INDIANAPOLIS---Division II has once again proven its commitment to community involvement by setting a new record contribution total for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Led by its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee since 2003-2004, Division II collected $359,187 during the 2008-2009 campaign. This figure is more than $43,000 above last year’s total. Division II and its members have contributed more than $1 million since its fundraising efforts began in 2003.
The Division II SAAC calls on its conference and institution SAACs to generate awareness and interest in the campaign. Successful collaboration across the division helps Division II maintain the title of the single-largest grass-roots provider to the national Make-A-Wish fund. Division II is in the foundation’s $250,000+ advocate level, among just 10 groups, most of which are corporate entities.
“I can’t say enough about how effectively our Division II SAAC members work annually to keep raising the bar,” said Division II vice president Mike Racy. “Setting another record in this of all years when the economy is forcing everyone to cut back is simply remarkable.”
Most of the fund-raising initiatives the conference and institution SAACs utilize are modest, such as spare-change drives, jeans days, bake sales and raffles, however collectively they make a significant impact. Dowling College, a member of the East Coast Conference, received contributions from each of its athletics teams and came up with innovative ways to raise more funds, making them the leader of all Division II institutions. After raising just $1,000 last year, Dowling College athletics teams sold stars, packed the gym, held raffles, baked cakes, hawked concessions, wore denim and staged penny wars to the tune of $17,164.26, the most raised by a Division II institution in the history of the division’s six-year affiliation with Make-A-Wish.
The conference leader for all Division II conferences was the Northeast-10 Conference with more than $35,000. The league was one of three (Pennsylvania State Athletic and Conference Carolinas) to garner participation from all of its members.
NCAA Division II is one of three membership divisions at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a volunteer organization comprising more than 1,200 institutions, conferences and affiliated organizations. Division II is a group of institutions, conferences and affiliated organizations that serve more than 75,000 student-athletes nationwide, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The emphasis for the student-athlete experience in Division II is a comprehensive program of learning and development. The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletic competition and the development of societal attitudes in service to the community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning provide Division II student-athletes with a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead.
For additional information on Division II efforts, visit www.ncaa.org.
