Upcoming ‘Day of Giving’ Will Provide Crucial Support to Vassar Athletics

Over the past seven years, alums, parents, and other friends of the College have donated more than $2.4 million to support Vassar’s 25 varsity athletic teams and four varsity club teams on an annual Day of Giving. This year’s event kicks off at 8:00 a.m. EDT on October 14 and concludes at 1:00 p.m. the following day.

#give2brewVassar Athletics

Support Vassar’s 25 varsity athletic teams and four varsity club teams on 8:00 a.m. EDT on October 14, our annual Day of Giving. To make a donation on the day of the event, visit go.vassar.edu/give2brew.

“The Athletics Day of Giving continues to play an integral role in our ability to provide an outstanding experience to our student-athletes while promoting their continued growth, both in the classroom and on the field of play,” said Michelle Walsh, Director of Athletics and Physical Education. “Without help from donors, we would not be able to send teams on winter and spring break training trips, provide enhanced sport performance and nutritional programming, support additional athletic training and strength and conditioning personnel, fund career networking events connecting Vassar athlete-alums to our current Brewers, and much, much more. We are deeply thankful for the assistance that we have received in the past and hope that our alums, families, and friends will once again support Vassar student-athletes on this year’s Day of Giving.”

James McCowan, head coach of men’s and women’s cross country, said funds from last year’s Day of Giving enabled him to take 20 members of the two teams to an event in South Carolina this fall that he said would help them compete in the NCAA Division III Championships in November. Vassar runners competed in the NCAA Pre-Nationals, running on the same course where the NCAA event will be held.

“Being able to run the course ahead of time is a huge advantage instead of running it for the first time in November,” McCowan said. “Getting the team on a plane to be able to preview the NCAA Championship course mid-season is no small thing, and I know the team really relished the opportunity to travel together and get to know the course ahead of time.”

McCowan said the rest of the funds raised in the Day of Giving event were used to purchase state-of-the-art running shoes for all members of both teams. “The rapid advances in shoe technology have left a clear mark on the times it takes to be successful in college now, and those without them are left at a disadvantage,” he said. “Helping outfit the team in them makes a huge difference in staying at the front of league, regional, and NCAA competition.”

Men’s Lacrosse Coach John McCreery said his team often uses the funds for trips to compete against teams in other parts of the country, including California, Texas, Virginia, and Maryland. This year, the team will use the funds to train and compete in Florida. “We’ve also been able to organize valuable team bonding activities, such as team dinners, bowling nights, and movie outings,” McCreery said. “On the equipment side, the funds have helped us purchase much-needed new gloves and helmets, ensuring our players have the gear they need to compete at a high level.

“The Day of Giving support has allowed us to add components to our program that go beyond the field,” he continued. “We’ve brought in a yoga and mindfulness instructor, helping players develop mental resilience and focus. And the donations have provided valuable resources to our athletic training and strength & conditioning departments, which is critical to keeping our players healthy and performing their best throughout the season.”

The coach said he enjoys watching his players prepare for the event. “Leading up to the Day of Giving, our players work together to create fun and engaging social media content that is usually videos,” McCreery said. “Each class produces one, and we also form four mixed-grade groups to collaborate on additional content. And we now hold an awards show for the videos the week before the Day of Giving. This process yields a huge amount of camaraderie and bonding. Our student-athletes are incredibly creative and talented far beyond the athletic realm, and this gives them a chance to showcase those skills while working together toward a shared goal.”

McCreery said he and all Vassar coaches are truly grateful for the support. “Our alums and parents go above and beyond by not just donating, but also in spreading the word and even participating in the creation of videos for the Day of Giving,” McCreery said. “Their involvement keeps the spirit of the program alive and thriving. Their enthusiasm is infectious and plays a big part in the energy that surrounds this annual event.”

Sofia Beseth ’26, President of the Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC) and a co-captain of the field hockey team, said she is grateful for the support donors to the Day of Giving have made for her team and the intercollegiate athletic program during her time at Vassar. “All of us in SAAC are involved in generating excitement for the event on social media, reaching out to alums, former student athletes and others to spread the word,” Beseth said. “Being a student athlete has been a big part of my Vassar experience and is something I am very proud of. It teaches you so much about time management and communications skills we will need whatever we do in our chosen careers after Vassar, and I’ve seen the impact of the Day of Giving on the overall athletics program since I became involved in SAAC during in my sophomore year.”

Beseth noted that some of the money provides direct help in student-athletes’ career plans by allocating some funds to the RISE (Responsibility Integrity Sportsmanship Excellence) program. “Through certain RISE events, we have the opportunity to hear directly from former athletes and other alums who come to campus to talk about their careers, which is a great way to practice our networking skills and build important connections,” she said. “RISE also offers resume and cover letter workshops in partnership with the Vassar Center for Career Education and to help us connect with them,” she said.

Yasmeen Kassem-Scott ’26, a co-captain of the defending national champion women’s rugby team, said she and her teammates have been “absolutely blown away by the generosity of our donors in previous years. Thanks to these contributions, we have been able to offset the financial burden of travel for playoffs. Our athletes are able to travel to places like Virginia, Texas, and North Carolina for free whereas most other teams in our division cannot, allowing us to focus solely on our athletic performance when we are there. Being able to take such a large squad of players, as well as athletic trainers, to these playoff games has contributed greatly to our success.”

Kassem-Scott said funds from the Day of Giving campaign have also been used for equipment that make the game safer to play. “Recently we were able to get new pads for our scrum machine as well as tackling bags and new game uniforms,” she said. “As a varsity club sport, it is so incredible to have all these amazing opportunities and gear, only possible through the generosity of our donors on Day of Giving.”

This year, President Elizabeth Bradley and her husband, John, are once again championing Vassar’s student-athletes. They will make a $10,000 gift to the Brewers Fund if our 29 teams reach the collective goal of 2,300 donors. Vassar’s Board of Trustees will also provide each team with a $1,000 bonus when they hit their team goals. Eighty percent of each gift to a team goes directly to that team, and the remaining 20 percent is allocated to the Department of Athletics and Physical Education for programs and equipment that benefit all student-athletes.

To make a donation on the day of the event, visit go.vassar.edu/give2brew.