Photo by: ERIC_ROTH
Annual Giving to Wake Forest Athletics Surged Nearly 50 Percent in FY23 for Record Year
8/4/2023 10:00:00 AM | Baseball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball, Student Services, Spirit Program (Cheer/Dance/Mascot), Les Johns, Gold Rush
Total cash gifts to the Deacon Club totaled $32.8 million surpassing $30M for the third-straight year to help Wake Forest Athletics provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for the 400-plus Demon Deacons on its Reynolda Campus.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest University is a combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 5 athletics in a top-growing metro market.
When the Demon Deacons win on the field or on the court, all of Deacon Nation basks in the tremendous feeling of accomplishment and excitement that a victory brings. Especially those who have invested in the success of the young men and women on Wake Forest's beautiful Reynolda campus.
"I am so grateful for our loyal and generous Deacon Club members, parents, alumni athletes, fans and friends who have helped Wake Forest Athletics set records and win competitively, academically and in the community," director of athletics John Currie. "We pledge to be careful stewards of the hard-earned dollars you have shared which provide strategic investments in academics, technology, health, strength training, summer school and incredible facilities to enable a competitive advantage and a World Class Student-Athlete Experience at Wake Forest."
Historic and generous gifts to the Deacon Club continue to help Athletics provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for the 400-plus Demon Deacons who are striving each day to find success in the classroom, in the community and in their competitive endeavors. Overall for the third-straight year gifts surpassed $30,000,000 and finished overall at nearly $33 million! Additionally, FY23 annual giving, which is a combination of the Deacon Club Scholarship Fund, Excellence Funds & Premium Seating gifts, soared to over $20M, representing a nearly 50% increase in annual giving support.
Specifically, the launch of the International Leadership Circle two years ago has made a tremendous impact on Wake Forest student-athletes. This group of leaders, comprised of individuals contributing $15,000+ annually to the Deacon Club Scholarship Fund, Excellence Funds and Premium Seating gifts, is helping Wake Forest capitalize on the momentum for Athletics leadership to strategically invest in resources that allow all programs to gain a winning edge. Over the past three years, the number of ILC members has increased from 127 members in 2021 to now over 250 members this past year.
Thanks to the leadership generosity of Bob ('61) and Michele McCreary and the 4th Quarter Drive, Wake Forest student-athletes moved into the new 60,000 square foot $38 million McCreary Football Complex this month, which broke ground back on Feb. 12, 2022. This complex is debt-free, fully funded by donor gifts, including design, construction, and a maintenance reserve.
Over the last 10 years, with tremendous support from Wake Forest's loyal supporters, facility investment for football has exceeded $150M.
Additionally on Sept. 1, 2022, Wake Forest University dedicated the new on-campus clubhouses of men's and women's basketball student-athletes. These projects came to life thanks to the incredible leadership of nearly 300 loyal supporters, including alumni Dr. Caryl Guth, Chris Paul and Mit Shah. Additionally, construction of these $7.2M world class facilities, which included all design, construction, maintenance and operational support for the facilities, provided tremendous Value to Winston-Salem as 41 different sub contractors/trades worked on this project and approximately 195 jobs were created.
These projects were a part of Wake Forest Athletics 4th Quarter Drive, which now shifts our focus to the renovation of the Miller Center for Student-Athlete Academic Services/Student-Athlete Career Development, which will begin this upcoming academic year.
Overall, nearly 500 donors have contributed to the 4th Quarter Drive effort.
Other recent facility investments include Wake Forest Athletics renovating the turf surfaces at Kentner Stadium and Allegacy Stadium.
Perhaps most gratifying about this recent three-year run of 30-plus million in annual giving to Athletics is the impact that Wake Forest's donors made on our athletic programs' competitive success.
A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 55 conference titles, following our 2022 ACC Men's Cross Country Championship, and are now one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships after Coach Kim Lewellen and the Demon Deacons won the women's golf title this past spring.
However, with books closed on fiscal year 2023, Wake Forest donors truly captured a World Class Student-Athlete Experience at a level never seen previously. Alumni, parents and members of the Winston-Salem community contributed over $20.1 million in support of scholarships, enrichment programs like career development, and Excellence Funds to provide a competitive advantage for each sports team, marking a nearly a 50% increase over the previous record high.
Including gifts to endowments and capital projects in addition to the $20.1 million in annual fund support, over 5,100 donors contributed over $32.8 million to Wake Forest Athletics in Fiscal Year 2023. These gifts provided transformational impacts across numerous programs, units and student enrichment programs. Specifically, donors contributed over $13 million in commitments to support Women's Athletics initiatives, including the first named coaching position, the Lyons Family Associate Golf Head Coach positions.
The success was made possible by the unwavering support of thousands of Deacon Club members over the past decade. As with any successful organization, though, the vision of a smaller group of leaders drives the ability to achieve and sustain greater heights.
If you haven't yet made a gift and are able to help, please visit the Deacon Club website today to help shape a successful 2021-22 year and support the goal of providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for all Demon Deacon student-athletes.
For more information about the Deacon Club click here and for all the latest news about Wake Forest Athletics visit GoDeacs.com.
Before Wake Forest Athletics closes to the book on the 2022-23 academic year, click here to relive the incredible year Deacon Nation experienced together with the Athletics Year in Review. Accomplishments set the foundation for what is needed to create impactful and sustainable success for current and future Demon Deacon student-athletes.
When the Demon Deacons win on the field or on the court, all of Deacon Nation basks in the tremendous feeling of accomplishment and excitement that a victory brings. Especially those who have invested in the success of the young men and women on Wake Forest's beautiful Reynolda campus.
"I am so grateful for our loyal and generous Deacon Club members, parents, alumni athletes, fans and friends who have helped Wake Forest Athletics set records and win competitively, academically and in the community," director of athletics John Currie. "We pledge to be careful stewards of the hard-earned dollars you have shared which provide strategic investments in academics, technology, health, strength training, summer school and incredible facilities to enable a competitive advantage and a World Class Student-Athlete Experience at Wake Forest."
Historic and generous gifts to the Deacon Club continue to help Athletics provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for the 400-plus Demon Deacons who are striving each day to find success in the classroom, in the community and in their competitive endeavors. Overall for the third-straight year gifts surpassed $30,000,000 and finished overall at nearly $33 million! Additionally, FY23 annual giving, which is a combination of the Deacon Club Scholarship Fund, Excellence Funds & Premium Seating gifts, soared to over $20M, representing a nearly 50% increase in annual giving support.
Specifically, the launch of the International Leadership Circle two years ago has made a tremendous impact on Wake Forest student-athletes. This group of leaders, comprised of individuals contributing $15,000+ annually to the Deacon Club Scholarship Fund, Excellence Funds and Premium Seating gifts, is helping Wake Forest capitalize on the momentum for Athletics leadership to strategically invest in resources that allow all programs to gain a winning edge. Over the past three years, the number of ILC members has increased from 127 members in 2021 to now over 250 members this past year.
Thanks to the leadership generosity of Bob ('61) and Michele McCreary and the 4th Quarter Drive, Wake Forest student-athletes moved into the new 60,000 square foot $38 million McCreary Football Complex this month, which broke ground back on Feb. 12, 2022. This complex is debt-free, fully funded by donor gifts, including design, construction, and a maintenance reserve.
Over the last 10 years, with tremendous support from Wake Forest's loyal supporters, facility investment for football has exceeded $150M.
Additionally on Sept. 1, 2022, Wake Forest University dedicated the new on-campus clubhouses of men's and women's basketball student-athletes. These projects came to life thanks to the incredible leadership of nearly 300 loyal supporters, including alumni Dr. Caryl Guth, Chris Paul and Mit Shah. Additionally, construction of these $7.2M world class facilities, which included all design, construction, maintenance and operational support for the facilities, provided tremendous Value to Winston-Salem as 41 different sub contractors/trades worked on this project and approximately 195 jobs were created.
These projects were a part of Wake Forest Athletics 4th Quarter Drive, which now shifts our focus to the renovation of the Miller Center for Student-Athlete Academic Services/Student-Athlete Career Development, which will begin this upcoming academic year.
Overall, nearly 500 donors have contributed to the 4th Quarter Drive effort.
Other recent facility investments include Wake Forest Athletics renovating the turf surfaces at Kentner Stadium and Allegacy Stadium.
Perhaps most gratifying about this recent three-year run of 30-plus million in annual giving to Athletics is the impact that Wake Forest's donors made on our athletic programs' competitive success.
A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 55 conference titles, following our 2022 ACC Men's Cross Country Championship, and are now one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships after Coach Kim Lewellen and the Demon Deacons won the women's golf title this past spring.
However, with books closed on fiscal year 2023, Wake Forest donors truly captured a World Class Student-Athlete Experience at a level never seen previously. Alumni, parents and members of the Winston-Salem community contributed over $20.1 million in support of scholarships, enrichment programs like career development, and Excellence Funds to provide a competitive advantage for each sports team, marking a nearly a 50% increase over the previous record high.
Including gifts to endowments and capital projects in addition to the $20.1 million in annual fund support, over 5,100 donors contributed over $32.8 million to Wake Forest Athletics in Fiscal Year 2023. These gifts provided transformational impacts across numerous programs, units and student enrichment programs. Specifically, donors contributed over $13 million in commitments to support Women's Athletics initiatives, including the first named coaching position, the Lyons Family Associate Golf Head Coach positions.
The success was made possible by the unwavering support of thousands of Deacon Club members over the past decade. As with any successful organization, though, the vision of a smaller group of leaders drives the ability to achieve and sustain greater heights.
If you haven't yet made a gift and are able to help, please visit the Deacon Club website today to help shape a successful 2021-22 year and support the goal of providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for all Demon Deacon student-athletes.
For more information about the Deacon Club click here and for all the latest news about Wake Forest Athletics visit GoDeacs.com.
Before Wake Forest Athletics closes to the book on the 2022-23 academic year, click here to relive the incredible year Deacon Nation experienced together with the Athletics Year in Review. Accomplishments set the foundation for what is needed to create impactful and sustainable success for current and future Demon Deacon student-athletes.