BOCA RATON, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2020) – The Florida Atlantic University athletic department concluded another successful fundraising year during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. In 2019-20, the Paradise Club totals grew to 300 percent of the previous year’s fund-raising total and added 58 new donors.
“We couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible generosity of our donors, especially in a year like this with so much uncertainty,” said vice president and director of athletics Brian White. “The passion they display for our tremendous student-athletes and FAU Athletics has transformed many lives. Philanthropic donations are absolutely critical for us to continue improving our national recognition and reach our highly ambitious goals. Our donors’ generosity helps provide a first-class experience for our student-athletes. We can’t thank them enough for their support.”
FAU Athletics’ Development team of Senior Associate AD Michael Graffin and Associate AD Alvin Hines raised $4.17 million in Fiscal year 2020. There are numerous ways to support FAU Athletics, as showcased in the variety of gifts received over the course of the 2019-20 fiscal year. FAU Athletics received transformational gifts to help upgrade facilities, support full scholarships for student-athletes, endow scholarships to help provide future student-athletes opportunities and pledges to name offices and rooms in the new Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence.
The success of the FAU Athletics Development team is notable despite the Covid-19 pandemic forcing the cancellation of three golf tournaments hosted every spring, which annually raise funds for student-athlete scholarships.
The mission of The Paradise Club is to strengthen FAU’s athletic programs by encouraging private giving to support the athletic department’s mission. By becoming a contributor, or by maintaining contributions in support of the Paradise Club, our donors help support one of the most vibrant and growing brands in college athletics. Contributions made to the Paradise Club provide the financial framework that makes our mission possible through scholarships, support services and facilities. Donations provide life-changing experiences for FAU’s nearly 500 student-athletes.
For more information on how to make a difference in the lives of FAU student-athletes, visit the Paradise Club website HERE or contact the Paradise Club via phone (561-297-2683) or email (ParadiseClub@fau.edu).
– FAUSports.com –
Florida Atlantic University Athletics:
FAU Athletics is comprised of 21 intercollegiate teams involving 450 student-athletes that compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, beach volleyball, cheer and dance. The Owls are a NCAA Division I-A (FBS) institution and compete in Conference USA and the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) (beach volleyball, men’s swimming). The Owls have been playing football since 2001 and are a perfect 4-0 in bowl games, the most recent being a 52-28 victory over SMU in the 2019 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl. The dance team finished its 2014 season No. 8, nationally. FAU cheer won a national championship in 2016.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.
