University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC To Receive Women's Basketball Grant
June 18, 2009 | Women's Basketball
June 18, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS --- The University of North Carolina was one of 18 institutions or conferences selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to receive a women's basketball grant as part of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Grant Program, which is in its second year.
The 2009-10 NCAA grant program dedicated approximately $750,000 nationally to increase awareness, exposure and attendance of women's basketball.
The grant will be used to fund the inaugural year of the “Heels for Health” program with Carolina women's basketball. The program will be open to all children ages 6-10 as well as all senior citizens ages 60 and older.
Membership is free and all members will receive a “Heels for Health” T-shirt, a membership card that can be used to receive a discounted ticket to select games, invitations to select events throughout the season and a monthly newsletter with features on the Carolina women's basketball team as well as tips on leading a healthy lifestyle. Stay tuned to TarHeelBlue.com for the membership application to be available later this summer.
A total of 75 member schools and conferences submitted proposals in the second year of the pilot program. National office staff and representatives from the NCAA women's basketball marketing consultant firm, Hawkeye Sports and Entertainment, evaluated the proposals.
“We are pleased with the success of many of last year's grant recipients and are excited to see what these new recipients are able to achieve with this assistance,” said NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Vice President Sue Donohoe. “When resources are allocated and efforts are focused to promote women's basketball, it can provide a meaningful return on the investment.”
Joining the University of North Carolina as 2009-10 grant recipients are Auburn University; Big South Conference; Cornell University; East Tennessee State University; Eastern Michigan University; Iowa State University; Patriot League; San Diego State University, University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Hartford; University of Kansas; University of Miami (Florida); University of South Carolina, Columbia; West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference.
The first year of the grant program went very well and we are anticipating more success in year two,” said Donohoe. “The membership has had a tremendous interest in securing grant resources to advance women's basketball. It is important that we continue to work to grow women's basketball from the inside out and at the grass roots level.”
