Sponsor Spotlight: Group 1001
Group 1001 came into the STARTedUP community with a clear intention: to show up.
They've been a presence in the truest sense of the word, not just as a name on a sponsorship list, but as a team that keeps finding ways to open doors for students and educators alike. Their involvement reflects something you don't always find in a corporate partner; genuine intentionality.
It starts with how they think about impact.
"At Group 1001, we believe education and sports have the power to transform communities," said Morgan Murphy, Community Impact & Engagement Manager at Group 1001. "Partnering with the STARTedUP Foundation was a good fit — we wanted to support local teachers and make a meaningful impact on the next generation through programming that can ignite a student's lifelong learning journey."
Innovation Workshop in the Pagoda
One of the partnership's standout moments happened at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Group 1001 invited Speedway High School students into their Pagoda suite for an Innovation Workshop. Working in teams, students tackled real-world challenges in sports and technology, developing and pitching creative solutions to professionals in the room.
With partners from Andretti Global in the room, students worked through real-world prompts, thinking out loud, pushing ideas, and engaging at a level that surprised even the people who organized it.
"Watching their creativity and enthusiasm in action was incredibly rewarding," Morgan said.
That energy, students stepping into a high-stakes environment and thriving, is exactly what STARTedUP is built to create. When learning moves outside the traditional classroom and into the real world, the work becomes tangible, the stakes feel real, and students start to see themselves differently.
Investing in the People Who Invest in Students
Group 1001's care for the STARTedUP community extends beyond students. Earlier this year, they opened their suite at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host a group of STARTedUP Innovation Accelerator teachers for a Pacers game, a simple but meaningful way of saying: we see you, and we're grateful.
It's the kind of gesture that reflects a broader truth about how Group 1001 operates.
"What stands out about Group 1001 is their constant willingness to show up and give," said STARTedUP CEO Don Wettrick. "They are incredibly intentional about how they engage with both students and teachers, creating experiences that are meaningful and memorable. They continue to open doors for our community in ways that simply would not be possible without a partner like them."
Rooted in Something Real
For Group 1001, this kind of engagement is a reflection of who they are.
"Community is one of our core values," Morgan shared. "We believe in creating a better tomorrow and being a force for good. The places where we live and work are at the heart of who we are, and giving back is central to our identity."
Through philanthropy, volunteerism, and strategic investment, they work to empower individuals and build communities that are stronger for the long term.
That commitment, in practice, looks like a suite full of high schoolers pitching ideas at the Speedway. It looks like teachers being celebrated on a Sunday night in downtown Indianapolis. It looks like a partnership that keeps finding new ways to matter.
We're grateful for partners like Group 1001, ones who don't just believe in the mission, but who keep showing up to make it real.
Learn more at Group1001.com, or follow @group1001 and @group1001sponsorships on social media.
