The Ohio State-Michigan football game has always been a big deal, regardless of the teams’ records, especially out border town, where divided loyalties run deep.
For one night, Ohio State and Michigan fans put aside those differences—sort of—and become fans of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo during the annual Border Battle Bash presented by Columbia Gas of Ohio and Hall of Framers, the custom framing store located at the Shops at Fallen Timbers. The Bash will take place from 6-11pm on Friday, November 14.
Because of the popularity of the event, the fundraiser has been moved to the SeaGate Centre in downtown Toledo, where organizers are hoping to top the 700 attendees who filled the Parkway Place last year.
“We have a lot of people rooting for Ohio State and a lot of people rooting for Michigan, but we like to say on this night they all root for the Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Billy Mann, the organization’s development coordinator, who has seen the event double in size over the past six years. "We've gone from the Pinnacle, to Parkway Place to now the SeaGate. The cheering has all been good natured fun,” he said.
The main mission
Since 1993, the event has raised $70,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs. It started as a small company cookout, where employees pooled together roughly $300 for the organization. This still surprises one of its founders, Rob Shick, managing partner at Meyer Hill Lynch, who Shick said he remembers being a little
“embarrassed” when he offered the Boys & Girls Clubs the sum raised from the first Border Battle Bash. Now the event is one of the organization’s major fundraisers, providing important help to its bottom line.
“It’s amazing that it started out as a company party,” Shick said. “We all feel strongly about the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs. It’s a a lot of work and a lot of fun.”
Attendees this year will enjoy special appearances by former Ohio State player Maurice Clarett and Michigan star Marlin Jackson, which will include a question-and-answer session and VIP reception.
Clarett has worked to turn his life around, speaking out about his depression and his past problems to youth around the country. Jackson was an All-American at Michigan and played for the Indianapolis Colts when they won the Super Bowl against the Chicago Bears in 2007.
“I think it's pretty cool to have both of them there,” said Chris Kozak of Columbia Gas. “You have Clarett, who has this great story of turning himself around after finding trouble, and Jackson, who played in the Super Bowl and was on some great Michigan teams. They offer something for everyone.”
Meeting challenges
Shick said the silent auction will feature around 150 items, from sports memorabilia to things as diverse as spa packages, wine bundles, Christmas decorations and a fishing trip on Lake Erie.
“We used to have mostly sports items,” Shick said, as organizers decided to broaden the auction as the bash's audience grew. “Now we have everything in between. One person walked up to me last year and said he got all of his Christmas shopping done here. I thought, 'Hey, that's a great idea.’”
Along with the fun of the event, Shick said he hopes the audience gets to learn about the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs and whatt makes the event worthwhile. “We want to make if fun so they will come back next year,” Shick said. “But we hope the message seeps in about the organization and the incredible work they do every day, helping create productive citizens in a tough area of town and help with the constant challenges they face. That’s what it's all about.”
Tickets for the Border Battle Bash are $50 for individuals, $500 for an eight-seat table. More information can be found at borderbattlebash.com. Along with Columbia Gas and Hall of Framers, other sponsors include The Andersons, Ed Schmidt Automotive, Meijers, Meyer Hill Lynch and Owens Corning.
