BU Athletics Celebrates Record-Setting Giving Day
May 9, 2019 | General
BOSTON – For the fourth consecutive year, Boston University Giving Day proved to be a record-breaking event for the Department of Athletics as $1.36 million was raised in support of Terrier student-athletes on Wednesday, April 3.
Athletics Giving Day Chair Charley Lax (Questrom'82) headed up this year's efforts, which resulted in the athletic department's most successful fundraising day ever with Terrier Nation coming together to top the previous mark of $1.29 million set on Giving Day 2018.
"The collective gratitude from our BU Athletics community is immeasurable," said Director of Athletics Drew Marrochello. "We are beyond thankful—yet not surprised—that Terrier Nation once again generated unprecedented Giving Day success. Special thanks to Giving Day Chair Charley Lax and Vice Chair Tim Burr (MET'97) for working with our staff to ensure another record-breaking day."
BU alumni, parents, friends, student-athletes, and staff surpassed $1 million in Giving Day donations for the third consecutive year. Over the past three BU Giving Days, nearly $3.7 million has been raised for Athletics. This year's final tally represented a large portion of the $3,275,268 raised in total across campus.
"As Athletic Chair of this year's BU Giving Day, I wish to thank all those who contributed to a record year of giving to support our varsity programs," said Lax. "I especially wish to acknowledge the nine teams that had 100 percent participation from their coaches, their student-athletes and their parents. These people recognize the value of a BU education and comprehend the enormous investment made by the University, its alumni and supporters. Our athletes ostensibly hold down two jobs while at BU, one being a Division I participant and the other a scholar."
New challenges were put forth this year to young alumni (classes from 2009-18) and parents. The response was terrific as a record 36 percent of young alumni and a record 64 percent of all current parents made a gift.
"We are extremely excited and proud of the impressive involvement from our young alumni during Giving Day 2019," said Athletics Young Alumni Council Chair Caroline Patterson (CGS'10, COM'12). "To be able to support the athletic department and our respective teams by simply participating brings a greater sense of community and pride among us recent graduates while building a stronger alumni base and presence not only within Terrier Athletics but across the whole BU community. We look forward to an even more successful 2020 campaign."
Other sport-specific challenges, generously sponsored by alumni and parents, also provided an opportunity for teams to earn additional bonus funds. In total, 30 unique donor challenges were established as part of Giving Day 2019.
There is still time to make a gift to positively impact BU student-athletes prior to June 30 by visiting www.GoTerriers.com/Donate or by contacting the Terrier Athletics Fund at 617-353-3008 or terriers@bu.edu.
For a complete list of BU Giving Day results, please click here.
OVERALL PARTICIPATION
Men: Rowing – $270,139
Women: Ice Hockey – $121,288
MOST UNIQUE DONORS
Men: Rowing – 363
Women: Lightweight Rowing – 322
MOST IMPROVED UNIQUE DONORS OVER GIVING DAY 2018
Women: Lacrosse – +253%
Men: Tennis – +187%
Athletics Giving Day Chair Charley Lax (Questrom'82) headed up this year's efforts, which resulted in the athletic department's most successful fundraising day ever with Terrier Nation coming together to top the previous mark of $1.29 million set on Giving Day 2018.
"The collective gratitude from our BU Athletics community is immeasurable," said Director of Athletics Drew Marrochello. "We are beyond thankful—yet not surprised—that Terrier Nation once again generated unprecedented Giving Day success. Special thanks to Giving Day Chair Charley Lax and Vice Chair Tim Burr (MET'97) for working with our staff to ensure another record-breaking day."
BU alumni, parents, friends, student-athletes, and staff surpassed $1 million in Giving Day donations for the third consecutive year. Over the past three BU Giving Days, nearly $3.7 million has been raised for Athletics. This year's final tally represented a large portion of the $3,275,268 raised in total across campus.
"As Athletic Chair of this year's BU Giving Day, I wish to thank all those who contributed to a record year of giving to support our varsity programs," said Lax. "I especially wish to acknowledge the nine teams that had 100 percent participation from their coaches, their student-athletes and their parents. These people recognize the value of a BU education and comprehend the enormous investment made by the University, its alumni and supporters. Our athletes ostensibly hold down two jobs while at BU, one being a Division I participant and the other a scholar."
New challenges were put forth this year to young alumni (classes from 2009-18) and parents. The response was terrific as a record 36 percent of young alumni and a record 64 percent of all current parents made a gift.
"We are extremely excited and proud of the impressive involvement from our young alumni during Giving Day 2019," said Athletics Young Alumni Council Chair Caroline Patterson (CGS'10, COM'12). "To be able to support the athletic department and our respective teams by simply participating brings a greater sense of community and pride among us recent graduates while building a stronger alumni base and presence not only within Terrier Athletics but across the whole BU community. We look forward to an even more successful 2020 campaign."
Other sport-specific challenges, generously sponsored by alumni and parents, also provided an opportunity for teams to earn additional bonus funds. In total, 30 unique donor challenges were established as part of Giving Day 2019.
There is still time to make a gift to positively impact BU student-athletes prior to June 30 by visiting www.GoTerriers.com/Donate or by contacting the Terrier Athletics Fund at 617-353-3008 or terriers@bu.edu.
For a complete list of BU Giving Day results, please click here.
OVERALL PARTICIPATION
- 17% increase in overall donor participation in comparison to Giving Day 2018
- Giving Day 2018 Total Donors: 3,233
- Giving Day 2019 Total Donors: 3,792
- 100% of all varsity student-athletes participated (544 of 544)
- 100% of all Athletics staff participated (105 of 105)
- 15 of 20 varsity sport allocations received increased donor participation in comparison to Giving Day 2018
- A record 36% of all Athletics Young Alumni (classes of 2009-2018) participated by making a gift
- Ten (10) teams earned a bonus as part of the Young Alumni Participation Challenge
- Challenge Description: Each team was challenged to secure a total number of gifts from their program's young alumni equal to or greater the size of its roster
- 12 teams received more gifts from young alumni on Giving Day 2019 than they did all of Fiscal Year 2018
- Team's receiving the bonus for achieving the Challenge:
- Women's Lacrosse
- Field Hockey
- Women's Hockey
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Golf
- Women's Basketball
- Women's Soccer
- Softball
- Men's Rowing
- Men's Tennis
- 64% of all current Athletics Parents participated as part of Giving Day 2019
- In Fiscal Year 2018 (the entire year), 48% of all current Athletics Parents participated
- Nine (9) teams reached 100% participation among current parents
- Field Hockey
- Softball
- Women's Basketball
- Women's Golf
- Women's Lacrosse
- Women's Swimming & Diving
- Women's Tennis
- Men's Lacrosse
- Men's Tennis
Men: Rowing – $270,139
Women: Ice Hockey – $121,288
MOST UNIQUE DONORS
Men: Rowing – 363
Women: Lightweight Rowing – 322
MOST IMPROVED UNIQUE DONORS OVER GIVING DAY 2018
Women: Lacrosse – +253%
Men: Tennis – +187%
Highlights: Men's Basketball vs. Brown (11/12/25)
Thursday, November 13
Highlights: Women's Soccer vs. Army - Patriot League Championship (11/9/25)
Sunday, November 09
Highlights: Men's Soccer Patriot League First Round vs. Bucknell (11/8/2025)
Saturday, November 08
HIGHLIGHTS: Men's Ice Hockey vs. Merrimack (11/7/25)
Saturday, November 08
