500 Tumblers, Two Missions: Our Partnership with Bigger Than Sports

When a young nonprofit needed something special for its biggest community event of the year, our team made and donated 500 custom tumblers. Here's the story of how two mission-driven organizations found each other, and what happens when they show up for one another.

On October 25, 2026, students, families, volunteers and neighbors gathered at Lynn University for the Bigger Than Sports 5K / 1 Mile Walk x Wellness Social. It was a morning of movement and community, and every dollar raised goes straight back into mentoring high school student-athletes.

We were proud to be part of it. Her Second Chance made and donated 500 custom tumblers for the event, each one printed in our workshop by women working their way through recovery.

This is the story of that partnership, told largely in the words of the Bigger Than Sports team. We think it says a lot about what branded merch can be when there's a real purpose behind it.

Meet Bigger Than Sports

Bigger Than Sports is a youth-led nonprofit fighting educational inequality through the power of sports. Their model is focused and personal. They place young mentors inside Title I high school athletic departments, where they work one-on-one with student-athletes to build a plan for college, a trade or a career.

The idea behind it is one that anyone who played a sport in high school will recognize. For many young athletes, the game is the center of everything. It shapes their schedule, their friendships and their sense of who they are. When the final season ends, a lot of them are left without a next step. Bigger Than Sports exists so that kids don't lose themselves when they lose the game.

Their school programs currently serve students in South Florida and Pittsburgh. Alongside that work, the organization hosts community sports and wellness events that bring people together and fund the mentorship that happens year-round.

The 5K / 1 Mile Walk x Wellness Social is the biggest of those events. Last year it welcomed more than 750 people, and this year the team set out to make it even bigger.

How two missions found each other

The connection started with an introduction. Chris Malfitano, Chair of the Her Second Chance Board, saw the overlap between our two organizations and brought us together.

According to Ian Waite, Founder and Executive Director of Bigger Than Sports, it clicked right away.

"Two missions rooted in giving people a chance to build something better, finding each other, felt like it was meant to be. We are grateful to Chris for making the connection."

On paper, a youth sports mentorship program and a merch shop run by women in recovery might seem like an unlikely pair. In practice, we share the same core belief. People do better when someone invests in their future and gives them a real path forward. For Bigger Than Sports, that path runs from the locker room to a career plan. For us, it runs through meaningful work in a supportive workshop.

A gift that protects the mission

Anyone who has planned a nonprofit event knows how fast the costs add up. Venue, permits, signage, volunteer shirts, water stations and giveaways all come out of the same budget that funds the actual mission. For a new organization, that tradeoff is real. Every dollar spent on event supplies is a dollar that doesn't reach the students.

That's why an in-kind donation like this one mattered so much to the Bigger Than Sports team.

"It meant the world to us. As a new nonprofit, every dollar we raise is crucial, so a gift of 500 custom tumblers lets us create a truly memorable experience for our community without taking away from the mission."

The tumblers gave participants something lasting to take home from the day. And because they were donated, the money raised at the event could go where it was meant to go: into mentorship.

Ian shared that the donation carried a second meaning too.

"More than that, it told us that Her Second Chance believes in what we are building, and we are deeply grateful."

Quality you can see and feel

Donated or not, every product that leaves our workshop has to meet the same standard. We only offer premium, responsibly sourced products, and we print each order with care. A tumbler with a nonprofit's name on it represents that nonprofit every time someone carries it to work, the gym or a soccer game. It needs to look good and hold up.

The Bigger Than Sports team described the finished tumblers as "beautiful and thoughtfully made."

"The tumblers are the kind of keepsake people will actually use long after event day, and seeing our name and mission on something crafted with this much care makes us proud."

We asked whether the products met their expectations for the event. They checked the box for "exceeded expectations," and explained why in a way that stuck with us.

"Because it was never just about the product. It was about the care and purpose behind it, and that is something you feel the moment you hold one."

A partner, not a project

A 500-piece order is a big job for any team. Getting it right takes clear communication, careful customization and a production schedule that lands on time for event day. We want every customer, whether they're paying for an order or receiving a donation, to feel like the process was easy.

Here's how the Bigger Than Sports team described working with us:

"Warm, professional, and easy from the start. The Her Second Chance team made us feel like a partner, not a project, and we appreciated their care and attention every step of the way."

That phrase, "a partner, not a project," is exactly what we aim for with every order we touch.

Made by women writing their next chapter

Every one of those 500 tumblers was printed by women in our social enterprise program. Her Second Chance employs women early in their recovery from substance abuse, offering a paid job in a safe and supportive environment.

We know that when people work, it increases the chances their recovery will too. Each order gives our team members steady, meaningful work and a chance to rebuild confidence, resilience and self-sufficiency. When they're ready for a next step in their careers, our Bridge to Employment program helps them prepare for it and find it.

So when an organization orders from us, or when we donate to one, the product carries the work and hope of the women who made it. For Bigger Than Sports, that added a layer of meaning to the whole partnership.

"Knowing these tumblers were made by women rebuilding their lives through meaningful work makes this gift so much more than merchandise. We are honored that our event is connected to their story, and we are cheering for every one of them."

Ian also drew a direct line between our two missions.

"At Bigger Than Sports, we believe everyone deserves a plan and a chance to write their next chapter. Her Second Chance lives that same belief every day. Whether it is a student-athlete planning life after the game or a woman building a new path forward, it is all about helping people see what is possible."

Why mission-driven merch means more

Most promotional products are forgotten within a week. A logo on a pen or a tote bag tells people your name, but it doesn't tell them anything about what you stand for.

Mission-driven merch works differently. When someone learns who made the product in their hands, they remember it, and they remember who gave it to them. Ian put it this way:

"A mission-driven product carries a story. Instead of a logo on an item, it holds the work, hope, and effort of real people, and that gives it meaning. Everyone who receives one of these tumblers becomes part of that story."

That's what we mean when we say our merch gives your brand visibility and meaning. The tumblers at the Bigger Than Sports 5K promoted a great cause. They also connected two communities, one helping students plan their futures and one helping women rebuild theirs.

Stronger together

We asked Bigger Than Sports why they think partnerships between mission-driven organizations matter. Their answer was short and clear.

"Because we are stronger together. When mission-driven organizations show up for one another, the impact multiplies, and everyone in the community feels it."

We couldn't agree more. Small nonprofits and social enterprises often run on tight budgets and big hearts. When we combine what we each do well, both organizations get further than either would alone.

What they'd tell you

We also asked Bigger Than Sports what they'd say to a company or organization thinking about ordering custom products from Her Second Chance. Their answer started with two words: "Do it."

"You will get a beautiful product, a team that cares, and the chance to support something bigger than a purchase."

And for teams sourcing event merch, employee gifts, client gifts or donor recognition, they had this to add:

"Social enterprises let you get exactly what you need while making a real difference at the same time. Your event gifts, client gifts, and donor recognition can create opportunity for someone else, and the people you give them to will feel that."

What's next

This won't be the last time our teams work together. Bigger Than Sports is already thinking about co-branded items for future events, volunteer days where our two teams can meet in person, and more ways to tell this story side by side.

We'll leave the last word to Ian.

"Her Second Chance did not just give us 500 tumblers. They gave us a reminder that purpose-driven partners lift each other up. We are so grateful, and so proud to share our event with them."

– Ian Waite, Founder & Executive Director, Bigger Than Sports

Make our story part of yours

Planning a race, a gala, a team retreat or a donor thank-you? Every order you place with Her Second Chance gives women in recovery meaningful work, and gives your brand a story people will remember long after the event is over.

For orders of 500 pieces or more, start a custom quote and our team will help you plan every detail. For smaller orders, shop our products and build your order online in minutes.