Eastern Michigan University’s Adaptive Sports Club will be partnering with local restaurants to raise money to purchase adaptive equipment on Feb. 21 and March 1.
The Adaptive Sports Club will be partnering the first fundraiser with Buffalo Wild Wings on Feb. 21 at the Ford Road location in Canton. Buffalo Wild Wings will be donating 20% of all bills from their patrons who present a valid fundraiser ticket.
However, those wishing to participate in the fundraiser should be aware that web orders and third-party delivery orders are excluded from this event. Fundraiser tickets will be valid during the respective restaurant’s business hours on Feb. 21.
The second fundraiser will be at Chipotle on March 1, to help raise funds for the clubs equipment. The fundraiser will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Washtenaw Avenue location in Ann Arbor. For this event, 33% of every sale will be donated to the club with a valid fundraiser ticket.
In addition to raising funds for dine-in patrons, Chipotle will be accepting online orders for this event with a special checkout code found in the fundraiser flyer.
Heather Silander is the faculty advisor of the Adaptive Sports Club and helped found the club with five other board members in April 2021. They had their first Adaptive Tennis Event in August that same year, in which they had the help of the United States Tennis Association and the University of Michigan to provide equipment and sources needed for the event.
“These fundraisers are going to help us raise money to purchase our own adaptive sports chairs,” Silander said. “Because we can’t always rely on other organizations to bring their equipment."
The club aims to become more independent and to grow itself within Eastern Michigan University and the Ypsilanti community. However, inadequate equipment for all club members has prevented them from running efficiently.
“We’re not a non-profit, we don't have the 501 (C)(3) standing, so that is in my mind a limitation for grants when looking at them and when you’re trying to apply for some,” Silander said.
This will be the first Dine & Donate event hosted by the club, but there will be more events coming up towards the end of May. The EMU’s Therapeutic Recreation Department and Adaptive Sports Club will also be hosting the EMU-Clemson Paralympic Soccer Veteran Camp from May 20 to 22.
For additional information on these Dine & Donate events, or any upcoming Adaptive Sports Club events, contact hsilande@emich.edu.
