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
I
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.
Be Part of the Celebration and Connect with a Winning Purpose
Dear Eagle Nation, With the loyal support of our donors over the years, we have been able to provide our student-athletes with the basic necessities to compete on the field as well as in the classroom. Every gift to the Eagle Fund has made it possible for our student-athletes to receive a quality education at Georgia Southern, while participating in championship-caliber sports programs. As we look forward to another successful year for Georgia Southern athletics, I would like to challenge every member of the Eagle Nation to step up and be part of our goals and our victories. Join us as we embark on a critical time in establishing the foundation for the future of Georgia Southern athletics. By donating to the Eagle Fund and purchasing season tickets, you can be a part of this shared effort in celebration of student-athlete accomplishments. Go Eagles! Wanda Parrish 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.
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.
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.
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 - $20 Year 2 - $30 Year 3 - $60 Year 4 - $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
FB Season Ticket Priority (Sec. D)2
Bishop Field House Pre-Game Social Admissions
2*
2*
3*
4*
Tax Deduction1 Eagle Fund License Plate Eagle Fund Window Decal Listing in End Zone Football Gameday Program All-Sports Pass
MBK Season Parking Privileges FB Season Ticket Priority (Sec. C & E w/o back)2 Right to Purchase FB Season Parking2
Right to Purchase Large RV Parking2 FB Season Ticket Priority (Sec. C & E w/backs)2
Donor Recognition Plaque Complimentary FB Media Guide
Football Eagle Club Season Ticket Priority2
Benefits Effective January 28, 2011 Football Season Parking Pass: $100
Invitation to Exclusive AD Club Socials Invitation to Exclusive Head Coach’s Cookout
Spec. Recog. in End Zone Football Game Program** Commemorative Gift
2 + 1 Comp
PLATINUM EAGLE $12,000 +
**Donor supplies high resolution color photo to Athletic Foundation
1 - Consult Your Tax Advisor
2 - Based on Availability
2 + 1 Comp
Exclusive Team Travel Opportunities
*Two Guests Allowed per Admission
4*
Ways of Giving: Show your Support for the Eagles
Annual Cash Gifts
Matching Gifts
Gift-In-Kind
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 May 31st.
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.
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!
W
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 at Navy (2010) and Alabama (2011), and 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 2009 and prior annual donations
Calling All Eagles: It Starts With You!
Volunteer Program The Eagle Fund is embarking on a new fundraising effort. We are organizing volunteers in local areas to take leadership roles and serve as GSU representatives in their communities. We can use your help. As a Rep, your duties include arranging local gatherings, serving as the local contact for a defined group of Eagle Fund donors, developing and cultivating new donors in your area, and being a general liaison for the Eagle Fund. Our volunteer Rep program will serve 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 2009, 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! 2008 Southern Conference Athletic Members (Football Participants)
Appalachian State Chattanooga Elon Furman GSU Western Carolina Wofford
4,000 members 440 members 1,800 members 1,500 members 2,120 members 600 members 2,000 members
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 change seats into sections C, D, or E, the account holder must maintain his /her current Eagle Fund donor level, and renew by the priority deadline of May 31st. 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
G
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.
*New donors, please contact David Beaubien for more information: 912.478.1109.
• 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 May 31st. • There is an annual fee of $100 assessed for each non-RV parking spot assigned. See the Membership Benefits Chart in this guide for eligibility. • The spaces measure approximately 10’ wide by 20’ deep. • 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. • If available, parking spaces will be sold on a game-by-game basis. • 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.’ 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.
Get Involved With Other Eagle Nation Programs
Junior Eagle Club: Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs have teamed up with Georgia Southern University Athletics and Eagle Sports Marketing to present the Junior Eagle Club for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. 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 Assistance 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.
Eagle Fund Application Information Date:
Name:
Address: City:
Please cut on the dotted line.
Home Phone:
State:
Business Phone:
Zip:
Cell Phone:
Email: Alumni Year :
Date of Birth:
GSU Sport Played: Matching Gift Company: Recruited By: My check for $
is enclosed.
Charge my VISA/MASTERCARD $
Name on account:
Signature authorization
Card #
Exp. Date:
Date:
Automatic Bank or Credit/Debit Card Draft (For bank or credit/debit card draft information, please see the reverse side)
The Eagle Fund thanks you for your support!
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 Foundation, Inc. to draft your account. The Eagle Fund thanks you for your donation.
Bank Draft Authorization*
Credit/Debit Draft Authorization**
Name on Account:
Name on Account:
Total Gift Amount $:
Total Gift Amount $:
Monthly Draft Amount: $
Monthly Draft Amount: $
Routing #
Credit/Debit Card #
Account #
Expiration Date:
*Bank drafts occur on the third of each month.
**Credit/Debit card drafts occur on the 15th of each month.
Signature authorization
Signature authorization
Date
Date
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
Kathryn Bryant Office Manager kathrynbryant@ georgiasouthern.edu
Dee Parker Records Manager dparker@ georgiasouthern.edu
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
Questions:
Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation PO Box 8115-01 Statesboro, GA 30460-8115
912.478.5520