Record-Setting Number of Donors Contribute $1.3 Million During One Herd One Day Giving Challenge
4/5/2023 10:00:00 AM | Bison Club
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The "strength of the herd" came shining through once again this year, as alumni, parents and friends of Bucknell Athletics & Recreation united for yet another record-setting One Herd One Day giving challenge. With the help of 3,381 supportive donors – nearly 450 more than the previous high – $1,321,538 was generated in just 24 hours (plus a brief overtime).
"Bison Nation once again rose to the challenge with record-setting participation on One Herd One Day," said director of Athletics & Recreation Jermaine Truax. "I am extremely thankful for the generosity of our alumni, parents and friends, whose support directly impacts our mission of providing a transformational scholar-athlete experience for every one of our more than 750 student-athletes. One Herd One Day is the most significant day of the year for our Athletics & Recreation program. Not only does the giving challenge provide essential funds for each of our 27 varsity programs and 22 club sports programs, but it fosters participation and encourages connectivity between our coaches and student-athletes and their supporters. Thank you to all of our dedicated supporters who demonstrated their Bison pride."
"The collaboration between Athletics & Recreation and University Advancement is on full display during One Herd One Day, and I sincerely appreciate my colleagues for their tireless efforts," said vice president for University Advancement Scott Rosevear. "Most of all, I am humbled by the generous support of Bison Nation and thankful for every single donor that made a gift in support of the Orange & Blue."
Out of the 23 varsity fundraising accounts, 14 saw increases from 2022, and 11 set One Herd One Day team records. These included men's and women's basketball, football, women's golf, men's & women's lacrosse, softball, men's swimming & diving, men's tennis, wrestling and the cheerleading program.
The Bison football program's Gridiron Club snapped the baseball program's two-year run as the challenge champion by raising a team-record $178,603. Baseball finished second this year at $141,444 but captured the title for the most donors with 319, smashing its previous high of 232 set a year ago. The Spiked Shoe club (cross country/track & field) also had 319 donors to match baseball for the lead in that category.
On the club sports side of the campaign, men's crew once again led the way in both the number of donors and dollars raised, with a program-record 446 and $127,911, respectively. For the second straight year, the men's squash program paced the group with an average gift size of $976.
Of the 3,381 One Herd One Day donors, 82 committed matching or challenge gifts, sparking the fundraising effort with a total of $391,637.
"We are beyond thankful for the support we continue to receive from our Bison family," said senior associate director of athletics Joel Moersch. "The sustained growth of One Herd One Day is playing a vital role in the Bison Club's Drive for Five, and we appreciate our alumni, families and friends answering the call with another record-breaking year."
Following football and baseball in third place was the Spiked Shoe club, which finished just shy of a program mark with $92,769. Men's golf ($85,715) and men's lacrosse ($81,209) rounded out the top five. The lacrosse program garnered the top spot among the women's teams with an all-time program mark of $34,625.
For the fifth year running, men's golf led the varsity programs in average gift size at $963, followed by football ($698), men's tennis ($594), and men's lacrosse ($593).
Varsity Program Rankings – Total Donors
1. Baseball 319
Spiked Shoe (XC, T&F) 319
3. Gridiron Club (FB) 256
4. Grappler Club (Wrestling) 225
5. Women's Lacrosse 172
6. Backcourt Club (MBB) 162
7. Men's Soccer 149
8. Men's Lacrosse 137
9. Women's Soccer 125
10. Women's Rowing 112
Varsity Program Rankings – Total Dollars Donated
1. Gridiron Club (FB) $178,603
2. Baseball $141,444
3. Spiked Shoe (XC, T&F) $92,769
4. Men's Golf $85,715
5. Men's Lacrosse $81,209
6. Men's Soccer $68,128
7. Backcourt Club (MBB) $64,149
8. Grappler Club (Wrestling) $44,926
9. Men's Tennis $42,780
10. Men's Swimming & Diving $38,765
Club Sport Program Rankings – Total Donors
1. Men's Crew 446
2. Men's Rugby 92
3. Ice Hockey 22
4. Men's Squash 17
5. General 17
Club Sport Program Rankings – Total Dollars Donated
1, Men's Crew $127,911
2. Men's Rugby $26,353
3. Men's Squash $16,600
4. Ice Hockey $10,870
5. General $3,967
View the full leaderboard. Please note that donor and dollar counts are considered preliminary.
"Bison Nation once again rose to the challenge with record-setting participation on One Herd One Day," said director of Athletics & Recreation Jermaine Truax. "I am extremely thankful for the generosity of our alumni, parents and friends, whose support directly impacts our mission of providing a transformational scholar-athlete experience for every one of our more than 750 student-athletes. One Herd One Day is the most significant day of the year for our Athletics & Recreation program. Not only does the giving challenge provide essential funds for each of our 27 varsity programs and 22 club sports programs, but it fosters participation and encourages connectivity between our coaches and student-athletes and their supporters. Thank you to all of our dedicated supporters who demonstrated their Bison pride."
"The collaboration between Athletics & Recreation and University Advancement is on full display during One Herd One Day, and I sincerely appreciate my colleagues for their tireless efforts," said vice president for University Advancement Scott Rosevear. "Most of all, I am humbled by the generous support of Bison Nation and thankful for every single donor that made a gift in support of the Orange & Blue."
Out of the 23 varsity fundraising accounts, 14 saw increases from 2022, and 11 set One Herd One Day team records. These included men's and women's basketball, football, women's golf, men's & women's lacrosse, softball, men's swimming & diving, men's tennis, wrestling and the cheerleading program.
The Bison football program's Gridiron Club snapped the baseball program's two-year run as the challenge champion by raising a team-record $178,603. Baseball finished second this year at $141,444 but captured the title for the most donors with 319, smashing its previous high of 232 set a year ago. The Spiked Shoe club (cross country/track & field) also had 319 donors to match baseball for the lead in that category.
On the club sports side of the campaign, men's crew once again led the way in both the number of donors and dollars raised, with a program-record 446 and $127,911, respectively. For the second straight year, the men's squash program paced the group with an average gift size of $976.
Of the 3,381 One Herd One Day donors, 82 committed matching or challenge gifts, sparking the fundraising effort with a total of $391,637.
"We are beyond thankful for the support we continue to receive from our Bison family," said senior associate director of athletics Joel Moersch. "The sustained growth of One Herd One Day is playing a vital role in the Bison Club's Drive for Five, and we appreciate our alumni, families and friends answering the call with another record-breaking year."
Following football and baseball in third place was the Spiked Shoe club, which finished just shy of a program mark with $92,769. Men's golf ($85,715) and men's lacrosse ($81,209) rounded out the top five. The lacrosse program garnered the top spot among the women's teams with an all-time program mark of $34,625.
For the fifth year running, men's golf led the varsity programs in average gift size at $963, followed by football ($698), men's tennis ($594), and men's lacrosse ($593).
Varsity Program Rankings – Total Donors
1. Baseball 319
Spiked Shoe (XC, T&F) 319
3. Gridiron Club (FB) 256
4. Grappler Club (Wrestling) 225
5. Women's Lacrosse 172
6. Backcourt Club (MBB) 162
7. Men's Soccer 149
8. Men's Lacrosse 137
9. Women's Soccer 125
10. Women's Rowing 112
Varsity Program Rankings – Total Dollars Donated
1. Gridiron Club (FB) $178,603
2. Baseball $141,444
3. Spiked Shoe (XC, T&F) $92,769
4. Men's Golf $85,715
5. Men's Lacrosse $81,209
6. Men's Soccer $68,128
7. Backcourt Club (MBB) $64,149
8. Grappler Club (Wrestling) $44,926
9. Men's Tennis $42,780
10. Men's Swimming & Diving $38,765
Club Sport Program Rankings – Total Donors
1. Men's Crew 446
2. Men's Rugby 92
3. Ice Hockey 22
4. Men's Squash 17
5. General 17
Club Sport Program Rankings – Total Dollars Donated
1, Men's Crew $127,911
2. Men's Rugby $26,353
3. Men's Squash $16,600
4. Ice Hockey $10,870
5. General $3,967
View the full leaderboard. Please note that donor and dollar counts are considered preliminary.