FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS THE EAGLE FUND • GSU ATHLETIC FOUNDATION, INC. • DONOR GUIDE
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FOUNDATION: PROUDLY CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF GIVING
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n 1982, a small group of individuals formed the Southern Boosters to garner support for a fledgling football team at Georgia Southern University. Many years later, that group of faithful charter members has grown to thousands of supporters across the country, who proudly provide Georgia Southern athletes with scholarships from both an unrestricted and endowed basis. Now known as the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation, the organization also benefits the athletic program with the construction of athletic-related facilities, equipment purchases and other goods and services necessary for the operations of the athletic department.
The Eagle Fund, the annual donation campaign of the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation, utilizes 92% of its received gifts directly for student aid. This monetary support keeps alive our vision of “Rings and Diplomas,” granting every student-athlete at Georgia Southern the opportunity to pursue his or her goal of a college education and a championship ring. Eagle Fund donors are an integral link between a promising student-athlete’s potential and his or her reward of a championship and graduation. Our members are making a direct impact on a young person’s life. We invite you to join.
MAKING THE CHOICE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Dear Eagle Nation, Life has its defining moments when choices influence the future. At the GSU Athletic Foundation, we are at an exciting juncture to define our future. In the next eight years, our goal is to raise $36 million in support of GSU athletics. Key to that is our need to double the number of donors to the Eagle Fund to help us meet the critical operational funding goals of our athletics department. Our mission, through the help of our donors, is to support our talented and dedicated student-athletes. We want the very best for them — the opportunity to win a championship ring and to receive a college education. If you have chosen to be a donor to the Eagle Fund, we thank you! Your support is immeasurable. But we also hope that you will make another choice on behalf of our student-athletes — reach out to your friends and associates and invite them to join you in your support of our Eagles. You can make the difference. Go Eagles!
Phil Moore Chair, GSU Athletic Foundation
DONATE TO THE EAGLE FUND AND CHANGE A LIFE
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Donor benefits our gift provides an avenue for one of our 400 student-athletes to receive an education, and further his or her pursuit of our vision, “Rings and Diplomas.” Simply put, without private support, these young adults would not be able to obtain a scholarship from Georgia Southern University. Your gift makes a crucial difference in a young person’s life. Tax Benefits Since we operate as a non-profit organization, your donation is tax deductable. Your personal tax advisor can advise you on the direct tax benefit from your gift.
Ticket Purchase Priority Lend your support and receive the best tickets. Eagle Fund members are given priority on ticket availability and seat locations for all GSU athletic events. This priority component is used in determining tickets for away-games or post-season games. The ticket purchase priority ensures that those who support and buy tickets are awarded the best tickets available through the university. Bishop Field House Pre-game Social Join your fellow Eagle Fund members at the Bald Eagle level or above, and receive pre-game access to the Bishop Field House prior to all home football games. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and complimentary beverages while you meet fellow fans and get ready to watch the game.
Donor Benefits
Young Alumni Year 1 - $30 Year 2 - $60 Year 3 - $90
Athletic Director’s Club E.Y. E.S. $60 - $119
TRUE BLUE $120 - $299
EAGLE $300 - $599
BALD EAGLE $600-$1,199
BRONZE EAGLE $1,200-$2,999
SILVER EAGLE $3,000-$5,999
GOLD EAGLE $6,000-$11,999
Eagle Insider Newsletter/E-mail Updates
MBK Season Ticket Purchase Priority
2
2
Right to Purchase Large RV Parking2
2*
3*
4*
Tax Deduction1 Eagle Fund License Plate Eagle Fund Window Decal Listing in End Zone Football Gameday Program Baskeball, Volleyball, Baseball Pass; Gen.Adm.Football (6)
MBK Season Parking Privileges FB Season Ticket Priority (Sec. C & E w/o back)2 Right to Purchase FB Season Parking2
FB Season Ticket Priority (Sec. C & E w/backs)2
FB Season Ticket Priority (Sec. D)2 Bishop Field House Pre-Game Social Admissions*
2*
Donor Recognition Plaque
Football Eagle Club Season Ticket Priority2 Invitation to Exclusive AD Club Socials
Benefits Effective May 1, 2012 Football Season Parking Pass: $100
Invitation to Exclusive Head Coach’s Cookout Commemorative Gift
Spec. Recog. in End Zone Football Game Program**
PLATINUM EAGLE $12,000 +
2 + 1 Comp
1 - Consult Your Tax Advisor
2 - Based on Availability
*Two Guests Allowed per Admission
2 + 1 Comp
Exclusive Team Travel Opportunities **Donor supplies high resolution color photo to Athletic Foundation
4*
WAYS OF GIVING: SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE EAGLES
Annual Cash Gifts Annual cash gifts given to support the Eagle Fund are deposited into an unrestricted fund and are used to help fulfill our scholarship needs for student-athletes. Every dollar in a cash gift counts towards a donor’s priority point total. The Eagle Fund relies on the annual donations of its members to support the yearly scholarship commitment that recently exceeded $2.7million. Important note: All annual Eagle Fund donations intended for ticketing and priority parking must be donated by June 1st.
Matching Gifts Check with your employer’s human resource department to find out if your company participates in a matching gift program. If they do, inquire about how to obtain the appropriate form to send along with your cash donation. Your company’s matching gift program may contain a provision to match athletic foundation donations. Some company matches will range from 25% up to three times the gift amount. All matching funds are credited to the donor’s annual giving total for the year.
Gift-In-Kind In addition to annual cash gifts, goods and services are needed to build the strength of our athletic department. Catering services, printing supplies, and courtesy cars are simply a few items among the department’s day-to-day needs.
Scholarship Endowments Endowing a scholarship is a way for you to leave your legacy at Georgia Southern University. Unlike an annual gift, the corpus of the endowment gift remains in perpetuity. The interest income is used to benefit future student-athletes.
Securities and Multiple Payment Options If you are interested in making a stock or MPO (multiple payment option) gift, please contact the Athletic Foundation office for more information. If you intend to make a stock gift, please complete your gift no later than year-end so that your donation can be counted as tax deductible for the current year.
RAISE THE BAR! GIVE 110% FOR YOUR EAGLES!
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e the Eagle Nation, readily respond to Erk Russell’s motivating words “Just One More Time” — words that inspire that extra effort. When winning one national championship was not enough, we had to win it again the following year. When winning back-to-back national championships was not enough, we had to live up to our motto and win two in a row, “Just One More Time.” This year, the Eagle Fund needs to reach 100% of its goal. We are urging you to increase your support of our athletic program by raising your gift 10%. If all Eagle Fund members increase their gift 10%, we would already be 10% ahead of where we were last year, with a little extra effort — “Just One More Time.” When you increase your donation and give 110% we will show our appreciation with a gift.
PRIORITY POINT SYSTEM To more equitably serve our Eagle Fund donors, a priority point system has been implemented to fairly determine priority in parking allocation and in acquiring high demand tickets. Away games, post-season tournaments and other special events are examples.
How You Acquire Points:
Priority points are given in recognition of the support of our Eagle faithful, both donors and season ticket holders, who accumulate individual point totals based on the following criteria: Consecutive Years’ Contribution to the Eagle Fund* Current Year Eagle Fund Contribution Consecutive Years’ Football Season Tickets* Consecutive Years’ Men’s Basketball Season Tickets* Consecutive Years’ Baseball Season Tickets* Eagle Fund Donor Recruitment
2 points per year 1 point per $100 1 point per year 1 point per year 1 point per year 1 point per member
*Consecutive years’ points are calculated beginning with the current year and working backward. *Season ticket purchases are calculated from 1990 to the present. *Ticket availability is based on the number of tickets allotted to Georgia Southern for each specific event.
Where Do You Rank? Rank 100 350 500 800 1,200 1,500 2,000
Points** 93 66 49 32 19 14 8
**Points are based on 2010 and prior annual donations
CALLING ALL EAGLES: IT STARTS WITH YOU!
Eagle Fund Delegate Program
The Eagle Fund manages its fund-raising effort with the great assistance of our Eagle Fund Delegates. We are organizing volunteers in local areas to take leadership roles and serve as Eagle Fund Delegates in their communities. We can use your help. As an Eagle Fund Delegate, your duties will include arranging local gatherings, serving as the local contact for a defined group of Eagle Fund donors, developing and cultivating new donors in your respective area, and being a general liaison for the Eagle Fund. Our Eagle Fund Delegate program serves as the foundation for the growth of Eagle Fund annual giving.
Scholarship Support
Scholarships for our athletic program recently exceeded $2.7 million. In the past few years, the Eagle Fund has raised 34% of this annual scholarship support to offset the cost of this critical need. This vital expenditure is creating a deficit that our athletic department must offset to provide a quality education and essential resources for our student-athletes. You can make a positive impact on these students — give a gift to the Eagle Fund.
Membership Base
At the end of 2010, the Eagle Fund experienced a record-breaking year for total members with more than 2,100 enrolled. Our current alumni base has exceeded over 60,000 living alumni. With this many alumni and fans throughout the southeast, we should be a membership leader in all of FCS Football. Help us succeed – it starts with you! Southern Conference Athletics (Recent Member Statistics)
Appalachian State
4,000 members
Chattanooga
440 members
Elon
1,800 members
Furman
1,500 members
GSU
2,120 members
Western Carolina
600 members
Wofford
2,000 members
EAGLES, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
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Eagle Fund Delegate Program he goal of the Eagle Delegate Program is to significantly increase the number of Eagle Fund donors in order to better support the scholarships of our 400 plus student-athletes. You can contribute by recruiting new Eagle Fund donors and fostering relationships with current and past Eagle Fund contributors by becoming an Eagle Fund Delegate.
For more information or to become an Eagle Fund Delegate contact
The Eagle Fund Delegate program has been developed in order to share our mission of ‘Rings and Diplomas.’ The Athletic Foundation provides the financial support necessary to fund our athletic programs’ constant pursuit of excellence. Every single new membership contributes to the success of Eagle Athletics.
Atlanta
As an Eagle Fund Delegate, you will be provided the tools and guidance to help you recruit new members, and inform alumni and fans about the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation’s mission.
Brunswick • Macon • Statesboro • Tampa David Beaubien (dbeaubien@georgiasouthern.edu) 912-478-5520
Caroline Bevillard (cbevillard@georgiasouthern.edu • 912-478-5520) Eagle Fund Staff Area Representatives
Feel free to contact your area staff representative for any help with your Eagle Fund Delegate efforts. Lindsey Randolph (lrandolph@georgiasouthern.edu) 404-989-3025 • Augusta • Columbus • Savannah Frank Hook (fhook@georgiasouthern.edu) 912-478-0160 Albany
GET INVOLVED WITH OTHER EAGLE NATION PROGRAMS
Junior Eagle Club: Verizon and Chick-Fil-A have teamed up with Georgia Southern University Athletics and Eagle Sports Marketing to present the Junior Eagle Club. An annual membership is $15 per child and includes free admission to several Georgia Southern Athletics events. To enroll your child, please call Eagle Sports Marketing at 912-478-1500. Young Alumni Program: The Young Alumni program is a combined effort on behalf of the GSU Athletic Foundation and the GSU Alumni Association. It allows recent graduates the opportunity to stay involved and support the university at a staircase rate of giving. Please contact the Athletic Foundation for more information. Student Eagle Club: The GSU Athletic Foundation and GSU Alumni Association are embarking on a new grassroots effort to get more students involved. The Student Eagle Club program consists of full-time GSU students, who pay $20 annually to receive the following benefits: t-shirt, The Eagle Insider update, membership card and decal, the opportunity to receive premium student seating, invitations to Eagle Fund/Alumni gatherings, priority for tickets at home games and select away games/special events. EFAA: The Eagle Football Alumni Association is a program comprised of former Georgia Southern football players, trainers, and managers. The EFAA raises funds to support the Georgia Southern Football program and also provided support for the start of the Erk Russell Endowed Scholarship. Membership dues for EFAA members are $60.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN FOOTBALL Paulson Stadium seating
NORTH STANDS
Seating Arrangements: If you would like to change your current seat location, please contact the athletic ticket office at 1-800-GSU-WINS. The Eagle Fund and athletic ticket office will make every effort to honor your request. In order to have seats in sections C. D or E, the account holder must maintain the required giving level for the desired section, and renew by the priority deadline of June 1st. Away Game Tickets: Upcoming football seasons will include trips to several attractive away venues. Since there will be a high demand for these away-game tickets, the priority point system will be the determining factor for ticket allocation. If you are a current Eagle Fund donor, you will have first priority to purchase tickets. Eagle Club/Stadium Club seats: Currently, the Eagle Club seats as well as the Stadium Club seats are sold out. In the event of someone not renewing their season tickets, some of these seats may become available. You must be an Eagle Fund donor at the appropriate level to request seats in these sections. Please contact the Athletic Foundation to be put on the waiting list.
SOUTH STANDS
Eagle Club
Bleachers w/back
Bleachers w/o back
Family Plan
Students
Requires eagle Fund donation
GEORGIA SOUTHERN FOOTBALL PARKING
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ame-day parking spaces are numbered and assigned to individual donors. This method of parking space allocation is the most effective way to grant access to the most donors on a game-by-game basis.
Each assigned space will be protected for a donor’s exclusive use from 8:00 A.M., the morning of a game, until the conclusion of the game. Special arrangements will be made for games played on days of the week other than Saturday. The assignment of spaces is based on the Priority Point System. • To order your parking for the current season, complete the parking request form* available in your membership renewal packet and return it to the Eagle Fund office by June 1st.
*New donors, please contact David Beaubien for more information: 912.478.5520.
• Annual fees are assessed depending on the size of parking space required. Please see the Parking Categories noted on the following page to determine the size space you require and the associated fee. • The proceeds generated from parking fees are used to fund the ‘Margin of Excellence’ Fund, which provides additional monetary support for recruiting, equipment, nutritional supplements, etc. • The ordering process allows people to request specific locations and/or groupings of spaces so that the game-day atmosphere in the parking lot at Paulson Stadium is maintained. • The Ceramics Studio Parking Lot and lower portion of the Performing Arts Center Parking Lot have been designated as ‘General Admission’ and are available for any donor at the $120 (True Blue) level or higher, if they choose not to purchase an assigned space. A General Admission hang tag is required, and is valid for either General Admission Lot. Hang tags will be provided to True Blue level donors and above, who choose not to purchase Paulson Stadium Parking.
PARKING CATEGORIES Large Tailgate/RV Parking The minimum level donation required to purchase an RV Parking spot is $600. The parking fee associated with the RV/Large Tailgate spot is $500 per spot. Individual Parking The minimum level donation required to purchase an individual parking spot is $300. The parking fee associated with Individual Parking is $100. The individual parking spaces measure approximately 10’ wide by 20’ deep. Handicap Parking Handicap parking at Paulson Stadium is available to current Eagle Fund members, who have met the minimum $300 donation requirement and who purchased a parking pass for $100. In order to obtain a handicap parking pass, you must register your state-issued handicap hangtag with the GSU Athletic Foundation office. There are 72 spots designated for handicap parking (Cowart Building parking lot and on the side of the preferred parking lot), and they will be sold on a first-come, first served basis. All game-day shuttles are handicap accessible and are available for non-donors.
Eagle Fund Donation Information Date:
Alumni Year:
Giving Levels: YOUNG ALUMNI
Name: Address: Please cut on the dotted line.
City:
State:
Home Phone: Cell:
Zip:
Bus. Phone: Email:
Matching Gift Company: My check for $ Charge my VISA/MC Card $
is enclosed.
Name on account: Card #
Exp. Date:
Signature authorization Please make checks payable to GSUAF. Your gift is tax deductible. Your personal tax advisor can advise you on the direct tax benefit from your gift.
Year 1 - $30
Year 2 - $60
Year 3 - $60
Year 4 - $90
Please contact me: I am interested in being contacted for season tickets:
E.Y. E.S.
$
60 - $119
TRUE BLUE
$
120 - $299
EAGLE
$
300 - $599
BALD EAGLE
$
600 - $1,199
BRONZE EAGLE
$ 1,200 - $2,999
SILVER EAGLE
$ 3,000 - $5,999
GOLD EAGLE
$6,000 - $11,999
PLATINUM EAGLE
$
12,000 +
Football Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Baseball Volleyball
Authority to Honor Bank and Credit/Debit Card Drafts For your convenience, you can have your bank account or credit/debit card drafted monthly to fulfill your yearly donation. If you would like to have the convenience of completing your yearly commitment with a monthly bank or credit card draft, complete this form and return it with a voided check. Completion of this form is an authorization for the Georgia Southern Athletic University Foundation, Inc. to draft your
For your convenience, you can have your bank account or credit/debit card drafted monthly to fulfill your yearly donation. Bank Draft Authorization
Credit/Debit Draft Authorization
If you would like to have the convenience of completing your yearly commitment
If you would like to have the convenience of completing your donation with a monthly draft,
with a monthly bank draft, return a voided check with this form.
complete this form. (Credit/Debit card drafts occur on the 15th of each month.)
(Bank drafts occur on the 3rd of each month.)
Name on Account:
Name on Account: Total Gift Amount $: Routing #
Total Gift Amount $: Monthly Draft Amount: $
Monthly Draft Amount: $
Account #
Signature authorization Donate securely online at : http://www.ringsanddiplomas.com/giving/
Credit/Debit Card # Date
Expiration Date: Signature authorization
Date
Please cut on the dotted line.
account. The Eagle Fund thanks you for your donation.
STAY IN TOUCH For more information on how to join the Eagle Fund call 912.478.5520 or visit www.ringsanddiplomas.com
Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation P.O. Box 8115-01 • Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8115 • 912.478.5520 • www.ringsanddiplomas.com
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FOUNDATION STAFF
John Mulherin President johnmul@ georgiasouthern.edu
David Beaubien Executive Director of the Eagle Fund dbeaubien@ georgiasouthern.edu
Frank Hook Director of Donor Relations fhook@ georgiasouthern.edu
Lindsey C. Randolph Atlanta Regional Athletics Development Director lrandolph@ georgiasouthern.edu
Kathryn Bryant Operations Director kathrynbryant@ georgiasouthern.edu
www.ringsanddiplomas.com
P.O. Box 8115-01 Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8115 912.478.5520 Dee Parker Records Director dparker@ georgiasouthern.edu
Caroline Bevillard Eagle Fund Program Coordinator cbevillard@ georgiasouthern.edu
Sally Scot Donor Fulfillment Coordinator swscott@ georgiasouthern.edu
John Ramfjord Athletics Ticket Manager jramfjord@ georgiagouthern.edu
Questions:
Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation PO Box 8115-01 Statesboro, GA 30460-8115
912.478.5520 www.ringsanddiplomas.com