Gamecock Athletics Launches Carolina Committed Campaign
Features proposed Williams-Brice improvements
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The University of South Carolina Department of Athletics announced today the launch of the most aggressive fundraising campaign in department history – Carolina Committed. Aiming to generate $35 million through purely philanthropic donations by the end of 2023, the campaign will focus its resources directly on enhancing the South Carolina student-athlete and fan experiences. To date, over $5 million in gifts and pledges have been secured, including a seven-figure leadership gift for the campaign's golf clubhouse project.
"Over the past decade, our commitment to improving facilities has been tremendous," said Athletics Director Ray Tanner. "In my time as Athletics Director, we have been able enhance the facilities and resources of each of our 21 programs. However, there is still work to be done updating existing facilities and constructing new ones to improve not only the experience of our student-athletes but that of our dedicated fanbase as they visit our venues."
The Carolina Committed campaign is built upon three pillars – For the Fan, Program Enhancements, and Outside the Lines – and will address the departments immediate needs in improving the fan experience at Williams-Brice Stadium and Colonial Life Arena, enhancing Olympic sport facilities, as well as supporting academic and professional development opportunities for student-athletes.
"We have the best and most dedicated fanbase in intercollegiate athletics, and one of the main focal points of this campaign is to improve their gameday experience," said Executive Associate Athletics Director for Development / Gamecock Club CEO Steve Eigenbrot. "There has been a tremendous focus on making sure our student-athletes have a world class experience over my 12 years here. We need to build on that success and ensure that our fans will enjoy supporting our student-athletes for years to come and that means making further investments in the fan experience."
The For the Fan pillar of the campaign has already seen early investment, which could be leveraged as early as this off-season in the form of new ribbon boards and LED stadium lights at Williams-Brice Stadium for the 2022 season. Additionally, fundraising efforts are ongoing for a series of renovations to the stadium's west main concourse and new west premium elevators, which could also come online for the 2022 season.
The campaign's Program Enhancements pillar will build on momentum created from past fundraising efforts by enhancing program-specific facilities such as building a state-of-the-art golf clubhouse, updating the players' space in Founders Park, as well as graphics, lighting, and scoreboard improvements to the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex, Stone Stadium, and Carolina Natatorium.
The Outside the Lines pillar of the campaign will focus on broader initiatives like bolstering the Women of SC fund that was created to improve funding of women's sports and educating student-athletes on the opportunities and complexities of name, image, likeness agreements, as well as funding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
"Our development team is excited to take on the challenge of executing the most aggressive fundraising campaign in department history," Associate Athletics Director for Development Wayne Hiott said. "Our Garnet Society members have made a transformational impact on our Athletics Department over the past decade, and we look forward to continuing to build on that success during the Carolina Committed campaign."
In 2012, Gamecock Athletics created the Garnet Society, which is now comprised of over 450 individuals and families who have gone above and beyond their Gamecock Club memberships. Garnet Society members have funded needed capital improvements and program enhancements through 100% tax deductible donations. Over the past 10 years, Garnet Society members have donated over $150 million to support Gamecock Athletics. The Carolina Committed campaign will build upon that work and ensure that South Carolina teams are able to compete at the highest level.
For more information on the Carolina Committed campaign, please visit https://thegamecockclub.com/garnet-society/.
Features proposed Williams-Brice improvements
Story Links
The University of South Carolina Department of Athletics announced today the launch of the most aggressive fundraising campaign in department history – Carolina Committed. Aiming to generate $35 million through purely philanthropic donations by the end of 2023, the campaign will focus its resources directly on enhancing the South Carolina student-athlete and fan experiences. To date, over $5 million in gifts and pledges have been secured, including a seven-figure leadership gift for the campaign's golf clubhouse project.
"Over the past decade, our commitment to improving facilities has been tremendous," said Athletics Director Ray Tanner. "In my time as Athletics Director, we have been able enhance the facilities and resources of each of our 21 programs. However, there is still work to be done updating existing facilities and constructing new ones to improve not only the experience of our student-athletes but that of our dedicated fanbase as they visit our venues."
The Carolina Committed campaign is built upon three pillars – For the Fan, Program Enhancements, and Outside the Lines – and will address the departments immediate needs in improving the fan experience at Williams-Brice Stadium and Colonial Life Arena, enhancing Olympic sport facilities, as well as supporting academic and professional development opportunities for student-athletes.
"We have the best and most dedicated fanbase in intercollegiate athletics, and one of the main focal points of this campaign is to improve their gameday experience," said Executive Associate Athletics Director for Development / Gamecock Club CEO Steve Eigenbrot. "There has been a tremendous focus on making sure our student-athletes have a world class experience over my 12 years here. We need to build on that success and ensure that our fans will enjoy supporting our student-athletes for years to come and that means making further investments in the fan experience."
The For the Fan pillar of the campaign has already seen early investment, which could be leveraged as early as this off-season in the form of new ribbon boards and LED stadium lights at Williams-Brice Stadium for the 2022 season. Additionally, fundraising efforts are ongoing for a series of renovations to the stadium's west main concourse and new west premium elevators, which could also come online for the 2022 season.
The campaign's Program Enhancements pillar will build on momentum created from past fundraising efforts by enhancing program-specific facilities such as building a state-of-the-art golf clubhouse, updating the players' space in Founders Park, as well as graphics, lighting, and scoreboard improvements to the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex, Stone Stadium, and Carolina Natatorium.
The Outside the Lines pillar of the campaign will focus on broader initiatives like bolstering the Women of SC fund that was created to improve funding of women's sports and educating student-athletes on the opportunities and complexities of name, image, likeness agreements, as well as funding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
"Our development team is excited to take on the challenge of executing the most aggressive fundraising campaign in department history," Associate Athletics Director for Development Wayne Hiott said. "Our Garnet Society members have made a transformational impact on our Athletics Department over the past decade, and we look forward to continuing to build on that success during the Carolina Committed campaign."
In 2012, Gamecock Athletics created the Garnet Society, which is now comprised of over 450 individuals and families who have gone above and beyond their Gamecock Club memberships. Garnet Society members have funded needed capital improvements and program enhancements through 100% tax deductible donations. Over the past 10 years, Garnet Society members have donated over $150 million to support Gamecock Athletics. The Carolina Committed campaign will build upon that work and ensure that South Carolina teams are able to compete at the highest level.
For more information on the Carolina Committed campaign, please visit https://thegamecockclub.com/garnet-society/.
