Sponsorship

Haymitch talking to Capitol sponsors.

"Some water, a knife or even matches can mean the difference between life and death. And those things only come from sponsors. And to get sponsors, you have to make people like you."

—Haymitch to Katniss

Sponsorship involves a mentor, with the help of the escort, procuring useful tools for the tributes from the Capitol, their family, and friends in their district through donations from sponsors. Tributes are sponsored based on their first impression at the opening ceremonies, training scores, impression in the interviews, performance in the arena, as well as a number of other factors.

Donations from sponsors range from medicines to food to weapons and more, and are sent into the arena via silver silk parachutes. The longer the Hunger Games go on, the more expensive gifts become. However, any gift that is sent costs an exorbitant amount, which is why it was surprising when Katniss Everdeen received a number of gifts in The Hunger Games and when the tributes got several dozen rolls spread throughout the Games in Catching Fire. Sponsors give their donations to the mentors, and the money is spent on necessary tools for the tributes.

Haymitch Abernathy and Katniss communicated indirectly through her actions in the arena and the gifts that that she received. Also, Haymitch sent Katniss notes of advice with her gifts, like when she received burn cream, she received a note saying 'Apply generously and stay alive - H' and when she and Peeta Mellark received soup from Haymitch, the note that came with it said 'You call that a kiss? - H' referring to the kiss Katniss and Peeta shared minutes before receiving the gift. Katniss realized that if she keeps up the 'Star-crossed lovers' act, then she and Peeta will receive more gifts.

Mentors can also withhold gifts when they feel that it's necessary. Districts also can send gifts to their tributes or another one if they so choose: when Rue dies in the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss receives a gift of bread from District 11 which she believes was originally meant for Rue but authorized to be sent to her as a thank-you gift for what she did for her. In this case, Katniss believes that the entire District pooled their money together for the gift and notes that its the first time a district sent a gift to a tribute not part of their district. During the 75th Hunger Games, District 3 repeatedly sends gifts of bread rolls to Katniss' alliance of tributes, both because the District 3 tributes are part of it and as a signal for when the breakout from the arena is to take place.

Sponsor Gifts

In the 65th Hunger Games, a sponsor sent a beautiful golden trident to Finnick Odair. Katniss recalled it was the most expensive gift she had ever seen given in any of the Hunger Games. 

Katniss receiving the spile in the 75th Hunger Games

In the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss received burn medicine, broth, crescent bread from Rue's district, sleep syrup and a container of the rich lamb dish she enjoyed during her time in the Capitol.

In the 75th Hunger Games, the alliance of Beetee, Mags, Katniss, Peeta, Johanna, Wiress, and Finnick received bread from various districts several times, always able to divide it equally between them. They also received a spile which helped them get water from the trees, and a tube of ointment to help their skin recover from the poisonous fog.

Examples of items that can be sent to tributes

• Food

• Canteens, plastic water containers or water skins, empty or full
• Iodine (a chemical for the purifying of water)
• Weapons

• Clothing

• Blankets and/or sleeping bag

• Matches
• Firewood

• Medicine or first aid supplies, from headache pills to advanced anti-infection drugs

• Rope

• Pack or bag, empty or full

• Night-vision glasses

• Silverware
• Spile

Differences between the book and movie

• The gifts do not come in a protective silver casing in the books.
• In the book, Katniss receives bread from District 11, sleep serum, burn medicine, soup and lamb stew. In the movie, she receives burn medicine and soup.
• In the movie, the parachutes emit a distinctive chime, while in the books they are silent.
• In the movie, the gifts Katniss received were accompanied with a small note from Haymitch to hint what she needs to do with the gift or how she needs to act to stay alive. However, in the book, there were no notes and Katniss was left to interpret what each gift meant.