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Fundraising initiative garners more than $137,000 to date to support U of G's varsity teams
BY REBECCA KENDALL
Many people have invited a well-known winged creature with an eagle head and lion body into their lives over the past year through a new funding program that aims to help U of G student-athletes achieve excellence in their sport.
Since May 2005, Guelph students, staff, faculty and alumni, as well as community members and friends and family of Gryphon student-athletes, have been raising the profile of U of G's varsity sports teams through donations to the new Adopt-A-Gryphon program.
The program was initiated by director of athletics Tom Kendall and executed by Sue Lawrenson, then manager of student advancement in Alumni Affairs and Development (she is currently acting director of alumni affairs), who took the Gryphon football program's fundraising model and revised and expanded it to provide an opportunity for all teams to generate additional funding for varsity student-athletes.
“Gryphon alumni have great passion for the University and their former teams,” says Joanne Shoveller, vice-president (alumni affairs and development). “The Adopt-A-Gryphon program provides a perfect vehicle to transform their moral support into an active contribution. Many alumni actually thanked Sue for the opportunity this gave them to support athletics in a meaningful, tangible way.”
Kendall says it's important for universities to pursue excellence, whether through academics, research or athletics.
“Universities are places where excellence is within everyone's reach, and high-performance training and elite competition are crucial if that is to be achieved,” he says. “Our goal is to give our athletes the best possible experiences and opportunities that will help them reach their potential. An investment in our athletes represents an investment in the future of our young people, and you can't place a dollar value on all this program has to offer.”
In its first year, the Adopt-A-Gryphon program, which directs 100 per cent of its donations into varsity teams, has generated more than $137,000. The money is used for things that aren't covered by the Department of Athletics' operating budget, including expenses incurred through exhibition tournaments and out-of-conference competitions, specialized equipment and training aids, and additional training opportunities for student-athletes.
“It's a program that's offered at most institutions in the country,” says Kendall. “When I was hired, I thought it would be a good way to generate funds. Anyone who wants to support an athlete or a team can Adopt-A-Gryphon. Donors receive a tax receipt for their donation, but more important, they have the satisfaction of knowing they've helped an athlete succeed.”
The Gryphon track-and-field program has been using its sponsorship dollars to support its training camp in Florida and subsidize travel to out-of-conference competitions, says coach Dave Scott-Thomas.
“Increased support enhances the collegiate experience for athletes and is a great piece of the educational puzzle,” he says, adding that funding affects current and future student-athletes alike. “This funding begins to bring us to a level of support equivalent to the better-funded teams in Canadian Interuniversity Sport. To attract stronger talent, you have to show reasons why they'd benefit from coming to Guelph.”
The women's field hockey team is able to make its first trip abroad this month as a result of campaign proceeds. To date, team members have raised more than $14,000 and will travel to England April 25 to May 5 to compete against some of the top teams in that country.
“To continue to strive for this success, we must find resources to provide additional support for things that would otherwise be unaffordable,” says field hockey head coach Michelle Turley, referring to her team's stellar 2005/2006 season, when it earned a first-ever Ontario University Athletics silver medal and a fourth-place finish at the national championships.
“We're looking forward to representing Guelph in England as athletes and ambassadors and using this opportunity not only to experience international play but also to learn about the culture and history of the towns we'll visit,” Turley says.
Cultural experiences are also on the mind of Kendall, who says that, in addition to the trip planned by Turley, the women's ice hockey team and head coach Chuck Wight were able to travel to Sweden last year with the same goals in mind.
“A trip to Europe isn't just a trip to Europe to play hockey,” says Kendall. “It's an opportunity to build friendships and international understanding, and that's an important part of education.”
He notes that the ice hockey team's trip resulted in a Swedish team coming to Guelph for an exchange this year.
Wight credits the Adopt-A-Gryphon program with taking his team's fundraising efforts to a new level. In addition to facilitating competition and cultural exchanges, the program is a fresh way to engage former Guelph students and Gryphon athletes with their alma mater and connect the players with donors, he says.
“The program has allowed Gryphon athletics to enhance its presence and exposure in the community and has also brought alumni back into the fold,” says Wight, who used funds raised by his team this year to buy equipment and pay for expenses incurred for out-of-conference play. Another major benefit that extends beyond the travel and equipment support is the opportunity athletes have to promote their sport, connect with others and build their confidence and interpersonal skills through networking, he says.
Cynthia McQueen, who played soccer for the Gryphons from 1995 to 1997, and her husband, Ian, are two of the many alumni who have supported the Adopt-A-Gryphon program in its first year.
“Our time at Guelph was made all the more valuable because of the sports we played,” says Cynthia, noting that the demands of a full course load and playing a varsity sport helped her learn about time management and understand the power of teamwork and the importance of discipline.
“Our academics combined with our athletics put us in a very good position to succeed when we left Guelph. We were fortunate to have that opportunity, and we support the teams now to give other students the opportunity we had.”
Ian, who played football from 1993 to 1997, says he's still as competitive now as he was as a student-athlete and contributes to the Adopt-A-Gryphon program because he wants to see U of G do well.
“I didn't like to lose back then, and now that we're in the stands, we still want Guelph to win.”
For more information about the Adopt-A-Gryphon program, visit www.gryphons.ca.
