INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB
Let’s Join Together Feb. 6 for Deacs Day of Giving
BA R RY FA I R C L O T H SENIOR A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT
18
As the final kick at the Birmingham Bowl sailed just wide right, I was again reminded why I love Wake Forest sports. From running around the field, hugging and high-fiving everyone — players, coaches, staff and fans — to finding Big Daddy who was already sporting a Birmingham Bowl championship hat, beaming with pride as tears streamed down his face, it was certainly a special moment. At that point in time, we were all one, celebrating in the jubilation of victory. We had become something bigger than ourselves and we were all part of this Wake Forest team — we were bowl champions for the third straight year. That feeling has stuck in my mind over the past month — this burning desire to continue to be part of something bigger and continue to provide the opportunity for championship moments for all of our sports. This is why I’m so excited for our second-ever Deacs Day of Giving coming up on Wednesday, Feb. 6. On this one day, we collectively join forces to create a cumulative impact greater than what any one of us can generate on our own. We can join in with thousands of fellow Deacs from around the country, unite together and invest in making Wake Forest Athletics a better place. We all give for different reasons. For some, it may be to provide a scholarship for a student-athlete
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to receive a Wake Forest education. For others, the “why” may be to equip coaches with the resources needed to recruit at the highest level. Still, others look to enhance the lives of our student-athletes through sports performance, career support or a host of other reasons. Whatever the reason, on this day, we can all join together to make a statement about the investment we intend to make for our future. For many of you, we’ve offered challenges to instill some bragging rights and incentives to increase your gift and encourage you to inspire others to join you. For those who participated in Greek life, we will once again be hosting a Greek Life Challenge to recognize the organization whose alumni contribute the most dollars. Last fall, Kappa Alpha accepted its award on the field at a football game for winning the 2018 challenge, barely edging out the competition. Field hockey and women’s soccer will look to defend their titles in our Former Student-Athlete Giving Challenges. This year, a $10k bonus will be awarded to the sport program with the greatest participation rate and another $10k to the program that raises the most dollars toward their goal. I’m already seeing those competitive juices flowing. New this year is an opportunity for past and present parents of student-athletes to win another $10k bonus for generating the most dollars toward the parent goal for the sport in which their son or daughter participates or participated. Now that I have a daughter who is a distance runner for Wake Forest, I am part of this group as a parent — look out! We hope you’ll find Deacs Day of Giving to be a fun, interactive way to not only participate in our future success, but also an easy way to encourage former classmates, colleagues, family and friends to join as well. For more information on how to be further involved, please contact us at DeacClub@wfu.edu. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to again be part of something bigger than ourselves, and again, from the bottom of my heart, thanks to each of you for all you do for Wake Forest. Go Deacs!