Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Club has Record-Breaking Year
8/17/2012 8:00:00 AM | Bison Club
Aug. 17, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. –With the 2012-13 athletics season officially kicking off today, the Bison Club and the Bucknell University Department of Athletics & Recreation would like to take a moment to sincerely thank all of our donors for the most successful fiscal year in Bison Club history. With the close of the 2012 fiscal year, the Bison Club is proud to announce that an all-time high of $2,221,857 was raised on behalf of the Bucknell Athletics program this past year. This is the ninth straight year the Bison Club has topped the $1 million mark, and the first time it has surpassed $2 million.
“The outstanding support we receive from our alumni, parents and friends allows us to provide our student-athletes with the highest-quality, and most competitive experience possible at the Division I level,” Bucknell director of athletics and recreation John Hardt said. “We continue to be fortunate to have a loyal and dedicated core of athletics donors at Bucknell, and I cannot thank them enough for their continued support of our varsity programs.”
A total of 3,484 supporters made an annual gift to Bucknell Athletics this year, helping the Bison Club surpass its previous all-time mark by more than $405,000. The average size of a gift made to Bucknell Athletics increased to a record-high of $638.
SENIOR GIFT DRIVE REACHES 100% FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR
While supporters of Bison Athletics continue to give back in record numbers, they also seem to have inspired the next generation of alumni: the student-athletes from the Class of 2012. For the second straight year, 100 percent of the senior student-athletes participated in the Senior Gift Drive, as all 139 made a gift to the university prior to graduating last May. In the past three years, 412 of the 416 senior student-athletes have participated in the drive, far surpassing the average participation rate of the general student body as a whole.
“This is just another area where our student-athletes continue to be leaders off the field,” said Hardt. “In this day and age when philanthropy plays such a vital role in the existence of so many of our programs, it is imperative that we instill a sense of giving within our student-athletes before they leave the institution. It is a tribute to them, our coaches and our Bison Club fundraisers that they have supported the concept so vigorously year after year.”
2012-13 BISON CLUB CAMPAIGN ALREADY UNDERWAY
The Bison Club and the Department of Athletics & Recreation are truly grateful for your generous contributions and support, and we look forward to another year of growth in 2012-13.
The Bison Club would like to thank every contributor for making a difference in the lives of the more than 750 student-athletes at Bucknell University. Last year, Bison Athletics ranked fourth nationally in student-athlete graduation rates. We rank fifth among all Division I institutions in total number of Academic All-Americans. We have won 17 of the 22 Patriot League Presidents' Cups while winning 91 team championships in 22 years. This success does not happen without your help.
The Bison Club is already accepting donations towards its 2012-13 annual fund drive. For more information, or to make a gift to the Bison Club, you can donate ONLINE, or contact the Bison Club office at one of the following numbers: 570-577-1771, 570-577-3549 or 570-577-1912.
