One dollar is a small gift. Ten invitations can start a much bigger conversation.
The $1 On The Mat Challenge is simple: give $1, invite 10 people to join you, and ask each person to invite 10 more. It’s a way to help support wrestling access for young people in Chattanooga, and to make it easy to tell someone why this mission matters to you.
A dollar alone does not fund a wrestling program. The idea is to multiply a small gift through a circle of people who care, while also sharing information about the free training already available. If you can’t give right now, sharing the campaign still helps.
Give $1 through the Foundation’s PayPal campaign
Why the invitation matters
Starting something new can feel daunting, especially when a family is unsure about the cost, the equipment, or whether a young person will fit in. A warm invitation can help make the first step feel possible.
The On The Mat Foundation works to remove financial barriers to wrestling for young people in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the MAT CLASH Training Center at East Ridge High School, wrestling training has no registration, training-cycle, or drop-in fees. Donations are never required to participate.
That does not mean every cost is covered. 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. If those expenses are a barrier, families can contact the coaches to discuss available support.
The Foundation’s work is about more than a practice room. Through coaching, mentorship, and community support, young people can find a place to learn, work through setbacks, and belong. A donation or a shared campaign link helps keep that mission in view and supports the work of removing barriers.
How the $1 Challenge works
The challenge has three parts:
- Give $1 through the Foundation’s PayPal campaign. PayPal also offers a monthly giving option; you can choose what works for you.
- Invite 10 people to consider giving $1 and passing along the challenge.
- Ask each person to invite 10 more. They can donate, share the link, or do both.
The circle is the point. If every invited person accepts and passes the invitation along, the message can travel beyond the first group. That’s an illustration of how sharing can spread, not a promise that every person will give or that a particular amount will be raised.
You don’t need a large audience to take part. You can start with friends, relatives, teammates, coworkers, neighbors, or a group chat. A personal message often works better than a generic post because it explains why you chose to share.
A message you can copy
I’m taking the $1 On The Mat Challenge to support The On The Mat Foundation and free wrestling training for young people in Chattanooga. I gave $1, and I’m inviting you to join me if you’re able. If you take part, please invite 10 people too. Can’t give right now? Sharing the campaign or the free training information helps as well.
Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=VZBQZAMX8RSKY
Learn about training: https://matclash.com/pages/training-center
Feel free to make it your own. The important part is to be clear that giving is optional, and that sharing the information is a meaningful way to participate too.
The work your invitation points toward
The Training Center currently provides free wrestling training at East Ridge High School, located at 4320 Bennett Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412.
The schedule beginning November 5, 2026 is:
- Youth AAU: Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00–7:15 PM
- Middle- and high-school supplemental training: Sunday at 3:00 PM; Monday and Wednesday at 6:00 PM
A current AAU or USA Wrestling membership card and completed waiver are required, and coaches must verify membership before participation. Membership and event costs are separate from Training Center fees. Families facing a financial barrier can contact the coaches to ask about available support.
You can find current details and registration information on the Training Center page. If you know a family who might be interested, share that page with them. No donation is required for a child to train.
Progress takes time, and support takes many forms
The Foundation’s page also features a character story from the MAT CLASH Universe: JV, a fictional wrestler who loses 48 straight matches before earning his first win. It’s a made-up character, but the reminder his story carries is one plenty of real young wrestlers recognize: “Your record is not your identity.”
That idea matters beyond a scoreboard. A setback can make it harder to come back. A coach, teammate, or family member who encourages a young person to keep showing up can help them take the next step.
The Foundation’s coaches bring a range of experience to the room. Head coach Michael Keefe was a 2005 NCAA Division I All-American at UTC, placed fifth nationally at 141 pounds, qualified for the NCAA tournament four times, won two Southern Conference championships, and was inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. You can learn more about the current work and coaching team on the Foundation page.
The Foundation is also raising support toward a longer-term vision: a dedicated facility, tutoring and school support, meals and a clothing closet, and a community gear bank. These are future goals, not services the Foundation is describing as already fully operating. Building toward them takes sustained funding and community partners over time.
Join in, at a level that works for you
Whether you give, invite, or share, here’s a simple way to take part:
- Give $1 through the PayPal campaign, if you’re able.
- Invite 10 people with a personal note.
- Share the campaign link on social media or in a group chat.
- Share the free training page with a family who may want to learn more.
- Ask a business, school, or community group to help spread the word.
After donating, keep your payment confirmation. If you’d like an acknowledgment or need help locating your gift, contact the Foundation with your donor name, donation date, and transaction reference. Please don’t send payment-card details by email.
For questions about the campaign or ways to support the Foundation, contact onthematfoundation@gmail.com or follow @onthematfoundation on Instagram.
A dollar is a starting point, not a guarantee. An invitation is a way to open a door. Together, we can help more people learn what’s available now, and support the work of making wrestling more accessible for young people in Chattanooga.