Thursday, Apr 12, 2012
Fresh off an NEC Championship, Rider’s field hockey program also captured first prize in Rider’s second annual Raise Your Game Athletics Fundraising Challenge, sponsored by the Department of Athletics.
by Steve Rudenstein and Sean Ramsden
While the weather has been abnormally warm across the northeast this spring, it wasn’t as hot as the competition in Rider’s second annual Raise Your Game Athletics Fundraising Challenge, sponsored by the Department of Athletics.
Starting with the beginning of the 2011-12 academic year, each Rider team tried to generate the most support among its former student-athletes, based on gifts of at least $25. Once again, the challenge came down to the wire, with an increase in this year’s total prize money fueling the competition and leading to an increase in total gifts.
By the end of March, Rider’s field hockey program earned the most participation points to win the $6,000 first prize.
“We are very grateful and very appreciative to all of our alumni who stepped up to help us achieve our goal,” head field hockey coach Lori Hussong said. “Because of their generosity, we will be able to give our team the best chance to be successful. The overwhelming response from our field hockey alumni family shows that they still have great pride in being a Rider Bronc.”
Field hockey held off the wrestling program – last year’s winner – and the swimming & diving team to finish at the top of the standings. For its second place finish, wrestling was awarded a $4,000 second prize, while swimming & diving earned $2,000 for third place. The men’s soccer team showed the largest improvement in former athlete participation to a $1,000 Most Improved team prize.
The prize money will be utilized for expenses such as equipment, uniforms and team travel. The winning teams will also be recognized at the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in June, part of Reunion Weekend 2012 activities.
“I want to congratulate the field hockey program and the other winning teams in the second annual Raise Your Game Challenge,” said Don Harnum, Rider’s director of Athletics. “Many of our teams have benefited from this challenge since its implementation. We appreciate the continued commitment of our Rider athletic alumni, and recognize how important they are to the future success of our teams and the Athletics department.”
While this year’s challenge may have concluded, you can expect even stronger results next year. To make a gift any time to one of Rider’s Athletics teams, please go to: http://alumni.rider.edu/giveathletics. If you have any questions or need further information about the Raise Your Game Challenge, please contact Steve Rudenstein, associate director of major gifts for Athletics at 609-896-5291 or [email protected].
