Tyler Horning/Collegian
Don Tocco hopes to donate another $25,000 in this year’s Sports Challenge, scheduled for April 23.
The last time Don Tocco came to Hillsdale College, he lost $25,000. Next month he plans on stopping by again, hoping to burn the same hole in his pocket.
On April 23, the Tocco Sports Challenge will be taking place in the Roche Sports Complex for the third year in a row. Tocco will challenge one representative from each Greek house to compete in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and tennis. To spice up the fun, representatives from both male and female music honoraries, Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota, have been added to the list of competitors.
The student who collects the most points from the first three events will go on to face Tocco in a tennis match for a final showdown. If the student wins, he or she will have earned $25,000 in endowments for their sponsoring Greek house. Tocco will donate $20,000, with former Sigma Chi Steve Vlahakis contributing $5,000. If Tocco wins, he pays $15,000 to the house of the second place representative.
Having discovered Hillsdale College through Imprimis , Tocco came to President Larry Arnn three years ago with the idea of the Tocco Sports Challenge. Calling himself a strong conservative, Tocco made it his business find out how he could contribute to Hillsdale and become a part of its mission.
“If an organization is out there that will go against the grain, I have to be involved in it,” Tocco said. “I want to be a part of it.”
A Detroit-area business man, Tocco is the head of Tocco & Associates, his own national marketing company, which he started when $7,500 in debt and with no business background. Using his own life as an example, Tocco became a motivational speaker to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals. He has since spoken at many major universities across the country.
Tocco says the “Challenge” isn't all about the money. He intends to convey the principles and message of his own mission to the student body. He wants to prepare athletes for life and to teach them how to work under pressure.
“Life is competition,” he said. “It is important that we have a competitive spirit and a will to win so that we can be the best that we can be.”
Tocco says the most important part of the day is the very beginning of the program: his “Get Fired Up” leadership presentation which includes the five essential principles for achievement that he himself has relied on for his own success.
Mark Meares and Dean Peterson, who usually coordinate the details of the competition, have handed the job over to the Student Activities Board (SAB) this year in hopes of getting more student involvement.
“We want to integrate more of the student body to attract more than just athletes,” said Emily Mahrle, director of the SAB. “The fact that he [Tocco] is turning his donation into this entertaining and inspiring event should be of interest to all students despite who wins or loses.”
Tocco and the SAB met over lunch this past week, and threw around some ideas for upcoming Tocco Challenges. Some ideas for non- athletic competitions included art contests, board games and musical entertainment.
Tocco has also offered the SAB an additional $2,000 to use for raffle prizes which will be open to everyone who attends. Prizes range from gift certificates for tanning and other local establishments to digital cameras and DVD players, as well as a final $500 cash prize.
Marhle said she encourages students to attend the SAB meetings, and she welcomes help and input in planning this event. Meetings are held biweekly, the next one being next Thursday at 6 p.m. in Dow Room D.