Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University Trustee Challenge a Huge Success for Department of Athletics & Recreation
5/23/2016 9:51:00 AM | General
LEWISBURG, PA – On April 28, Bucknell University conducted its fourth annual one-day giving challenge that was supported by the Bucknell Board of Trustees. When the amazing day was over, the Department of Athletics & Recreation once again stood at the top, raising over $600,000 from more than 1,600 donors.
The Trustees donated $150,000 to be used as challenge funds for all university designations and an additional $100,000 to be used as challenge funds for Financial Aid during the event. The $150,000 of challenge money was awarded to different designations across campus based on the number of gifts made to each designation during the day of giving. During that 24-hour period, there were 5,260 gifts made to the annual fund to approximately 200 different designations across the university. Bison Club designations (all varsity sports, sports medicine, cheerleading) accounted for 35 percent of ALL the gifts made that day, resulting in approximately $50,000 additional dollars from the challenge pot. The club sport programs under the department's recreation umbrella raised an additional $60,000 on more than 780 gifts, claiming approximately $27,000 additional dollars from the challenge pot. All told, Bucknell's Department of Athletics & Recreation raised over $600,000 on 2,800 gifts, and will share an additional $77,000 from the challenge pot.
“For the fourth year in a row Bucknellians across the country showed how much pride and love they have for the institution and in particular for our athletics programs,” said Todd Newcomb '88, the director of the Bison Club. “Members of the Annual Fund staff, our athletics development team, our Bison Club Board of Directors, and our head coaches worked hard to promote the day, and it really showed once the final numbers were tallied.”
While the Bucknell Fund was the top individual designation for the day with almost 800 gifts, the Football program finished third overall and first among the Bison Club designations with 254 gifts. In fact, Bison Athletics finished strong across the board, with 12 of the top 20, and 23 out of 24 varsity designations finishing in the top-40 designations for the day.
“All of us associated with Bucknell's athletics program thank those who helped make the day a winning one for the Bison,” said Newcomb. “It was a true team effort, including some really hard work on the phones and across all social media platforms from our athletics development team, and the additional funding will go a long way in helping us reach this year's fundraising goal of $2.4-million. On behalf of our coaches and student-athletes, thank you for such great support.”
Bison Athletics Designations on April 28(note total dollars includes pledge amounts)*:
Football – 3rd overall, 254 gifts for $105,433
Spiked Shoe – 5th overall, 204 gifts for $49,268
Field Hockey – 8th overall, 159 gifts for $14,468
Women's Tennis – 9th overall, 142 gifts for $21,899
Women's Rowing – 11th overall, 116 gifts for $35,756
Bison Club unrestricted – 13th overall, 112 gifts for $48,989
Baseball – 14th overall, 105 gifts for $21,705
Men's Lacrosse – 15th overall, 100 gifts for $40,143
Women's Basketball – 16th overall, 80 gifts for $9,894
Men's Tennis – 17th overall, 76 gifts for $17,889
Men's Soccer – 19th overall, 73 gifts for $19,561
Men's Basketball – 20th (tied) overall, 70 gifts for $17,519
Volleyball – 20th (tied) overall, 70 gifts for $12,968
Men's Swimming & Diving – 24th overall, 59 gifts for $15,852
Wrestling – 26th overall, 53 gifts for $27,352
Women's Swimming & Diving – 27th overall, 51 gifts for $10,210
Women's Soccer – 28th overall, 47 gifts for $7,108
Softball – 29th overall, 45 gifts for $5,926
Men's Water Polo – 30th overall, 44 gifts for $10,877
Men's Golf – 33rd overall, 36 gifts for $7,738
Women's Water Polo – 34th overall, 35 gifts for $9,105
Women's Golf – 37th overall, 31 gifts for $7,840
Women's Lacrosse – 38th overall, 30 gifts for $7,945
Cheerleading – 66th overall, 7 gifts for $1,551
Pep Band – 118th overall, 2 gifts for $255
Women's Athletics – 145th overall, 1 gift for $210
*Final dollars raised is subject to change based on pledge fulfillment by the end of our fiscal year on June 30. Trustee Challenge funds will be distributed after the close of the 2015-16 fiscal year.
