Rice Athletics Records Banner Fundraising Year
8/17/2022 2:43:00 PM | Owl Club
FY22 total moves Owls past halfway point of $100M capital campaign goal
Rice Athletics heads into the 2022-23 season riding a wave of renewed enthusiasm generated by the upcoming move to the American Athletic Conference and one of the most impactful years of fundraising in school history.
Nearly 1,900 donors contributed $19.3M in total donations and pledges during the 2022 fiscal year, the third-highest total in department history (with the highest coming during the 2015 fiscal year when the Brian Patterson Sports Performance Center was announced). The 2022 fundraising total pushed the Owls past the midpoint of their $100 million comprehensive capital campaign goal which was announced last October. When the Be Bold campaign was announced last October, Rice Athletics had $40 million in commitments and ended the year at $56 million toward the campaign goal.
"I'm grateful for the exceptional generosity of our supporters," said Joe Karlgaard, Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Lifetime Fitness. "The Rice Athletics family has stepped up its support for our student-athletes as we head into our final year in Conference USA look toward a bright future in the American Athletic Conference."
The 2021-2022 fundraising campaign was highlighted by three donors who made commitments of over $1 million and 15 others each pledged over $100K.
This past year also saw a number of notable initiatives which will impact current student-athletes this upcoming season:
The Owls will celebrate these accomplishments and many more as they honor six distinguished Owls at "An Evening for Rice's Honour" on October 11, 2022 at River Oaks Country Club. Those interested in attending can learn more here or email Cole Tennyson at ct63@rice.edu.
Nearly 1,900 donors contributed $19.3M in total donations and pledges during the 2022 fiscal year, the third-highest total in department history (with the highest coming during the 2015 fiscal year when the Brian Patterson Sports Performance Center was announced). The 2022 fundraising total pushed the Owls past the midpoint of their $100 million comprehensive capital campaign goal which was announced last October. When the Be Bold campaign was announced last October, Rice Athletics had $40 million in commitments and ended the year at $56 million toward the campaign goal.
"I'm grateful for the exceptional generosity of our supporters," said Joe Karlgaard, Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Lifetime Fitness. "The Rice Athletics family has stepped up its support for our student-athletes as we head into our final year in Conference USA look toward a bright future in the American Athletic Conference."
The 2021-2022 fundraising campaign was highlighted by three donors who made commitments of over $1 million and 15 others each pledged over $100K.
This past year also saw a number of notable initiatives which will impact current student-athletes this upcoming season:
- The creation of the Bixby Family Head Baseball coaching endowment, the second endowment of a head coaching position at Rice.
- A pair of endowments from the Moody Foundation to support the baseball and men's and women's track/cross country programs.
- A significant donation from the estate of Ralph S. O'Connor to the George R. Brown Tennis Center, building upon previous gifts from O'Connor that were foundational in establishing the world-class facility. This generous gift supports both necessary and significant facility enhancements as well as establishes the Ralph O'Connor Tennis Maintenance Endowment to ensure the lasting upkeep of the center.
- A pair of capital improvement projects at Reckling Park, including a state-of-the-art pitching and hitting labs and a new synthetic playing surface which will debut in the fall of 2022.
- The department surpassed its $500,000 fundraising goal for the EmpowHer Owls initiative to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
- Donations of over $350,000 toward enhancements at Wendel D. Ley track including a new surface that will be installed this fall.
- Endowments for two new scholarships.
The Owls will celebrate these accomplishments and many more as they honor six distinguished Owls at "An Evening for Rice's Honour" on October 11, 2022 at River Oaks Country Club. Those interested in attending can learn more here or email Cole Tennyson at ct63@rice.edu.
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