CHAPEL HILL – Rams Club members contributed more than $69 million in support of University of North Carolina student-athletes in 2016-17, setting a record level of fundraising for the second time in as many years for the non-profit foundation dedicated to providing scholarship funding, as well as support for facilities and other programs.
Donors gave $69,210,000 in cash gifts, pledges and planned estate gifts – a 12 percent increase from the record total of $61,823,000 established in 2015-16. This funding provided scholarships for more than 500 Tar Heel student-athletes, and helped provide facilities and programming support for all 28 varsity programs and all of Carolina’s 800 student-athletes. Rams Club membership grew in 2016-2017 as well, increasing to 14,726 members from the previous year’s total of 13,824 members.
“Rams Club members believe in providing opportunities,” says Executive Director John Montgomery. “They want to provide opportunities for outstanding student-athletes to have a life-changing college experience at a great public university. I know our members are proud of the student-athletes who represent Carolina, and they should be proud of themselves for making an impact on the lives of their fellow Tar Heels.”
Donors provided $20.3 million to the Scholarship Endowment. Members also gave $23.0 million to facilities projects, the highest total of funding and reflective of the four athletics facility projects currently underway (indoor football practice facility, soccer & lacrosse stadium, field hockey stadium and a track & field complex). Additionally, members provided $13.8 million for the annual fund, $4.15 million in support of individual sport endowments, $5.46 million towards premium seating at Kenan Stadium and the Smith Center, and $2.5 million in miscellaneous gifts.
The Scholarship Endowment generates an investment yield that currently covers approximately 60% of total scholarship costs; the annual fund is critical in making up the difference between the actual cost of scholarships and this yield, while also helping with debt service on major capital projects.
“Our scholarship costs and facility and programming needs are significant,” says Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. “Rams Club members continue to step up to meet those challenges. Our students, coaches and staff appreciate the generosity of our supporters and the key role they play for Carolina Athletics.”
“The core of all we do lies in the scholarship,” says Todd M. Pope, chair of The Rams Club Executive Board of Directors. “The scholarship creates the opportunity for our student-athletes to attend Carolina. From there, we can give these outstanding young men and women the chance to compete at the highest level and to learn lessons that will endure for the rest of their lives.”
The Rams Club, known formally as The Educational Foundation, Inc., was chartered in 1938. It has provided scholarships to approximately 7,000 student-athletes since its inception. For more information on The Rams Club, please visit www.ramsclub.com.
- UNC Communications
Donors gave $69,210,000 in cash gifts, pledges and planned estate gifts – a 12 percent increase from the record total of $61,823,000 established in 2015-16. This funding provided scholarships for more than 500 Tar Heel student-athletes, and helped provide facilities and programming support for all 28 varsity programs and all of Carolina’s 800 student-athletes. Rams Club membership grew in 2016-2017 as well, increasing to 14,726 members from the previous year’s total of 13,824 members.
“Rams Club members believe in providing opportunities,” says Executive Director John Montgomery. “They want to provide opportunities for outstanding student-athletes to have a life-changing college experience at a great public university. I know our members are proud of the student-athletes who represent Carolina, and they should be proud of themselves for making an impact on the lives of their fellow Tar Heels.”
Donors provided $20.3 million to the Scholarship Endowment. Members also gave $23.0 million to facilities projects, the highest total of funding and reflective of the four athletics facility projects currently underway (indoor football practice facility, soccer & lacrosse stadium, field hockey stadium and a track & field complex). Additionally, members provided $13.8 million for the annual fund, $4.15 million in support of individual sport endowments, $5.46 million towards premium seating at Kenan Stadium and the Smith Center, and $2.5 million in miscellaneous gifts.
The Scholarship Endowment generates an investment yield that currently covers approximately 60% of total scholarship costs; the annual fund is critical in making up the difference between the actual cost of scholarships and this yield, while also helping with debt service on major capital projects.
“Our scholarship costs and facility and programming needs are significant,” says Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. “Rams Club members continue to step up to meet those challenges. Our students, coaches and staff appreciate the generosity of our supporters and the key role they play for Carolina Athletics.”
“The core of all we do lies in the scholarship,” says Todd M. Pope, chair of The Rams Club Executive Board of Directors. “The scholarship creates the opportunity for our student-athletes to attend Carolina. From there, we can give these outstanding young men and women the chance to compete at the highest level and to learn lessons that will endure for the rest of their lives.”
The Rams Club, known formally as The Educational Foundation, Inc., was chartered in 1938. It has provided scholarships to approximately 7,000 student-athletes since its inception. For more information on The Rams Club, please visit www.ramsclub.com.
- UNC Communications
