Athletic Foundation President Kevin Brown speaks with Dr. Joan Lorden during the annual Green Jacket reception. |
49ers Athletic Foundation Announces Record Annual Fundraising
July 22, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - For the fourth straight year, Mike Hummer, Executive Director of the Athletic Foundation, has announced that annual donations to the Charlotte 49ers Athletic Foundation have surpassed $1 million. The 49er Club raised a record $1.2 million in 2007-08, surpassing last year's record of $1.138 million.
The annual donations are received through four main entities: The Annual Giving Campaign, the Great Gold Rush Auction, the 49er Club Golf Outing and the "Let Me Play" luncheon. The spring semester highlights the Athletic Foundation's efforts. The 49er Club Golf Outing is held in April, the Great Gold Rush Auction is held in June and the Annual Giving Campaign concludes with the end of the fiscal year on June 30. Annual donations do not include monies raised through capital gifts or other restricted giving donations.
"We had an exceptional year," said Hummer. "Our Annual Giving Campign totals are on the rise and our highly-anticipated special events continue to solidify our multi-faceted fundraising efforts. We have an outstanding core of 49er Club members who help us to grow year in and year out. This year, Kevin Brown did an outstanding job as Athletic Foundation President and we received great leadership from the members of our executive committee who served as chairpersons for our major fundraisers. We also must thank the Presenting Sponsors of our special events and, most importantly, the many alumni, corporate partners and friends of the 49ers whose generous support is the lifeline of the Athletic Foundation."
The Annual Giving Campaign was chaired by Rich Rantala, of Balfour Beatty Construction, the Great Gold Rush Auction was chaired by Marilyn Gallagher, and the 49er Club Golf Outing was chaired by David Stanford, of RT Dooley Construction. Presenting sponsors included Wachovia Bank ("Let Me Play"); Dr. James Fleischli and OrthoCarolina (Golf Outing), and Chartwells (Great Gold Rush Auction).
"I can not say enough about the support and participation of our fans, alumni and supporters," said 49ers Director of Athletics Judy Rose. "The community at-large continues to show what a vital role we play and through their support we are able to take the steps to make them proud. The Foundation personnel, the board and the many volunteers who step up in our name are to be commended."
"This has certainly been a very successful year for the 49ers both in terms of fundraising as well as student-athlete performance in the classroom and on the playing fields," said Brown, Vice President of TIAA-CREF. "Our board invested a great deal of time and energy fundraising throughout the year and their efforts are reflected in the year-end numbers. Our student-athletes continue to be great representatives of the institution garnering a variety of academic and athletic awards."
Charlotte won six Atlantic 10 Championships and saw three teams advance to NCAA Tournament competition, including the golf program which placed eighth at the NCAA Championships. The 49ers also had hree student-athletes named ESPN the Magazine Academic all-America while five 49ers were named Atlantic 10 Scholar-Athletes of the Year in their respective sports. Women's soccer Academic all-America Lindsey Ozimek was named the A-10's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
