Pitt Panther Club 2020-21 Membership Guide

Panther Club Membership Guide Outline

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M E M B E R S H I P

G U I D E

TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message from Heather Lyke 3 Invest Today 4 Ways to Give 5 Panther Club Priorities 6 Victory Heights 7 Events 9 Premium Seating 11 Transforming Tomorrow 12 Important Dates 13 FAQ 14

“I’m so thankful for the support of Panther Club members! Because of donors like you, I have been given so many exceptional opportunities through Pitt Athletics, and I look forward to continuing to represent this program with pride. The feeling of wearing the Pitt script on the front of my leotard is unmatched by anything else, and your support of the gymnastics program has helped our team to excel to new heights. I am extremely grateful for your generosity, and your support means so much to each and every one of our team members. As always, Hail to Pitt” - Olivia Miller Junior | Monroeville, PA

A MESSAGE FROM HEATHER LYKE, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Dear Panthers, Thank you for supporting Pitt Athletics! Whether you are a longtime member of our Panther Club or just beginning to explore the various ways to support our amazing coaches and student-athletes, your financial contributions are critical to our efforts to achieve comprehensive excellence.

Last fall season, watching our men’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams’ advance into the NCAA tournament is evidence your support is making a difference! We are confident with the continued support of Panther Club members, all our sports will experience similar success. As we reflect on the athletic and academic achievements from last year, we know we can continue to raise the bar and have greater expectations in the years ahead.

Earlier this year, Chancellor Gallagher and I officially announced the vision and plan for Victory Heights, which will provide our student-athletes, marching band members, spirit squad and coaches with the necessary resources to train, recruit, compete and achieve at the highest levels. Victory Heights also gives us the opportunity to address their health, well-being and development in a comprehensive way that is

As we make Victory Heights a reality, I hope it encourages and inspires you to donate today to help transform our tomorrow. Your financial commitment directly impacts the student-athlete experience by supporting critical capital projects embedded in Victory Heights, scholarships, and meeting the individual needs of each of our programs. Each gift to the Panther Club contributes to their experience as a Panther and pursuit of The Gold Standard. Together we can transform the student-athlete experience and ensure their time at Pitt is extraordinary.

Please know every accomplishment we achieve comes as a result of your generosity and passion for Pitt Athletics! We are extremely grateful for all the ways in which you support Pitt Athletics and thrilled you are part of our TEAM! Hail to Pitt!

currently not possible in the existing facilities. It cannot be understated that Victory Heights will have a transformative impact on our University and Athletic Department for many

Heather Lyke

years to come.

Director of Athletics

INVEST TODAY THE PANTHER CLUB exists to provide the resources necessary for Pitt student-athletes, band, and spirit squad members to reach their full academic and athletic potential.

The landscape of Division I intercollegiate athletics has evolved tremendously over the past 20 years. The financial investment needed to achieve comprehensive excellence has continued to rise. Your support of the Panther Club helps to drive us forward, and plays a vital role in providing Pitt student-athletes with a world class collegiate experience.

For us to become perennial contenders in the ACC and nationally, we must invest in the resources necessary for our teams to compete at the highest levels. This starts with increased Panther Club support and participation from donors, alumni, parents, and fans alike. No matter the amount, every contribution makes a difference and helps to continue our positive momentum.

Of approximately 332,000 living alumni, less than 3% give to athletics. Our strength is in our numbers and it starts with you investing today.

INVEST TODAY

Ways to Give

Panther Club Annual Support

Panther Club Major Gift Support

Panther Club members are the foundation of everything we are building in Pitt Athletics. Every year, our student-athletes benefit from scholarship support provided by the Panther Club.

The University of Pittsburgh depends on the generosity and foresight of donors who are committed to leaving a legacy at Pitt.

Gifts that endow a scholarship, support Victory Heights or other facility projects, and large scale student-athlete and team initiatives have a transformative impact on our student-athletes and programs. Major Gifts are recognized as gifts of $100,000 or more payable over a period of up to five years.

These funds provide our student-athletes with the resources necessary to pursue a world class academic and athletic experience at the University of Pittsburgh.

Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Panther Club annual scholarship support comes from SCHOLARSHIP SEATING PAYMENTS and support of the STUDENTATHLETE SUCCESS FUND. Gifts can be made to help scholarship support through a variety of ways including:

Other Ways to Support Pitt Athletics • PLANNED GIVING • APPRECIATED ASSETS such as wealth management funds, donor advised funds, and family foundations.

Give Today!

CASH

CHECKS

CREDIT CARD

MATCHING GIFTS

STOCK GIFTS

SCHEDULED DRAFTS The Panther Club

To make a gift to the Panther Club today go to HailtoPitt.com, or send your gift to the Panther Club offices at: Panther Club Petersen Events Center 3719 Terrace St. Pittsburgh, PA 15261 @PittPantherClub

@PittPantherClub

HailtoPitt.com

Panther Club, Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261

PANTHER CLUB PRIORITIES Closing the Gap Pitt Athletics’ primary goal is to provide the best and most comprehensive student-athlete experience in the nation. Each of our priorities are strategically aligned to create a world class experience for more than 850 student-athletes representing 19 sport programs, spirit squads, and the Pitt Band.

Our current funding priorities are: • STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS FUND – The Student-Athlete Success Fund directly impacts the lives of our 850 studentathletes, spirit squads, and the Pitt Band by providing vital resources for them to be champions in competition and in life.

Your support helps provide the most critical needs including scholarships, educational support, student-athlete wellness, leadership development, and new technology.

• VICTORY HEIGHTS – Victory Heights represents an investment into building facilities that support our championship goals.

For far too long, a significant percentage of our studentathletes have been forced to compete in facilities that do not reflect the standards and aspirations of the University of Pittsburgh. Victory Heights will provide our student-athletes and coaches with the necessary resources to train, recruit, compete and achieve at the highest levels.

• ENHANCING SPORT SPECIFIC GIVING – Gifts to championship funds help to provide further resources to each of our 19 sports programs, spirit squads, and the Pitt Band. Your support of these championship funds help to address each team’s specific funding needs for the coming year.

“I take a great deal of pride in representing the University of Pittsburgh and am grateful for all the individuals who help make Pitt such a terrific place.

The Panther Club has proven to be an important part of what we are building here by providing us with the tools required to compete on the court in the best conference in the country, while also growing as men off the court.

It is blessing to have so many dedicated professionals working to help make our experience here great.”

- Au’Diese Toney Junior | Huntsville, AL

YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS! Being a member of the Panther Club is not only an investment in our athletics program and our student-athletes, it also welcomes you into a group of fellow loyal supporters. Membership in the Panther Club gains you access to priority seating, invitations to a variety of events, exclusive experiences, special communications and tokens of appreciation for your investment.

Scholarship Seating Membership

Championship Giving

With the change in tax legislation in 2018, the Panther Club implemented a new giving structure for donors to access priority seating at Heinz Field and The Petersen Events Center, earn priority points, and be a ranked member of the Panther Club. Panther Club members can now able to clearly identify the donation amount necessary for their desired season ticket and parking preferences for Pitt Football and Men’s and Women’s Basketball. These per seat gifts are allocated directly towards supporting studentathlete scholarships and supply them with the tools to achieve their academic goals at Pitt. These gifts also

With the goal of improving Pitt Athletics’ ability to compete for championships and better fulfill the needs of our student-athletes, we created sport specific championship funds to enable donors to give directly towards the programs they care most about.

Gifts to these sport specific championship funds enhance the student-athlete experience for our 850 student-athletes, the Pitt band, and spirit squads.

Each year, our coaches and administrators identify the top funding priorities that will allow our teams to continue pursuing comprehensive excellence. Those priorities may include strength and conditioning,

count toward your total Panther Club giving for the membership year.”

facility improvements, technology, and studentathlete development. Championship Giving gifts are tax deductible, but do not contribute towards your priority point total or rank.

THE PANTHER CLUB PRIORITY POINTS system is another way of rewarding the loyalty of our annual Panther Club members. Developed in an effort to service our members in an equitable manner, priority points help with the distribution of tickets, parking priority, post-season ticket eligibility, and all road games.

1

POINT

per $50 of Panther Club Giving

2

points for each season of Football, Men’s Basketball, and POINTS Women’s Basketball season ticket purchase

The Panther Club

@PittPantherClub

10

for consecutive years of Panther Club membership.

POINTS Points for consecutive years of membership reset to 0 if any year Panther Club membership is not renewed by the established deadline of June 30th.

@PittPantherClub

HailtoPitt.com

Panther Club, Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261

10

for each affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh. Affiliations include: POINTS Varsity letter winner at the University of Pittsburgh main campus, faculty/staff of the University of Pittsburgh, and alumni of the University of Pittsburgh. Each of these affiliations may only be applied once, and may only be applied once per account, even if multiple people on the same account are former members, current faculty/staff members, or alumni.

PETERSEN SPORTS COMPLEX

LACROSSE STADIUM FITZGERALD FIELD HOUSE

ARENA & SPORTS PERFORMANCE COMPLEX ARENA STUDENT ATHLETE SUCCESS CENTER

PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER

VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE GYM

GYMNASTICS PRACTICE GYM

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD AND BAND COMPLEX

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

VA HOSPITAL

BAND REHEARSAL HALL

PANTHER HALL

WRESTLING PRACTICE GYM

MARTCHEK FAMILY STRENGTH & CONDITIONING CENTER

SIGNATURE EVENTS

Kickoff Luncheon Pitt football fans joined Head Coach Pat Narduzzi and the 2019 Senior Class for the annual Kickoff Luncheon, sponsored by Huntington Bank. Pitt Great and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Curtis Martin treated guests to an inspirational keynote address, sharing insights from his time at Pitt and the NFL.

Hall of Fame The Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2019 included Olympians, national champions, Super Bowl winners, schoolrecord setters and legendary figures whose names and achievements resonate well beyond Pitt. Nearly 500 Pitt Athletics supporters attended the induction ceremony of the 10 living honorees and four posthumous selections.

Panthers’ Choice Awards The second annual Panthers’ Choice Awards celebrated student-athlete achievements in academics, athletics and citizenship made during the 2018-19 academic year. Pitt football great and current Steeler James Conner attended to present the James Conner Comeback Award, named in his honor by Champions Advisory Board member John Gismondi, to George Aston.

Party in the Paint Party in the Paint, presented by Huntington Bank, brought together nearly 300 Pitt basketball fans to tipoff the 2019-20 men’s and women’s seasons. Donors were treated to the stories of renowned college basketball analyst, Bill Raftery and insights from head coaches Jeff Capel and Lance White, all while dining on the Petersen Events Center court.

The Panther Club

@PittPantherClub

@PittPantherClub

HailtoPitt.com

Panther Club, Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261

PREMIUM SEATING

See the game like never before!

Through the purchase of any one of our premium seating options, you are helping to lay the foundation for our student-athletes to be successful as a student, on the court, and in the opportunities to come.

Premium seating is an opportunity to support all 19 teams, while enjoying the ultimate gameday experience!

To view all of our Football and Basketball Premium Seating Options visit HailtoPitt.com For more information on premium seating options contact Davis Hendrickson at 412.419.7009 or dhendrickson@athletics.pitt.edu

TRANSFORMING TOMORROW Damar Hamlin Senior | McKees Rocks, PA “Growing up, my primary goal was always to earn a scholarship to play college football.

The University of Pittsburgh has made that a reality for me. Thanks to the support of the Panther Club, I have the opportunity to earn a degree from one of the top academic universities in the world – right here in my hometown of Pittsburgh. That is something that I will always be thankful for and never take for granted.”

Greg Lauray Senior | Nazareth, PA “Throughout my time here at Pitt, the Panther Club has been very helpful and supportive of our program. We took this program to new heights last season as we finished fourth in the ACC and with the growing support of the Panther Club members the sky is the limit for our team.”

Amanda West Hunter Levesque

Sophomore | Burlington, ON

Senior | Troy, NY

“The support the Panther Club provides all of our student-athletes at Pitt is absolutely amazing. Their support truly impacts our program daily and allows all of us to develop as students and athletes while at Pitt. I am forever grateful to all the members of the Panther Club for supporting my academic and athletic aspirations! H2P!”

The Panther Club

@PittPantherClub

“The Panther Club’s support is evident for all student-athletes on campus. Driven by success and leadership, we have endless amount of opportunities and resources.

The Panther Club understands the importance of building a strong culture for our community, which hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

@PittPantherClub

HailtoPitt.com

Panther Club, Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Dayshanette Harris Sophomore | Youngstown, OH “The Panther Club made my first year at Pitt one that I will never forget. Because of their continued and gracious support I can’t wait to get back to work and play for the name on the front of my jersey, Pitt.

The winning culture that we are building here at Pitt wouldn’t be possible without the support and mentorship from each and every member of the Panther Club.”

FAQ

General Membership Questions Can I share my Panther Club membership with a friend?

Panther Club memberships are open to everyone. We ask that one membership be maintained per mailing address whether it is held by an individual, couple, family or business. We cannot accept multiple party payments for one account. Payments must be received from the account holder of record. If a business name is on an account, then payments must be received from the business name on the account.

Can I transfer my membership to a friend?

Memberships are only transferrable onetime and only between immediate family members (parents to children). For more information on membership transfers, please contact the Panther Club Office at 412-648-8889.

How does the Tax Cuts and Job Act affect my Panther Club membership?

Effective January 1, 2018, any fees that have been associated with priority seating or parking will now be known as Scholarship Seating Memberships (SSM). The federal

The Panther Club

@PittPantherClub

government no longer considers these payments to be gifts or donations, meaning that tax receipts will not be generated for this component of your Panther Club membership. You will continue to receive priority points for these membership fees, as well as other membership benefits, that are outlined in our 2020-21 Panther Club benefit chart.

of allowing this association to continue.

You will continue to receive priority points for your membership in addition to other benefits. We look forward to adding more value to your membership in the future as we explore ways to enhance your experience.

If SSMs are no longer tax deductible, why are you still requiring them?

Pitt, like other colleges and universities across the country, has a priority seating and parking program in place to provide funding that is vital to our athletic programs. At Pitt, all funds received through our SSM program are used to help offset the academic expenses of Pitt student-athletes. The need for this funding still exists, and has continued to grow over the years.

“Championship Giving funds fulfill needs that will help position Pitt teams and student-athletes for championship level success. These needs include sportspecific championship funds, athletic facility projects, our Student-Athlete Success Fund, and endowed scholarships.

Gifts can be made on an annual or multiyear basis and are tax deductible. These gifts cannot be applied toward the payment of your SSM or parking fees. For more information, please contact the Panther Club Office at 412-648-8889 or visit hailtopitt.com.

Why are you calling this a membership?

Can I make a tax deductible gift to Pitt Athletics?

Pitt, like other colleges and universities In an effort to honor the equity you have accumulated in your Panther Club membership, we recognize the importance

Yes. You can make a tax deductible gift to any one of our Championship Giving funds.

Donations to these funds cannot be applied to the payment of your SSM or parking fees.

@PittPantherClub

HailtoPitt.com

What are Championship GIving Funds?

Panther Club, Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261