Our final two stops of our Winter Tour happened in February. We visited Jacksonville, Florida for the fifth time and came to Columbus, Ohio for the first time ever! Between the two cities, we were able to raise $117,000 for our eleven beneficiary partners!
Jacksonville: A Standout Stop for an Incredible Event
Jacksonville never disappoints! It’s always one of our favorite stops, thanks to an amazing venue and a BJJ community that’s as passionate as it is strong. This year, the energy on the mats was electric, and the dedication of our fundraisers blew us away.
We set an ambitious goal of $60,000—but thanks to the incredible support of nearly 300 competitors, we surpassed it in a big way, raising an impressive $66,635!
A special shoutout goes to Georgia Zolezzi from May River BJJ, who earned the titles of both Top Overall Fundraiser and Top Youth Fundraiser. She raised an astonishing $10,000, securing her spot on our TCOasis BJJ retreat!
Initially, PROTACTX claimed the Top Fundraising Team title, but in an exciting post-event turn, Georgia’s fundraising efforts received a huge donation, pushing May River BJJ’s total past $11,000—ultimately earning them the Top Fundraising Team honor!
We couldn’t be more grateful for the dedication, hard work, and generosity of the Florida BJJ community. This event was a true testament to the power of coming together for a great cause.
Top Overall Fundraiser & Top Youth Fundraiser – Georgia Zolezzi
Top Fundraising Team (on event day) – PROTAXTX
Wrapping Up Our Winter Tour in Columbus, Ohio
Our Winter Tour came to an incredible close with a brand-new stop for Tap Cancer Out—Columbus, Ohio! While we’ve visited Cincinnati in the past, it had been a few years since we made it back to the Buckeye State. First-year events always bring a bit of uncertainty, but Columbus welcomed us with an amazing BJJ community that made this event a massive success.
We originally set a first-year fundraising goal of $40,000, but thanks to the dedication and generosity of our competitors, we surpassed it—raising nearly $47,000!
A huge part of this success came from the grassroots effort of our Academy Relationship Manager, Sarah, who visited and trained at several local schools to help spread the word. Along the way, she met Darnell Davis from Ruffhouse Jiu Jitsu Columbus, whose powerful family story touched us so deeply that we featured him in our More Than Medals series. We encourage you to check out his inspiring journey. Darnell also made an impact on the fundraising side, raising $3,375 and securing second place!
Once again, our Top Fundraisers were also our Top Youth Fundraisers—and this time, it was a trio of siblings! Daisy, Abraham, and Amos Schnoover went above and beyond, raising over $4,906 combined. Their gold-standard fundraising efforts included sending out personalized letters packed with details on how to donate and where the funds go. Their hard work also helped One Academy take home the Top Fundraising Team title with $8,000 raised!
We couldn’t have asked for a better way to wrap up our Winter Tour. Columbus, you set the bar high, and we’re so grateful for the support of every competitor, fundraiser, and supporter who made this event possible. We can’t wait to return!
Top Overall & Top Youth Fundraisers: The Schoonover 3 (Daisy, Abraham and Amos)
Top Fundraising Team – One Academy
That closes out the winter tour and we are on a bit of an event hiatus until April, when we have our Atlanta BJJ Open (April 19th). Registration is open for all events – so find your local one here and join us!