The Fintech & Friends Fantasy Football League, proudly sponsored by VGS, just wrapped up its second season, scoring a major win for charity, donating $4,700 to 20 deserving causes. Founded by Clarke Mitzner, VGS's Partnerships Director, and avid fantasy football enthusiast, along with VGS's Sales Manager Austin Clark, the league bridges the gap between work and play while fostering connections across the fintech industry. The 2024 season saw two 12-man leagues with 24 participants from across the country competing for their charities of choice.
Fantasy Football, Real-Life Impact
The league kicked off with a unique twist: every week for 12 weeks, $50 was donated to the highest- and lowest-scoring teams in each league. This creative format ensured that every player, no matter their standings, had a chance to make a meaningful impact - active rosters being the only requirement for donation qualification.
As the season came to a conclusion, donations were awarded to the charities of choice for the top three finalists of each league. First place received $500, second place, $250, and third place, $100. Among the leading causes supported were Save the Children, Save the Children - Ukraine Chapter, The ALS Organization, Fantasy Cares, The Marine Mammal Center, and many more.
In addition to financial support, the league's LinkedIn page posted a weekly “Friday Night Light” spotlighting a charity to help drive awareness and support for its particular cause.
NFL Player Delivers Surprise Thanksgiving Message to the League
In the spirit of giving, league participants received a surprise video shout-out from professional NFL player, Kyler Gordon (#6), cornerback for the Chicago Bears, on Thanksgiving Day. His heartfelt message encouraged the league's competitive spirit and its efforts toward charitable contributions, energizing league managers to keep up their participation during the busy holiday season.
From Strangers to Friends: Connecting Fintech Through Football
What sets this league apart is its ability to bring strangers together across the fintech industry, turning competitors into collaborators united by a shared mission. Clarke Mitzner's vision of combining fantasy football with charitable giving has created a space where industry professionals can connect beyond their day-to-day work, proving that a little fun can lead to a big impact.
Building on a Strong Foundation
This year's $4,700 donation surpassed last season's $4,300 total donations. The league's growing participation and enthusiasm is a great example of blending professional opportunities with purposeful giving.
As the Fintech & Friends Fantasy Football League looks toward its third season, the excitement and generosity of its participants promise an even greater year ahead. League co-organizer and VGS Marketing Manager Jennifer Marshall agrees, stating, “There's something special here. I'd love to see the league grow to having even more participants and more corporate sponsors. It's a great, low-commitment way for companies to give back to the community and support their employees and the fintech industry as a whole.” For fintech professionals and fantasy football enthusiasts alike, this league proves that the right mix of competition, connection, and community can make a real difference.
Interested in participating next season? Sign up online from now until August 2025. For information about sponsoring the league's donations, email jennifer.marshall@vgs.io.
