Colorado University Athletics
Former CU All-American Joe Klecker raised over $10,000 for his hometown in three days on social media
Photo by: Ken Moreland
Klecker Finds Way To Give Back To Hometown Community
June 18, 2020 | Cross Country, Track and Field, Alumni C Club
BOULDER – There's no place like home.
Just ask Joe Klecker, a recent University of Colorado graduate and an All-American on the cross country and track and field teams. A native of Hopkins, Minn., which is just west of Minneapolis, he still thinks of Minnesota as home. That is why when riots broke out on Lake Street in downtown Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd on May 25, he felt compelled to do something, but at first, he was not quite sure what to do.
"It started when I saw everything happening on the news," Klecker said. "I saw they were trying to raise money to rebuild a lot of these businesses so I was trying to think of ways to promote it. At first, I just posted a link to it, but obviously, it's not going to get that many people to donate by doing that."
And that's when he thought of it. Why not raffle off some of the apparel he had acquired over the years as a Buffalo? Giving people an incentive to donate could not hurt. So he started going through everything he had acquired during the last five years while running for CU.
"I had a few things that mean a lot to me, like the uniform I wore at nationals this year," he said. "But then I have a good amount of gear that has been sitting in a box for years. I just thought there are a few things I want to keep because of the meaning, but the stuff that is just stuff could do some good. To me, if I'm able to do this and have the platform to do this, it seemed selfish to not try to raise money with it."
He took to Instagram and Twitter and the response was more than he could have imagined. He made his first post to both accounts on June 1 and by June 4 had raised over $10,000.
"I periodically gave updates on how much we had raised and made different benchmark goals," Klecker said.
After he started, former teammate Ryan Forsyth reached out saying he had gear he could put together to include as well. Klecker added some other different incentives (two entries for $10) and word continued to spread.
"The crazy part is that so many of the people who donated, I don't even know," he said. "There were maybe 20 people I knew. I think over 250 people donated. I hardly knew any of them. The reach of this was beyond friends and family supporting what I was doing."
Klecker did not want to give back just because he was from the area, but he has a real connection to the community there. "I've been going to a lot of the businesses there for many years and some of my friends work on Lake Street," he said.
After arranging this fundraiser, he has learned people want to help, but don't always know how to do so. In a time like this, it can be very overwhelming with so many different charities and places in need. "By outlining what this money is going towards, everyone can see what their money will be used for and I think that helped," he said.
Klecker graduated this past May with a degree in biochemistry. Eventually, he intends to go to dental school, but for now, he plans to focus on running as a professional for at least the next five years.
NOTE: For anyone who wants to donate to rebuilding Lake Street, the link is www.welovelakestreet.com.
Just ask Joe Klecker, a recent University of Colorado graduate and an All-American on the cross country and track and field teams. A native of Hopkins, Minn., which is just west of Minneapolis, he still thinks of Minnesota as home. That is why when riots broke out on Lake Street in downtown Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd on May 25, he felt compelled to do something, but at first, he was not quite sure what to do.
"It started when I saw everything happening on the news," Klecker said. "I saw they were trying to raise money to rebuild a lot of these businesses so I was trying to think of ways to promote it. At first, I just posted a link to it, but obviously, it's not going to get that many people to donate by doing that."
And that's when he thought of it. Why not raffle off some of the apparel he had acquired over the years as a Buffalo? Giving people an incentive to donate could not hurt. So he started going through everything he had acquired during the last five years while running for CU.
"I had a few things that mean a lot to me, like the uniform I wore at nationals this year," he said. "But then I have a good amount of gear that has been sitting in a box for years. I just thought there are a few things I want to keep because of the meaning, but the stuff that is just stuff could do some good. To me, if I'm able to do this and have the platform to do this, it seemed selfish to not try to raise money with it."
He took to Instagram and Twitter and the response was more than he could have imagined. He made his first post to both accounts on June 1 and by June 4 had raised over $10,000.
"I periodically gave updates on how much we had raised and made different benchmark goals," Klecker said.
After he started, former teammate Ryan Forsyth reached out saying he had gear he could put together to include as well. Klecker added some other different incentives (two entries for $10) and word continued to spread.
"The crazy part is that so many of the people who donated, I don't even know," he said. "There were maybe 20 people I knew. I think over 250 people donated. I hardly knew any of them. The reach of this was beyond friends and family supporting what I was doing."
Klecker did not want to give back just because he was from the area, but he has a real connection to the community there. "I've been going to a lot of the businesses there for many years and some of my friends work on Lake Street," he said.
After arranging this fundraiser, he has learned people want to help, but don't always know how to do so. In a time like this, it can be very overwhelming with so many different charities and places in need. "By outlining what this money is going towards, everyone can see what their money will be used for and I think that helped," he said.
Klecker graduated this past May with a degree in biochemistry. Eventually, he intends to go to dental school, but for now, he plans to focus on running as a professional for at least the next five years.
NOTE: For anyone who wants to donate to rebuilding Lake Street, the link is www.welovelakestreet.com.
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