A shocking stat: Less than 4% of the federal budget for cancer research is dedicated to childhood cancer. After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14*.
Thirteen years before Ted Lasso, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, and Paul Rudd decided to do something about it.
In 2010, Riggle called his fellow Shawnee Mission West High friends (Rudd and Sudeikis) with an idea to host a celebrity poker tournament to raise money for Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Reaching for a $50,000 goal, they raised over $150,000.
What started as a humble poker game by a few pals turned into a big deal. One year after another, more KC hometown friends joined the cause, including Big Slick hosts Eric Stonestreet, David Koechner, and Heidi Gartner.
In 2023, Big Slick raised $3.5M for Children's Mercy, bringing the total raised to $21M since the event launched in 2010.
You can review more stories about the event with a quick Google search, but since our world is on the branded merch side of amazing causes like Big Slick, we thought we’d share a glimpse behind the scenes —and a brilliant merch lesson— on how a tiny impact like merch can have on a bold cause.
First, the people: Three Kansas City promo pros are on the Big Slick committee, commonsku’s VP of Supplier Partnerships, Dave Shultz, commonsku customer Mandi Rudd with Brand Energy Marketing, and Joan Koechner Charbonneau with Perfect Promotions.
And the merch? “A whopping $181,000 was raised this year due to branded merch,” said Dave Shultz. A limited edition t-shirt, a line of general merch on the Big Slick website, and the auction of a custom-designed guitar contributed 5% to the $3.5M. Our own industry all-star lineup donated the majority of the merch: Cap America, Spector & Co, SnugZ USA, Gemline, Pop Promos, SanMar, Towel Specialties, Brand O' Guitar Company, HPG Brands, and Charlie Hustle.
Branded merch contributed 5% to the cause, but how do we measure the impact?
What’s the impact on a community of over 5,000 people wearing Big Slick blue caps and shirts unified for one mission, in one stadium for a cause like Big Slick?
What’s the positive energy impact on the kids who see this sea of solidarity supporting their battle with cancer? What’s the effect on their parents and friends when they see supporters of their cause, identified by a common symbol (a simple t-shirt) that unites them all?
What’s the impact on our national attention to an underfunded cause when Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd, or Heidi Gartner talks about it sporting a symbol of that cause like a Big Slick cap? What’s the value per impression (not cost per impression, but value) of a Big Slick T?
What’s the impact on one hospital? Children's Mercy serves over 230,000 children during 585,521 patient visits every year from every county in Kansas and Missouri and from 50 states and 16 countries.
Yes, big celebrities bring big awareness to big causes, but what’s the annual, day-to-day impact when doctors, nurses, family members, community members, and supporters wear the symbol that shows the strength of a beautiful community gathered together, united in one mission?
In the mid-1970s, the 5-year survival rate for childhood cancers was 58%. “Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, 85% of children with cancer now survive five years or more.”*
And for over a decade, Big Slick has made a big dent in that survival rate.
So, next time you’re preparing for a merch project for any cause, remember what our friends at SanMar would say, “this is not a t-shirt.”
It’s a symbol: of belonging, joy, purpose, teamwork, spirit, fun, and mostly, hope.
Ps. You can still make an impact, donate to Big Slick here.
*Stats are from The American Cancer Society