Apr. 11—When it comes to giving back to his hometown, Ryan Dannen doesn't think twice; even more so when it goes towards The Big Game. So when the owner of Ryan's Tire & Auto was asked if he would donate to get his business name on a T-shirt and poster, he upped the ante and decided to pay for all of the team jerseys.
"Kelly (Sorenson) just reached out to me and asked for a donation, but, as I was thinking about it, just a name on a poster isn't really enough," Dannen said. "This is 'The Big Game.' Obviously the people that do it are excited about it and I believe in it, and it was just the right thing to do."
Instead of paying $100 for a name slot, Dannen donated $3,000 to the Newton Community School District for The Big Game T-shirts. The extended core students who would be participating in the event celebrated his generosity this past week with an enormous thank you card, complete with candy quips.
Ryan Dannen of Ryan's Tire & Auto donated $3,000 to go towards new T-shirts for the players participating in The Big Game, which is an annual basketball game featuring the extended core physical education class.
Of course, contributing to the community is nothing new for the Newton business, located in the 1600 block of First Avenue East. Ryan's Tire & Auto has hosted American Legion cookouts, and Dannen was the recipient of the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Community Champion Award.
"We do it all the time," Dannen said. "If you spend money here, obviously you see where it goes back. It goes back into the community. It doesn't go to Des Moines. It's going right back into this town. That's the biggest thing for me being from this town is to help this town."
Kelly Sorenson, who works communications and outreach for Newton schools, said The Big Game is an annual event where the extended core physical education class competes in a basketball game with all the proper bells and whistles, including participation from the cheerleaders and the band.
Grace Russell shoots a jump shot during a practice for The Big Game inside the gymnasium at Newton High School.
It also features the most enthusiastic and energetic student section to ever grace a basketball court. Students bring signs and hype up their peers. Many people have described it as "the best day of the year" at Newton High School. It is a testament to the positive and inclusive culture at Newton schools.
"If you don't know what Red Pride is, go to The Big Game," Sorenson said. "Because you will feel it. It's a feeling; it's not just a show ... I'm really proud. I'm proud to be from Newton and be Ryan's friend. This is a neat thing to be able to see the value in your community and give back to it."
Dannen added, "The players are good people. The people who help are good people. And I'm just trying to be a good person leading by their example."
The Big Game starts at 12:30 p.m. April 25 in the Newton High School gymnasium. The event is open to the public.
Maynard Meling prepares to make a jump shot during a practice for The Big Game inside the gymnasium at Newton High School.
