Hawktoberfest with a Purpose: Supporting Team Breast Friends
- Oct 18, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 13
October 18, 2025 | Team Breast Friends | Total Raised: $3,900
Our annual Hawktoberfest tailgate on October 18, 2025, was one of the most meaningful traditions of the season. As the Hawkeyes faced Penn State, we added a pink twist to our Oktoberfest celebration by partnering with Team Breast Friends, an incredible Iowa City organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by breast cancer.
Guests enjoyed all the Hawktoberfest favorites—including brats, sauerkraut, German potato salad, pretzels, and plenty of festive fun—while coming together to support a cause that touches so many in our community. We were honored to welcome several leaders from Team Breast Friends, who shared more about their mission and the impact they make throughout Eastern Iowa.
Thanks to the generosity of our Rose Club community, we raised $3,400 through raffle ticket sales featuring an incredible lineup of prizes, including Cooper DeJean Iowa and Philadelphia jerseys, a Hawkeye Grizzly cooler, a black-and-gold Citizen watch, spa and nutrition packages, and a variety of Hawkeye merchandise. In addition, Team Breast Friends received $500 in direct donations from attendees during the event, bringing the total support generated through the day to $3,900.
Team Breast Friends shared that they raised more than $300,000 in 2025, providing direct financial assistance to families facing breast cancer, while also helping local hospitals cover the cost of mammograms and other essential services. Knowing our contribution will help continue that important work made this year's Hawktoberfest even more rewarding.
To everyone who donated, purchased raffle tickets, shared a meal, and wore a little extra pink alongside their black and gold—thank you. Together, we proved once again that Next Level Tailgating is about more than football. It's about coming together to support our neighbors, strengthen our community, and make a lasting impact.
Go Hawks!
If you are interested in supporting Team Breast Friends, please visit their website to learn more.
