Buff and Blue Fund Challenge Nets More Than $350,000 to Support Student-Athletes
10/20/2021 5:14:00 PM | Baseball, General, Gymnastics, Women's Lacrosse, Water Polo
The GW Athletics Buff & Blue Fund Challenge was a great success with the department raising more than $350,000 from over 1,200 donors, one-third of which were alumni student-athletes. The Buff & Blue Fund Challenge was made possible through the philanthropic effort of GW Athletics Advisory Council Chair Michelle Rubin, ESIA '91, who provided $20,000 in additional funding that will be distributed to the various winning programs.Â
"Every year the Buff & Blue Fund Challenge becomes a bigger success story," said Rubin. "I'm honored to be able to be a part of engaging our community around our current student-athletes, and to see the inner competitive nature of our alumni, parents and friends across the world still burning as bright as ever is thrilling to watch. A display of discipline and excellence continues through the generosity of the thousands of donors who continue to make a commitment to all of our GW student-athletes. That's what the Buff & Blue Fund Challenge is all about."
Congratulations to this year's Buff & Blue Fund Challenge winners.
Highest Student-Athlete Alumni Giving Percentage
First Place: Men's Water PoloÂ
Second Place: Gymnastics
Most Dollars Raised
First Place: Gymnastics
Second Place: Men's Water PoloÂ
Most Donors
First Place: Lacrosse
Second Place: Baseball
"This was our first win in the history of the Buff and Blue Fund Challenge, so this is a special victory for our team," said GW Lacrosse Head Coach Jenny Ulehla. "Our alumnae have been working diligently for a moment like this and a huge thanks goes out to a core group of these women. Additionally, our current student-athletes took this challenge on and reached out to their friends and family to ask for support. It was a lot of fun and it just goes to show how a collective effort can really make a difference."
"This challenge exists because of the generosity of alumni, family, friends and fans. It is a powerful example of what teamwork can accomplish. I would like to thank everyone who gave to GW Athletics for ensuring a bright future for our current student-athletes," said Athletics Director Tanya Vogel. Â
If you missed out on the challenge and would like to support GW Athletics visit https://go.gwu.edu/give2buffblue.