West Virginia University Club Sports, in cooperation with the WVU Foundation, is launching its first ever Club Sports Fundraising Challenge to help raise money for equipment and travel expenses for the University’s club sports.

Student athletes organize, fund and promote their clubs with the ultimate goal of competing with colleges and universities on both a regional and national level.

The WVU Club Sports Fundraising Challenge goes beyond that, encouraging participants to ask family, friends and the community to support their club with cash donations. The club that raises the most money and the club that raises the most per member will receive an additional cash award to put toward their club’s needs.

Bruce Brubaker, program coordinator for WVU Club Sports, believes that WVU Club Sports Fundraising Challenge will be beneficial to the participants leading the way.

“Friends Asking Friends is an excellent opportunity to supplement the WVU Club Sports budget,” said Brubaker. “Not only does it raise funds for great WVU Club Sports, but keeps participants engaged with friendly competition.”

The innovative fundraising tool Friends Asking Friends allows WVU Club Sports participants to use a peer-to-peer fundraising program, taking advantage of modern technology and social networking sites while soliciting family and friends.

Erica Bentley, grants and development administrator for WVU’s Division of Student Life, says the Club Sports Fundraising Challenge will pay off for hard-working students.

“Clubs have historically raised funds through a variety of time intensive, but low return fundraising activities,” she said. “The Division of Student Life, in cooperation with the WVU Foundation, is excited to provide this opportunity for WVU’s Club Sports participants.”

Bentley believes this responsive competition will teach the importance of philanthropy and the skillfulness of fundraising.

“The Club Sports Challenge will give these students an opportunity to learn to craft a fundraising appeal, share personal stories about why their clubs are so important to their college experience and of course, raise money to help them compete regionally and nationally,” said Bentley.

To donate to the WVU Club Sports Fundraising Challenge and to learn more about WVU Club Sports, visit www.wvuscf.kintera.org.

WVU Club Sports provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the University community to shape their own recreational experience through competitive/instructional sports. Currently, over 40 Club Sports are administered by the WVU Campus Recreation Department including competitive cheer, soccer, fishing, volleyball, archery, bowling, boxing, fencing, mixed martial arts, cycling, dance, ice hockey, equestrian, roller derby and rugby.

Donations to the WVU Club Sports Fundraising Challenge are made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $1 billion fundraising effort by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2017.

-WVU-

es/09/16/14

CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304.284.4056; wnevin@wvuf.org

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