The fourth annual Samford Athletics Giving Day kicked off on Nov. 15, continuing the tradition of supporting Samford Athletics and growing various programs.
Athletics Giving Day began in 2019 as a part of the athlete alumni association, creating an opportunity for former players and Samford affiliates to give back to the university. Last year, the event received 431 donors, with a total of $77,595 raised, a 125% increase from the previous year.
This year, the goal was to reach 500 total donors, which was not achieved, as 300 donors contributed on Giving Day. However, the total amount raised was almost doubled from the previous year, with $130,371 donated.
Samford had a breadth of donors on giving day, as they received contributions from alumni (26%), current students (3%), parents (20%), faculty (18%), and friends of the university (14%).
The Samford Track and Field team raised the most money, with a total of $34,268. Men’s Tennis was a close second, as they raised $26,023 total.
Martin Newton, Samford Athletic Director, stressed the importance of Giving Day, saying, “Philanthropic support is such a critical component to the work we do in this department and the success of our 17 men’s and women’s programs.”
The donations on Giving Day will hopefully help continue Samford’s recent athletic success. Samford soccer, football, and volleyball have all won SoCon Championships this year, with the men’s and women’s basketball teams experiencing early victories.
With growing support in both fan attendance and donation events such as Giving Day, Samford Athletics is continuing its rapid growth, which in turn is helping the university as a whole.
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