Post Date: 2018
Source: www.laurieralumni.ca
Peter Izzio (BSc ’90) is taking the lead on an exciting new way to support Laurier’s student-athletes.
Last winter, Izzio, a locally-based Sun Life Financial Advisor, former Laurier football player (1986-89), coach (1992-96) and long-time Athletics supporter, approached the university with a big idea (and a generous one). For every home-field touchdown or field goal scored by the Men’s Varsity Football Team, Izzio would donate $100 to the program.
If you attended a men’s football game this past season, you may have heard announcer Chris Povey’s (Bus Dip ’93) iconic voice celebrating the moment of Golden Hawk victory and alumni generosity:
“Hey Golden Hawk fans! This year, every time the Golden Hawks score a touchdown or a field goal, Peter Izzio and Sun Life Financial is donating $100 to the Golden Hawks Football Program. Peter has now donated $2300 and challenges you to do the same! Let’s hear you make some noise to support the Hawks Score to Win!
”It’s been a good year for Men’s Football at Laurier, and Izzio will be celebrating by giving a cheque for $2300 to Head Coach Michael Faulds at the Football Banquet coming up in January. Faulds will be able to use this gift to enhance the program.
“Pete has been a long-time supporter of our football program and he is always thinking of new creative ways to give back,” say Faulds. “The Score to Win program is a lot of fun!”
When Izzio finds something good, he keeps going. At the end of football season, he announced he will bring the Score to Win program to Women’s Varsity Hockey. For every goal the team scores at home games, including during play-offs, get ready to hear that announcement!
The Score to Win program is exciting, it’s different and it’s a great way to get the fans on their feet. It also motivates the players by turning recognition into action.
“I like to think that my gifts can make a direct impact on the players,” says Izzio. “I’m focused on motivating our athletes to score, because scoring is what it takes to win, and not just win, but to receive the peripheral benefits that come from winning – success in university athletics can lead to real-world opportunities during school or after graduation.”
With the Score to Win program, athletes are recognized immediately for their hard work by a financial donation that goes directly to helping their team become even stronger. Izzio hopes that knowing this will drive student-athletes to focus even harder on scoring or assisting every time their hands touch the football or the hockey stick.
When it comes to recognition for himself, as a donor, Izzio holds the same philosophy of turning recognition into action. The best way to thank him? Join him!
Izzio encourages alumni and the wider community to consider either pooling resources to add to the amount he gives per score in Men’s Football or Women’s Hockey, or even starting the program for another Laurier Athletics team. “The best recognition I can receive for my support for this program is that other folks join with me in giving,” he says. “I loved playing football at Laurier. It made me what I am today. I was never the starter – I always played back up – but I gave it my all. It’s always been important for me to give my absolute best in support of greatness in others.”
Izzio has been very successful in his life – he turned his passion for supporting people into a 28-year career as a top-performing financial advisor with Sun Life Financial, while volunteering for and giving philanthropically to a variety of organizations. He’s married with five children and he and his wife are long-time foster parents for newborns. For Izzio, success has always been inseparable from helping.
“I like to be in a position where I can help others,” says Izzio. “A big part of life, especially when you are young, is about developing yourself, becoming able to take care of yourself. But once you get there, then it’s time to turn outwards and help others.”
Faulds agrees and is proud of Laurier’s strong history of athletic success and generosity. “Laurier has a very rich winning tradition in athletics. Supporters like Pete, who wear the Purple and Gold proudly, make this community very strong,” he says. “We hope that other alumni will want to join this program and make game days that much more exciting!”