Photo by: Emily Paine
Bison Nation Provides Over $1 Million in Support During Annual One Herd One Day Giving Challenge
5/7/2021 2:58:00 PM | Bison Club
A Record-total 2,903 Donors Contributed to Bucknell University’s Athletics & Recreation Program During the 24-Hour Event
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After nearly doubling the previous high dollar total a year ago, alumni, parents and friends of the Bucknell University athletics and recreation program came together in unprecedented fashion this week, setting yet another record during the One Herd One Day giving challenge on May 5-6. For the first time ever, the Bison Nation eclipsed the $1 million mark in financial support, as $1,057,765 was raised from 2,903 supportive donors.
"What an amazing day for Bucknell University athletics and recreation! One Herd One Day was a great example of the tremendous pride and passion our alumni, parents and friends have for the institution and in particular for our athletics programs," said Jermaine Truax, director of athletics and recreation. "This year's record-setting 24-hour giving challenge showed that the generosity of the collective Bison Family is simply amazing, and it is why we are all so proud to wear the Orange & Blue."
Members of the Bucknell Athletics staff, head coaches, student-athletes, and colleagues in University Advancement worked hard to promote the day that resulted in this historic outcome.
"I can't thank the coaches and our team of colleagues in University Advancement enough for all their efforts with the event," said Maisha Kelly, senior associate director of athletics for development. "Our success is an outcome of the programs our coaches lead and the student-athletes who populate their rosters. Today was a huge victory and a step forward in continuing to elevate all that we do. It was also a celebration of perseverance through a year that presented so many hurdles ... all of which we have cleared with grace."
Baseball ($155,465) and football ($110,548) both eclipsed the $100,000 mark to finish 1-2 in terms of dollars raised. The men's soccer ($78,801), spiked shoe ($77,148) and men's lacrosse ($73,316) programs rounded out the top five.
Women's soccer finished seventh overall with $53,478, and was the top women's program for the second year in a row. Field hockey, fresh off its Patriot League title and NCAA first round win, finished second among the women's programs with $47,876 and led all women's programs with 130 donors.
For the third consecutive year, the men's golf program led the way in average gift size at $826, followed by baseball ($673) and men's lacrosse ($461). In terms of total donors, football topped the list with a new program single-year-record of 351, followed by spiked shoe (335) and baseball (231).
"The concept of a giving challenge has been extremely successful for our programs for nearly a decade now, but the commitment made by our Bison Family this year was absolutely phenomenal," said senior associate director of athletics Todd Newcomb '88, P'19, the director of the Bison Club. "In addition to the record-setting support we received from our donor base, the event could not have been the success that it was without the assistance of several departments on campus, most notably University Advancement and its gift processing team. Topping the million dollar mark was truly a team effort."
The challenge was a success in every way, as eight of Bucknell's varsity programs set all-time highs in terms of dollars raised while nine established new donor marks. In addition, recreation and club sports programs received over $72,000 in financial support.
If you missed the opportunity to support Bucknell's athletics and recreation program during the challenge, you can make a gift on-line by clicking here.
Final Program Rankings – Total Donors
1. Football 351
2. Spiked Shoe 335
3. Baseball 231
4. Wrestling 200
5. Men's Soccer 190
6. Men's Lacrosse 159
7. Field Hockey 130
8. Women's Soccer 124
9. Women's Swimming & Diving 111
Men's Basketball 111
11. Men's Swimming & Diving 101
12. Women's Rowing 100
13. Women's Basketball 95
14. Women's Lacrosse 90
Bison Athletics Fund for Excellence 90
16. Softball 89
17. Men's Tennis 68
18. Women's Tennis 60
19. Men's Water Polo 59
20. Women's Water Polo 58
21. Men's Golf 55
Volleyball 55
23. Cheerleading 47
24. Women's Golf 40
25. Berger Varsity Weight Room 26
26. Sports Medicine/Athletic Training 20
27. Women's Athletics 15
28. Bucknell Athletics Leadership Inst. 14
29. Bison Band 5
Final Program Rankings – Total Dollars Donated
1. Baseball $155,465
2. Football $110,548
3. Men's Soccer $78,801
4. Spiked Shoe $77,148
5. Men's Lacrosse $73,316
6. Bison Athletics Fund For Excellence $54,393
7. Women's Soccer $53,478
8. Field Hockey $47,876
9. Men's Golf $45,441
10. Women's Lacrosse $30,098
11. Men's Tennis $29,117
12. Wrestling $25,751
13. Women's Rowing $25,172
14. Men's Basketball $23,801
15. Men's Water Polo $21,371
16. Men's Swimming & Diving $21,101
17. Softball $17,881
18. Women's Swimming & Diving $17,809
19. Women's Water Polo $15,537
20. Women's Basketball $14,752
21. Women's Golf $14,345
22. Volleyball $11,539
23. Women's Tennis $9,516
24. Cheerleading $5,048
25. Women's Athletics $1,916
26. Berger Varsity Weight Room $813
27. Sports Medicine/Athletic Training $576
28. Bucknell Athletics Leadership Inst. $380
29. Bison Band $301
"What an amazing day for Bucknell University athletics and recreation! One Herd One Day was a great example of the tremendous pride and passion our alumni, parents and friends have for the institution and in particular for our athletics programs," said Jermaine Truax, director of athletics and recreation. "This year's record-setting 24-hour giving challenge showed that the generosity of the collective Bison Family is simply amazing, and it is why we are all so proud to wear the Orange & Blue."
Members of the Bucknell Athletics staff, head coaches, student-athletes, and colleagues in University Advancement worked hard to promote the day that resulted in this historic outcome.
"I can't thank the coaches and our team of colleagues in University Advancement enough for all their efforts with the event," said Maisha Kelly, senior associate director of athletics for development. "Our success is an outcome of the programs our coaches lead and the student-athletes who populate their rosters. Today was a huge victory and a step forward in continuing to elevate all that we do. It was also a celebration of perseverance through a year that presented so many hurdles ... all of which we have cleared with grace."
Baseball ($155,465) and football ($110,548) both eclipsed the $100,000 mark to finish 1-2 in terms of dollars raised. The men's soccer ($78,801), spiked shoe ($77,148) and men's lacrosse ($73,316) programs rounded out the top five.
Women's soccer finished seventh overall with $53,478, and was the top women's program for the second year in a row. Field hockey, fresh off its Patriot League title and NCAA first round win, finished second among the women's programs with $47,876 and led all women's programs with 130 donors.
For the third consecutive year, the men's golf program led the way in average gift size at $826, followed by baseball ($673) and men's lacrosse ($461). In terms of total donors, football topped the list with a new program single-year-record of 351, followed by spiked shoe (335) and baseball (231).
"The concept of a giving challenge has been extremely successful for our programs for nearly a decade now, but the commitment made by our Bison Family this year was absolutely phenomenal," said senior associate director of athletics Todd Newcomb '88, P'19, the director of the Bison Club. "In addition to the record-setting support we received from our donor base, the event could not have been the success that it was without the assistance of several departments on campus, most notably University Advancement and its gift processing team. Topping the million dollar mark was truly a team effort."
The challenge was a success in every way, as eight of Bucknell's varsity programs set all-time highs in terms of dollars raised while nine established new donor marks. In addition, recreation and club sports programs received over $72,000 in financial support.
If you missed the opportunity to support Bucknell's athletics and recreation program during the challenge, you can make a gift on-line by clicking here.
Final Program Rankings – Total Donors
1. Football 351
2. Spiked Shoe 335
3. Baseball 231
4. Wrestling 200
5. Men's Soccer 190
6. Men's Lacrosse 159
7. Field Hockey 130
8. Women's Soccer 124
9. Women's Swimming & Diving 111
Men's Basketball 111
11. Men's Swimming & Diving 101
12. Women's Rowing 100
13. Women's Basketball 95
14. Women's Lacrosse 90
Bison Athletics Fund for Excellence 90
16. Softball 89
17. Men's Tennis 68
18. Women's Tennis 60
19. Men's Water Polo 59
20. Women's Water Polo 58
21. Men's Golf 55
Volleyball 55
23. Cheerleading 47
24. Women's Golf 40
25. Berger Varsity Weight Room 26
26. Sports Medicine/Athletic Training 20
27. Women's Athletics 15
28. Bucknell Athletics Leadership Inst. 14
29. Bison Band 5
Final Program Rankings – Total Dollars Donated
1. Baseball $155,465
2. Football $110,548
3. Men's Soccer $78,801
4. Spiked Shoe $77,148
5. Men's Lacrosse $73,316
6. Bison Athletics Fund For Excellence $54,393
7. Women's Soccer $53,478
8. Field Hockey $47,876
9. Men's Golf $45,441
10. Women's Lacrosse $30,098
11. Men's Tennis $29,117
12. Wrestling $25,751
13. Women's Rowing $25,172
14. Men's Basketball $23,801
15. Men's Water Polo $21,371
16. Men's Swimming & Diving $21,101
17. Softball $17,881
18. Women's Swimming & Diving $17,809
19. Women's Water Polo $15,537
20. Women's Basketball $14,752
21. Women's Golf $14,345
22. Volleyball $11,539
23. Women's Tennis $9,516
24. Cheerleading $5,048
25. Women's Athletics $1,916
26. Berger Varsity Weight Room $813
27. Sports Medicine/Athletic Training $576
28. Bucknell Athletics Leadership Inst. $380
29. Bison Band $301
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