Committees and Leadership Opportunities:

Our mission is to empower, inspire, and make a positive difference in the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses by creating opportunities to build successful life skills through athletics.

The Duke-Carolina Student Basketball Marathon leadership positions all require a substantial weekly time commitment. However, these positions prove to be the most rewarding way to become involved with the basketball marathon.

Additionally, the Student Basketball Marathon creates the opportunity for students to become student leaders. The Student Basketball Marathon leadership structure is designed like that of any other business.

By volunteering to work with the Marathon, students are able to apply classroom concepts to the real world by exploring an area of interest (i.e. marketing, public relations, accounting, and so forth). This opportunity provides valuable work experience while helping a wonderful cause.

Coach Zeillmann helps Andreas Belton with his dribbling. Photo Courtesy of People Magazine.

You will find below a brief listing of Student Basketball Marathon positions and committees. Those positions which indicate “co-chair” seek to identify one student from Duke and one from Carolina. Students (undergraduate and graduate) from both Duke and Carolina may apply for any position.

To find out more about leadership positions, please download the Committee Descriptions here.
To apply, please download one of the applications below.

Application for: Director positions.

Application for: Chair positions.

Application for: Committee member positions.

:: Co-Directors

The directors’ as the overall Basketball Marathon coordinators and serve as president of the Basketball Marathon student organization at their respective school. Likewise, they are responsible for operations at their respective school as well as coordination with their partner University. Furthermore, each director chairs the executive committee at their respective school. This executive leadership committee serves as the primary management team for the organization of all marathon activities and events. Additionally, the directors are ex-officio members of the Board of Directors for Basketball Marathon, Inc. (501c3).

:: Senior Advisor

The Senior Advisor position is an optional position, and the senior advisor can also serve as a committee chair or committee member if he or she wishes and has sufficient time and ability to do so. The senior advisor is an upperclassmen who is experienced in working with the basketball marathon. In addition to previous co-directors, the senior advisor is a resource for the co-directors when questions arise about how to handle various issues that may arise, based on the advisor’s knowledge of how things have run in the past. The senior advisor should not have to share in the burden co-directors’ duties and decisions. However, in addition to acting as a resource, the senior advisor can help to maintain smooth, open, and constant communications both between chairs at the same university, as well as between each chair and his or her counterpart at the other university.

:: Webmaster

There will only be one Webmaster between the two schools. He or she should have an understudy if planning to graduate or retire, and may serve on one of the below committees if he or she so desires. The Webmaster is in charge of updating and managing the Basketball Marathon website throughout the year:

• Keep website up to date with pertinent information

• Show sponsors on website

• Update press release information on a weekly basis

:: Operations

The Operations committee (which may have two co-chairs to head the committee instead of one) will work to make sure that the marathon itself runs smoothly. They have to make sure that the venue for the Marathon has the necessary equipment and they are responsible for managing all the volunteers and security. This includes working with university officials to book facilities, reserve equipment, and so forth.

• Event Logistics: This subcommittee is responsible for all the logistical details of the marathon such as housekeeping, and facilities. Obtain necessary equipment for the Marathon (chairs, bleachers, signs, scoreboard, etc.)
• Create floor plan of gym layout

• Equipment Procurement: This group is responsible for procuring all equipment needed at the event including the jumbo screen, scorecards, water coolers and so forth.

• Security Recruitment and Volunteer Training: They are responsible for recruiting and training all and security personnel. While they are NOT responsible for recruiting volunteers, they should work with the recruitment committee in training volunteers. This includes deciding upon tasks to assign volunteers so they will not be idle on the day of the event, and the delegation of said tasks on the day of the event.

• Supply Logistics: Responsible for organizing the player bags which include a shirt, marathon number (bib)/pins, and other promotional goodies. This group is also responsible for the organized distribution of the bags during the marathon.

:: Entertainment

The Entertainment committee is in charge of finding performers throughout the entire marathon as well as recruiting a headline band. These events will help boost the moral of the players in order to keep their spirits and energy high. Additionally, the entertainment committee will design and implement all event decorations as well as create additional activities for participants throughout the marathon.

• Performance Coordinator: Will recruit bands, dance groups and other entertainment for the entirety of the marathon. Additionally, this group is responsible for creating special entertainment competitions within the Marathon which could include a Tobacco Road Idol singing contest, Battle of the Bands, a cappela competition, and/or dance off. Finally, the committee will recruit a headline band to get the marathon started.

• Decorations/Timeline: Responsible for creating an official schedule for the Basketball Marathon as well as coordinating all decorations. This committee will work closely with other overall committees to create the schedule. Additionally, corporation banners will be coordinated with the Corporate Fundraising committee.

• Activities Coordinator: This group is responsible for creating games, competitions, and other ways to keep the participants entertained for the entire marathon. Ideas might include a NCAA video game tournament on the big screen, knock out competition and so forth. This group will also be responsible for procuring prizes for winners.

:: Hospitality

Hospitality committee is responsible for keeping Basketball Marathon fun and exciting. This group will recruit cheerleaders/groupies which will serve as moralers throughout Basketball Marathon. Additionally, they will be in charge of soliciting food and product donations. The committee will also create socials for the leadership team to help everyone have fun and meet one another. This committee is responsible for organizing the beginning of the year leadership retreat. Finally, an important and key job of this committee will be to create a short documentary of H^3 that spotlights each child; this will be shown at the marathon.

• Food and Product Donations: Will solicit and manage all food and beverage donations for Basketball Marathon and subsequent events during the year approved by the Directors.
  • Plan out how much food is needed and menu for meals
  • Compose letter to send to vendors asking for donations
  • Solicit local restaurants and grocery stores for donations
  • Compose letter of thanks to contributors
  • Solicit local businesses for gift certificates to use as prizes/thank you’s

• Children Spotlight: Create a documentary of the children we serve which focuses on a new child every hour. The spotlight will be every hour of the marathon and will focus on a different child each time.

• Social Coordinator: Responsible for booking all rooms for meetings as well as creating opportunities for social activities to encourage bonding among members of the leadership teams.

• Retreats Coordinator: Responsible for organizing the beginning of year leadership retreat for the entire leadership team. This includes coordinating location logistics, speakers, food, itinerary and so forth.

:: Special Events

This committee will create special events throughout the year to raise community and university awareness as well as funds to benefit Basketball Marathon. Together, the committee will identify a few events to organize throughout the year. Additionally, this committee is responsible for identifying and facilitating fundraising opportunities that would collaborate with and building relationships with fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, or other student groups. They will also be responsible in organizing One-Card and Duke-Card donations for all special events, as well as at the actual Marathon.

One-Card/Duke-Card Donation: Will organize One-Card and Duke-Card drives to collect money and spread the word about Basketball Marathon. This includes dorm storming, targeting large classes, and quad promotion.

Special Events Throughout the Year: Below is a sampling of possible events. It is encouraged that this committee will organize a Basketball Marathon Gala to benefit and raise awareness for Basketball Marathon.

• BM Gala: Responsible for organizing a benefit party for Basketball Marathon . The goal is to raise community awareness while generating fundraising revenue. Responsibility includes logistical details, food and beverage procurement, speaker arrangements and decorations.

• Golf Tournament: Celebrity golf tournament to benefit basketball marathon.

• Road Race: 5-K race across campus to benefit Basketball Marathon.

• Restaurant Benefit Day: Work with local restaurants to have all proceeds on a given day to benefit Basketball Marathon.

• Wine and Cheese Party: Get a local wine and cheese specialty store to donate supplies to have a wine and cheese tasting to benefit Basketball Marathon.

• Player’s Night: Organize a Player’s night where all cover benefits Basketball Marathon.

• Bar Night: Work with local bars to sponsor a bar hopping night where proceeds benefit Basketball Marathon.

• Dribbling for a Dream: Organize the Dribble for a Dream dribbling contest. The winner wins lower level or riser tickets to the Duke-Carolina Basketball game. Whoever dribbles the longest wins!

• Battle of the Bands: Work with Cats Cradle or the Library as well as with local bands to put on a benefit concert.

• 3-3 Basketball Tournament: Organize a basketball 3-3 tournament to benefit basketball marathon.

• Date Auction: Get campus celebrities to be willing to go on a date with whoever bids the most for them! Get local businesses to donate free dinners and gift packs to go along with the date.

• Duke-Carolina Games on the Lawn: Raise awareness by showing the Duke-Carolina games on a big screen either on the quad or in the Great Hall.

:: Charity and Community Relations

This committee serves as a link between both Basketball Marathon and the greater university community as well as with alumni of the university. This committee will recruit alumni and community participants as well as recruit celebrities to participate in Basketball Marathon. It also works directly with the kids we serve to benefit. This includes hospital visits, being a part of a mentoring program for the kids and serving as a liaison to the H^3 (Hoop Dreams) organization. They coordinate when the kids from H^3 (Hoop Dreams) will come to the event and also maintain contact with the kids prior to the actual Marathon event.

• Alumni Relations and Recruitment: Will develop a strategic relationship with the student alumni organizations on campus such as the Iron Dukes and the Carolina Alumni Association. Additionally, this committee will create mailing lists as well as fun and exciting ways for alumni to become involved with the marathon. Will work with student alumni organizations to raise awareness of the marathon, recruit alumni to play on teams, to volunteer and visit the marathon.
• Celebrity Recruitment: Responsible for working with the Athletic Department, Carolina Pros and other organizations to identify and invite celebrities to the marathon. This includes identifying someone to throw up the jump ball, celebrity coaches and participants, and guests throughout the marathon. Additionally, this group is responsible for recruiting celebrities to donate items to the Basketball Marathon auction and to participate in the BM Gala.

• Pediatric Playroom Coordinator: Will organize monthly visits to both the Duke Medicine and UNC Hospital pediatric playroom for Duke and Carolina students. This includes the organization of crafts and other activities for the children.

• Mentoring Program/Family Recruitment: Members will be paired-up with children served by H 3 and/or Duke/UNC Hospitals to act as mentors. Members will be expected to visit their mentee regularly.

• H3 (Hoop Dreams) Liaison/Marathon Performance Coordinator: This coordinator will work directly with H 3. Responsibilities include:
• Organize visits to Hoop Dreams practices
• Work with Lisa Brachman and Mike Zeillman
• Help organize the “Big Buddy Program”
• Create letter to parents explaining Basketball Marathon’s purpose
• Organize outings with the Hoop Dreams kids to both universities to interact with Basketball Marathon volunteers
• Help organize Hoop Dream performance at the Marathon
• Serve as a host to Hoop Dreams kids and their families at the Marathon

:: Participant Recruitment

The Participant Recruitment committee is responsible for recruiting all marathon participants as well as recruiting medical staff and referees. This committee will organize recruitment drives, informational meetings and will hold captain meetings once participants are recruited. Additionally, this committee will identify strategic match-ups of political groups, celebrities, professors and student groups to keep the action on the court lively and intriguing.

• Players and Coaches:Responsible for identifying and recruiting all players and coaches for the marathon. Additionally, this committee will organize informational sessions throughout the academic semester. Once players and coaches are recruited this committee will be responsible for running captain meetings to collect money and provide timely information about the marathon and any rules. In addition, this committee will be responsible for providing coaches and players with fundraising ideas as well as providing motivation.

• Strategic Match-ups:This group will identify and create intriguing match-ups including between government officials, school administration, alumni and professors.

• Medical Staff: Responsible for recruiting two certified medical personnel (Nurses, EMTs, certified athletic trainers, and/or MD’s) to be present throughout the entire Basketball Marathon in shifts.

• Referees: Responsible for recruiting two referees to be present during the entire Basketball Marathon.

• Volunteers:Responsible for recruiting volunteers
• This including organizing the set-up and clean-up teams
• Set up volunteer schedule of shifts
• Work with operations committee to train volunteers and delegate tasks

• Groupies/Cheerleaders:Will actively recruit groupies/cheerleaders for the marathon. This includes pit-sits, informational emails and recruiting across campus. It will be the responsibility of the groupies/cheerleaders to keep the marathon spirited.
• This including organizing the set-up and clean-up teams
• Set up volunteer schedule of shifts
• Work with operations committee to train volunteers and delegate tasks

Suggested sub-committee positions to deal with specific campus demographics:

• Greek Affairs Coordinator:>Responsible for collaborating with all Greek organizations on campus to organize involvement in the marathon as players, to help coordinate fundraising opportunities and recruit event volunteers.
• Student Organization Coordinator: Will work with other student organizations to identify areas for collaboration including opportunities for fundraisers to benefit BM, event volunteer recruitment, and participants.
• Athlete Coordinator: Will identify varsity athletes and teams to become involved with Basketball Marathon. Involvement includes support at the hospital with Basketball Marathon kids, entertainment performances during the marathon, and participation on a team. Furthermore, this committee is responsible for acquiring team memorabilia to sell in the BM auction.

:: Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)

The Chief Financial Officers and their committee is responsible for managing all Basketball Marathon funds including revenues and expenses. Additionally, they are responsible for the collection of revenue from all sources including but not limited to Duke, Carolina, and the surrounding communities. The chair must become SAFO certified if at UNC or pass the treasurers test if at Duke. The Business Development committee will be in charge of managing the budget and keeping the financial tasks in order. There may be more than one chair for this committee, and it is encouraged that a younger member of the organization serve as an understudy.

• Sales and Accounting: Responsibilities include: issue weekly budget reports, maintain budget, reimburse committee members, keep detailed records of all donations (corporate and personal), issue tax deduction forms and thank you notes, issue weekly budget reports, prepare student budget allocations for Student Congress, go before Finance Council and Student Congress to defend budget.

• Grant Research and Writing: Identifying and applying for grants through corporations, non-profit foundations and governmental agencies.

:: Corporate and Community Marketing

Corporate and Community Marketing is the committee that, in general, will work with the off-campus community. Its main function is to organize all corporate sponsorship and manages the benefits given to corporate donors. It is responsible for the solicitation of large corporate partners as well as local businesses. This committee will manage both monetary and gift-in-kind donations. Also, it is responsible for raising community awareness and identifying community fundraising opportunities. This committee will work closely with local high schools, churches, civic organizations, non-profits and other community groups to develop community partnerships. Furthermore, this committee will seek to recruit gifts-in-kind to auction and will organize the canning and campaign letters drive.

• Corporate Sponsorship and Promotions: Responsible for identifying and negotiating sponsorships and promotional events with corporate sponsors and local businesses.

• Online Auction Coordinator: Responsible for collecting gifts-in-kind from local businesses for the online auction including gift certificates. Additional responsibilities include running the online auction and sending out the items once the auction ends.

• Community Organizations Coordinator: Will identify partner organizations that can help Basketball Marathon fundraise, are willing to provide event volunteers or help create some other strategic long term relationship.

• Community High School Coordinator: Will work specifically with local high schools to get them involved with Basketball Marathon. Emphasis will be on creating fundraising opportunities. Additionally, high school students will be recruited as event volunteers, participants and for entertainment (e.g. bands, dance groups, etc.)

• Canning/Campaign Letters/Grocery Store Ribbons: The following are optional but strongly encouraged ways to involve the community: Distributing canning cans as well as routinely collecting money at the various locations. Additionally, this group is responsible for identifying and scheduling opportunities for organizations and individuals to write campaign letters. Also, this group will send out campaign letters to both participant and volunteer contacts. Finally, the group will work to create ribbons that local grocery stores sell to benefit BM.

:: Advertising

The Advertising committee will publicize the Basketball Marathon in all aspects. The committee is responsible for getting the word out to the community in all forms, media, print, websites, etc. This includes designing BM flyers and posters. They serve to raise awareness for the charity and event, and are in charge of manufacturing, marketing, and distributing tee-shirts.

• Media Relations: Media Relations will contact outside media- newspapers, television, and radio to publicize the event. Press releases, stories, community calendars, social events are all means that the Media Relations committee must seek to get the word out.
  • Create master media list with contact information
  • Contact media outlets letting them know about the event
  • Create calendar or media plan to follow with deadlines on press release information
  • Send out press releases
  • Be on location at the Marathon to send out necessary press releases
  • Serve as a liaison between the Marathon and the media – scheduling interviews for Marathon personnel, etc.

• Campus Publicity: Responsible for advertising all Marathon related events and the headline Basketball Marathon event throughout campus. This includes in the Daily Tar Heel and Duke Chronicle as well as flyers and handouts.

• Community Advertising: Responsible for all advertising off campus. This includes local television and newspapers as well as flyers and handouts. This committee will also work with local businesses to get the word out about the marathon.

• Advertising at Special Events: This group will advertise the Basketball Marathon at all school and community related special events which include Fall Fest, pit-sitting, quad events and so forth for UNC, and Student Activities Fair and quad events for Duke.

• Official BM T-shirt Design and BM Merchandise Management: Responsible for creating and ordering the official Basketball Marathon t-shirt for all participants and volunteers. This group will work closely with the participant and volunteer coordinators to order the correct number of each shirt size. They will also create and manage the development of new products for Basketball Marathon to market and sell.

• Game Day Program: Responsible for creating the official basketball marathon program. This group will work closely with other committees to get bibliographical information on the players, entertainment/team schedules, corporate sponsor ads and so forth.

• Promotional Videos/Podcasts: It is optional but encouraged that this committee create informational videos as well as other viral advertising to recruit interest in Basketball Marathon.

• Event Photography and Cinematography: Will organize volunteers to take pictures and video of the marathon as well as events leading up to the marathon in order to well document all our efforts.