Rams Club Celebrates Outstanding Fundraising Year

CHAPEL HILL – Rams Club members contributed more than $62 million in support of Tar Heel student-athletes and coaches in 2017-18, continuing progress in the critical Campaign for Carolina Athletics that is currently underway.

Members gave $62.6 million in gifts and pledges, the second largest total in the Rams Club's history. Gifts supported the campaign's four priorities: scholarships, facilities, team support and the annual fund. The Campaign for Carolina Athletics is a $500 million effort to secure the financial future of the athletics program, and is part of the University's For All Kind campaign.

Funding from Rams Club members annually provides scholarships for more than 500 Tar Heel student-athletes, and helps provide facilities and other levels of support for all 28 varsity programs and another 300-plus student-athletes.

"Rams Club members consistently show that they believe in our student-athletes, our coaches, and our program," says Executive Director John Montgomery. "The Rams Club's mission is to provide educational and athletic opportunities for Carolina student-athletes. More than 15,000 loyal Tar Heels stepped forward again this year, and helped us to provide those opportunities to the brightest and most accomplished student-athletes in the country."

Donors provided record-high gift totals in two categories that directly impact athletics scholarships: $30.7 million for the scholarship endowment and $16.35 million to the annual fund. The yield from the scholarship endowment fund currently covers approximately 70 percent of the scholarship bill each year; the annual fund is critical to make up the difference between the actual cost of scholarships and the yield generated from the endowment.

Rams Club members also provided $12.6 million for capital projects. Carolina Athletics currently has four facility projects near completion or under construction – an indoor football practice facility, the field hockey stadium, the soccer and lacrosse stadium, and the track & field/practice fields complex at UNC Finley. Fundraising remains a priority for all of these projects. Additionally, members gave $2.9 million in team support.

"Our students, coaches and staff thank the thousands of Rams Club members who continue to support this University's commitment to provide a great experience for our students," says Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. "Carolina has so much to offer, including an opportunity to receive an education at a world-class university while competing for championships at the highest level. Scholarships, outstanding facilities, and program support are critical to building the best student-athlete experience in college athletics."

"Our members know the importance of supporting the student-athletes we cheer each day," says Todd Pope, chair of The Rams Club's executive board of directors. "Every member has an impact on the lives of our student-athletes, providing them with an experience that will positively affect them the rest of their lives."

The Rams Club, known formally as The Educational Foundation, Inc., was chartered in 1938. It has provided scholarships to approximately 8,000 student-athletes in its history. For more information, please visit RamsClub.com.

University of North Carolina Athletics

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