In the weeks leading up to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl – which will serve as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game and take place at State Farm Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026 – as well as the Cactus Bowl, which returns to Arizona State University in Tempe on Saturday, Dec. 26 – AZ Big Media is sitting down every Friday with a member of the Fiesta Sports Foundation family to shine a light on the event itself and also all the ways that the Foundation drives economic growth, delivers engaging experiences and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football Bowl Season. Today we sit down with Melissa Stack, Firm Enterprise Solutions Associate Director, Risk & Compliance at Deloitte LLP and member of the Fiesta Sports Foundation Yellow Jacket Committee.
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How did you come to volunteer with the Fiesta Sports Foundation?
I started volunteering with Fiesta Sports Foundation in 2023. As a college football fan, I was always very aware of the Fiesta Bowl game itself, but I had no clue there was more to the Foundation than that. A good friend, current Yellow Jacket Committee member Joe Strening, joined the Yellow Jacket Committee in 2020 and he started telling me about all the amazing things that the group was doing in addition to hosting bowl games. I was instantly drawn to their support for public education through the Wishes for Teachers program and the support of local athletes through youth football clinics. I knew that the YJ committee would be a great way to combine my love for football with my passion for volunteering and giving back. As a mom of two young boys, I see my children in so many of those who attend our events and I am so proud to be a part of this Fiesta community.
Tell us about your role this year?
I am chairing the committee responsible for VIP hospitality at the games. I’ve served as a volunteer on this sub-committee and I’m excited to take charge this season! My goal with our VIP groups is to ensure that every one of our guests who have field access before, during or after the game have a seamless process from check-in to on field experience and back to their seats or suites to enjoy the rest of the game. The key to a memorable experience for our VIP guests is easy – communicate clearly and often about the when and why of their day and give that top notch hospitality so they truly feel welcomed and know how much we appreciate them for attending and supporting the Fiesta Sports Foundation!
What has been your favorite Fiesta Bowl game to date as a spectator and why?
The 2022-23 College Football Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl between Michigan and TCU was one to remember. I remember TCU was on a run but as a Big Ten fan, I thought Michigan had it. J.J. McCarthy was Michigan’s quarterback, and he grew up in the same town as my husband, so we were all behind big blue. Then TCU showed everyone why they deserved to be in that level of game and the scoring was insane! It is the highest-scoring Fiesta Bowl in history. It’s a reminder why college football is so great – every game is anyone’s game ,and the players play with all their heart and pride for their schools.
What has been your favorite Fiesta Bowl game to date as a volunteer or committee member and why?
My favorite game that I’ve worked while on the committee was the CFP Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl between Penn State and Boise State. I was working our VIP pre-party outside the stadium and the energy there was electric! Boise State fans came in strong and ready to support their team. I had some of the most fun conversations with the fans about Arizona, the bowl game and college football in general. As a Yellow Jacket Committee member, we pride ourselves on our world-class hospitality and that extends beyond the teams and their staff. We want every fan who attends our bowl games to have the best experience possible. That’s easy to deliver when you have a crowd like we did that year. I will never forget my group of Idaho grandmas that traveled together for a girls trip to the game – hands down some of the best stranger hugs I have ever received!!
The Fiesta Sports Foundation’s slogan is “Our Season Never Ends.” Share an example of how the Foundation is helping the community outside of the Bowl games themselves?
I have had the privilege the last two years to be a part of our Grants Program committee. It’s not just about football around here – we’re making sure great local organizations are getting the support they need to build STEM programs, to give eye care and school supplies to children in need and to expand already existing community programs so they can reach even more rural areas. Fiesta Sports Foundation is anchored on the pillars of youth, sports and education. I love our grant program because we are working year-round to give money back to some amazing charitable organizations throughout Arizona whose goals are to strengthen our community through those pillars. There is no better feeling than calling a local charity and telling them that we are going to fund a project that will help expand their reach and impact countless local community members. Our impact is truly felt and the happy tears come flowing when you get to give that kind of good news!
