Women’s Basketball Star Sam Breen and Her Dog Turbo Enter a First-of-Its-Kind NIL Deal to Sell Custom Dog Treats to Aid Local Animal Shelter
Partnership Will Benefit The Dakin Humane Society
AMHERST, MA: The Massachusetts Collective, UMass Minutewoman Sam Breen and her dog Turbo are excited to announce an NIL partnership that will benefit The Dakin Humane Society.
Together, they have developed a line of basketball-shaped dog treats called “Turbo’s Treats” that are now available online. Turbo’s Treats can be purchased in individual packets or by subscription. All proceeds will benefit The Dakin Humane Society.
“Sam is the reigning A10 Player of the Year, and although it’s unofficial, I'd say her dog Turbo is reigning A10 Pup of the year,” said Patrick MacWilliams, Director of the Massachusetts Collective. “We were looking for another unique NIL deal after signing the amazing Tafara Gapare. I immediately thought of Sam and her Instagram-famous pup Turbo. When she suggested it be a charity-based initiative, everything fell into place.”
NIL Collectives support and create NIL opportunities for athletes – such as sponsorship deals with businesses, public appearances and other promotional activities – through fan-supported crowdfunding and donations. This is the first deal The Massachusetts Collective has entered that involves a charitable component.
“I had thought about how the passing of NIL rules for student-athletes could be used to help community-based charities like animal shelters, so when the UMass Collective brought this idea to me, it was a no-brainer. And to get Turbo’s help is an added benefit! I am super excited to see where this goes,” said Sam Breen.
"We are honored to be chosen as the charity for this Mass Collective effort. The human-animal bond is important—so is the role pets play in families and communities. We are grateful for Sam’s and Turbo's partnership, their commitment to helping pets find a home and their support of Dakin's programs and services,” said Kaitlyn Holloway, Dakin’s Community Engagement Manager.
The Collective will provide 100 pounds of treats to Dakin as an initial in-kind donation. “All the dogs at Dakin are now on Turbo’s Team,” said MacWilliams. In April, at the end of the season, a final tally and check will be presented to Dakin by Breen and The Collective for proceeds generated by sales of Turbo’s Treats.
“Dakin has always held a special place in my family's heart and in the hearts of the Western Massachusetts community,” said MacWilliams. “To be able to produce and market a product that is so unique in the NIL space, that benefits such a worthy charity and with such a talented and beloved athlete as Sam Breen is fantastic.”
Turbo’s Treats are on sale now online in individual packets and by subscription. Please visit www.TurbosTreats.com for more information.
About The Massachusetts Collective: The Massachusetts Collective is a donor-driven NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Collective comprised of UMass Basketball fans, donors and businesses who together create income opportunities for UMass Basketball Student Athletes. The Massachusetts Collective supports both the Mens and Womens Basketball Programs.
