McNeil, Corvias business director.
"One of things we accomplish through our sponsorship is that we are able to touch more Fort Sill Soldiers and families and to improve their quality of life," McNeil said.
Corvias appreciates its partnership with the post and FMWR and looks forward to attending and providing for community events, whether it is volunteers or monetary contributions, she said.
As part of the festivities, Ralston displayed a symbolic, oversized check for $295,829 -- the amount donated by sponsors.
Across the Army, Fort Sill ranks near the top in sponsorships, said Brenda Spencer-Ragland, Fort Sill FMWR director.
"That shows the incredible relationship we have with our local supporters."
In addition to the nearly $300,000 local sponsorship donations, the Enrique Iglesias concert national sponsorship during summer was valued at $500,000, Spencer-Ragland said.
FMWR is planning two free concerts for the community in 2016. "The only way I can provide free concerts is through sponsorship," she said.
She explained concerts that are free to attendees still incur major costs to the Army for lodging, transportation, equipment, food and other logistical costs. "The sponsorship allows us to cover those services, which means we can cover the event."
In his conclusion, Rossi said he was looking forward to building the relationships with the sponsors during the new year.
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