TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – When Indiana State University hosts the school's first Day of Giving next spring, it has a road map for success.
That is because the Sycamore Athletic Fund's pilot Day of Giving – All In for Elevate – was a rousing success and surpassed expectations in all categories.
The Sycamore Athletic Fund and Sycamore Athletics raised over $153,000 from 720 donors Thursday, far exceeding the goal of 150 donors in the 24-hour window of raising money.
"I am absolutely thrilled by this outcome," Indiana State Director of Athletics
Sherard Clinkscales said. "We definitely exceeded expectations. I am thankful that President Curtis allowed us to pilot this effort in advance of the University's Day of Giving in March. The primary focus was to take lessons learned from the pilot to ensure the University Day of Giving will have even greater success!"
The Sycamore Basketball team raised $38,175 leading all teams and funds, including meeting the challenge set by Ray and Lu Sumner that unlocked a $20,000 donation.
Indiana State Track and Field and Cross Country brought in the greatest number of donors with 217 donations to the program. By finishing the day with the greatest number of donors, Track and Field and Cross Country added an extra $1,000 winning the Donor Challenge set forth by Gordon and Peggy Tanner.
The Sycamore Fuel Initiative, a program that helps provide all student-athletes with balanced meals and proper nutrition before and after workouts, added over $25,000 to the fund thanks to several generous donors.
In all it registered as one of the single highest-grossing days for Sycamore Athletics and the Sycamore Athletic Fund, benefiting all 15 intercollegiate athletic teams and over 400 student-athletes.
Not only did the 24-hour campaign raise money for the Sycamore Athletic Fund and Sycamore Athletics but it also highlighted the excitement surrounding Sycamore Athletics with football getting ranked for the first time in four years, women's basketball getting off to a 2-0 start, cross country sending a runner to the NCAA Championships and
Greg Lansing moving into second place in all-time wins at Indiana State.
The over $153,000 raised came from 37 different states and three different countries outside of the United States, showcasing the ever-expanding reach of the Sycamore Athletics brand which continues to grow well outside of the Wabash Valley.
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