DFIO FLAGSHIP EXPERIENCE

Game Day Experience

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN. COMMUNITY POWERED.

Community Fueled. Memory Driven.

Game Day Experience creates opportunities for children and youth, including foster youth, families, veterans, adults, and others navigating challenging circumstances to attend live sporting events through trusted community referrals.

Tickets can be the starting point. When resources and community support are available, a Game Day Experience may also include meals, parking, transportation, lodging, keepsakes, or other support to make the day easier to enjoy.

What is included varies by experience and available support.

Help Create the Next Memory See How It Works

Follow the Journey

How Game Day Experience Works

A simple path from connection to memory.

01

A Participant Is Referred

Trusted community organizations refer children, youth, families, veterans, adults, mentors, caregivers, and others navigating challenging circumstances.

02

The Experience Is Coordinated

DFIO works to secure tickets and identify practical needs that available resources and community support may help address.

03

The Community Steps In

Businesses, organizations, and individuals help with tickets, parking, meals, transportation, or other needs.

04

The Memory Happens

Participants attend the event, with opportunities to cheer, spend time together, and share the experience.

MORE THAN A GAME

The value of a live sporting event can extend far beyond the final score.

Research involving 7,249 adults found that attending live sporting events was associated with higher life satisfaction, a greater sense that life is worthwhile, and lower levels of loneliness.

For DFIO, that research reinforces something at the heart of Game Day Experience: creating opportunities for shared time, connection, and memorable experiences.

The study found small associations, not cause and effect, and did not evaluate DFIO’s Game Day Experience program.

Keyes et al., Frontiers in Public Health, 2023 — Anglia Ruskin University

Read the Study →

Our Impact

Together, these numbers reflect the Game Day Experiences made possible through community support.

43Completed Game Day Experiences
150Tickets Gifted

Completed Experiences by League or Category

NFL

20GDEs

MLB

16GDEs

NHL

2GDEs

NBA

0GDEs

MLS

1GDEs

COLLEGE

4GDEs

See the Impact

Moments from Game Day Experiences made possible by people who chose to help.

Selected GDE Stories

Game Day Experience community voices

Firsthand perspectives from participants, families, and the people who help make Game Day Experiences possible.

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Community Powered

Partners Behind the Memories

Building Dreams Nurturing Minds
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Touchdown Passes Foundation
Champions for Children
Unbreakable Kids
WICK’D Wear
The See Project
Hope for Miami
Hope Services
Atlanta Fathers Association
Birthday Boxes For Good
Children’s Home Network

Ways to Support

Choose the part you can help make possible.

Support a Game Day Experience

Help with an identified need, such as tickets, meals, parking, transportation, lodging, or keepsakes. Needs vary by experience.

Support Game Day Experiences

Partner With DFIO

Contribute referrals, tickets, sponsorship, or practical support for one experience, or help build the broader Game Day Experience community.

Explore a DFIO Partnership

No long-term commitment is required to help with a Game Day Experience.

Community Fueled

Many hands can create one lasting memory.

Different contributions can come together to make one meaningful day possible.

Ticket giftersLocal businessesReferral organizationsCommunity partnersSports organizationsIndividuals

Help Create What Comes Next

The Next Memory Starts With Someone Stepping In.

DFIO began the Game Day Experience in Tampa Bay and Miami and now coordinates opportunities in communities across the country as tickets, funding, trusted referrals, community partners, timing, and operational capacity allow. Availability varies by market and event, and submitting a referral or offer does not guarantee an experience.

Help Create an Experience Gift Tickets Partner With Us