A local business can support young people in a way that’s practical, personal, and close to home. For Chattanooga-area owners and community teams, that could mean helping keep wrestling training free, contributing gear, sharing useful expertise, or helping secure a place for the program to grow.
The On The Mat Foundation serves young people in the Chattanooga area. Its mission is to remove financial barriers to wrestling and help children build confidence, discipline, accountability, and belonging through coaching, mentorship, and community support.
If your business is considering a community partnership, here’s what the Foundation is doing now, and where local support could help.
Why a local business might care
Wrestling asks young people to practice consistently, listen to coaching, work through setbacks, and take responsibility for their effort. Those habits can matter beyond the mat, too. They don’t guarantee a particular outcome, but they give young people chances to learn and grow in a supportive setting.
Supporting local youth also means showing up for families in the communities where your customers and employees live. A partnership can give your team a concrete way to take part in that effort, whether through a financial contribution, donated space, needed supplies, or time and expertise.
Community visibility may be part of the conversation, too. If recognition or staff involvement matters to your business, let us know what you have in mind. We can discuss what’s appropriate; we don’t promise a set package or specific promotional placement.
What your support can help with today
The Foundation supports the MAT CLASH Training Center, which currently provides free wrestling training at East Ridge High School, 4320 Bennett Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412. There are no registration, training-cycle, or drop-in fees, and donations are never required for a child to participate.
Sponsorship and donations can help support the work behind that access: free training, coaching, gear for kids, and the operating costs of running the program. Support can also help advance the Foundation’s long-term goal of securing a dedicated facility.
There are a few practical requirements families should know. A current AAU or USA Wrestling membership card and a completed waiver are required, and coaches verify membership before participation. Membership and event costs are separate from free Training Center training. Families facing financial barriers are encouraged to talk with the coaches about available support.
See the Training Center details and schedule.
Ways a business can take part
A partnership doesn’t have to look one particular way. The Foundation welcomes conversations about support that fits both the organization’s needs and a business’s capacity.
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Provide financial support or sponsorship. A contribution can support current training, coaching, gear, and program operating costs, while helping the Foundation work toward a dedicated home.
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Contribute wrestling gear or supplies. Items such as wrestling shoes, singlets, headgear, or other useful supplies may help address practical barriers. Please contact the Foundation before dropping off or shipping anything so the team can coordinate what is needed.
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Donate or help secure facility space. Affordable or donated space could support the long-term goal of a dedicated facility. Businesses and property owners can also share leads or connections.
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Offer construction help, supplies, or meals. If your business can contribute labor, materials, or other resources, tell us what’s available. A dedicated facility and expanded support services are still goals, not services currently operating.
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Share volunteer expertise. We welcome inquiries about coaching, mentoring, tutoring, events, and fundraising. Let us know your experience and availability; we’ll discuss current needs and any steps required before getting involved. Tutoring is part of the Foundation’s future vision, not a service currently offered.
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Invite your staff to take the $1 Challenge. Team members can join the Foundation’s challenge by giving $1 and inviting others to participate. Giving is always optional, and a child’s ability to train does not depend on anyone donating.
A simple first conversation
We don’t have published sponsorship tiers or set sponsorship pricing. Each potential partnership is discussed individually, so we can understand what your business has in mind and whether it fits the Foundation’s current needs or long-term goals.
To start, email onthematfoundation@gmail.com with the subject line Foundation partnership. Please include:
- Your business name and the best contact person
- How to reach you
- The kind of support you’re considering: financial support, supplies, space, volunteer expertise, or something else
- Any timing or practical details that would help us understand your offer
That’s enough to begin. You don’t need to prepare a formal proposal before reaching out. We’ll discuss the fit together rather than ask you to select a package from a rate card.
If you make a donation and need an acknowledgment, contact the Foundation with the donor name, donation date, and transaction reference. For direct giving, use the Foundation’s PayPal donation page.
The program and the vision
The Training Center schedule beginning November 5, 2026, includes Youth AAU training Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00–7:15 PM, and middle and high school supplemental training Sunday at 3:00 PM and Monday and Wednesday at 6:00 PM. Training is at East Ridge High School; it is not yet taking place in a dedicated Foundation facility.
The Foundation’s future vision includes a dedicated facility, tutoring and school support, meals and a clothing closet, and a community gear bank. These are goals the organization is raising support to establish, not current services that are already fully operating.
That distinction matters when deciding how to help. A contribution may support the current free training program and its operating needs, or it may help build toward the longer-term facility goal. If you have a particular purpose in mind, share it when you reach out so the Foundation can discuss it with you.
Start close to home
Chattanooga businesses have many ways to strengthen their community. A first step could be a conversation about what your team can contribute and what would be useful right now. It could be funding, supplies, a space connection, or a few hours of professional expertise.
To learn more, visit The On The Mat Foundation or contact onthematfoundation@gmail.com with Foundation partnership in the subject line. You can also follow @onthematfoundation on Instagram.
MAT CLASH is a separate business that sells gear. Beginning November 1, 2026, MAT CLASH will contribute 50% of profits from gear orders to The On The Mat Foundation. A gear purchase is a commercial transaction, not a donation.