University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Checking in on the Progress of the $1M Challenge Gift to Bulldog Athletics
04.01.2024 | General, Athletics News
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Less than a year ago, UNC Asheville athletics announced they had received a $1 million transformational gift in the form of a 1:1 matching challenge from two donors — Janice & Joe Brumit and an anonymous family. As a reminder, the gifts, $500,000 each, were designated half to Bulldogs men's basketball program and the other half to initiatives that will enhance the student-athlete experience for all 16 of UNC Asheville's athletic programs at the discretion of Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone.
This gift has already helped make significant progress towards supporting the Athletics Department's new strategic plan, Dream Bigger. Achieve More. Some of the priorities outlined in that plan are competitive excellence, the holistic student-athlete experience, improved facilities, and community engagement.
The $1 million matching gift challenge provides an incentive for Bulldog donors, former student-athletes, university alumni, and friends to help continue the momentum of basketball's back-to-back successful campaigns and address the evolving needs of today's student-athletes in regards to facility enhancements, academics, mental health and welfare, nutrition, and other key areas. Gifts from new individual donors and current supporters who increase their gifts from the previous year will count toward the challenge gift criteria.
Since the matching challenge was initiated, UNC Asheville Athletics has already received over $800,000 in new or increased gifts to benefit Bulldog student-athletes, but we're not there yet. Over the next two months, we need to raise an additional $200,000 to fully meet the matching challenge.
"I continue to be moved by the incredible generosity and passion that both initiated the original matching gift and the incredible response we've received since," said Cone. "Bulldog nation always steps up when there is a task at hand, and we know this time it will be no different. Let's raise the additional $200,000 needed to finish out this matching challenge strong!"
Completing the process of raising the $1 million matching amount will result in a total investment of $2 million of new support for Bulldog student-athletes. The impact of these additional investments will allow UNC Asheville Athletics to recruit and retain the best and brightest student-athletes and coaches and provide them with the resources to thrive academically and athletically.
Want to help us cross the finish line on this matching challenge? Please contact Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone at jcone@unca.edu or (828) 251-6922.
