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Vassar is about to prove it again! On Thursday, February 7, the Department of Athletics and Physical Education will team up with the Office of Alumnae/i Affairs and Development to host another 27-hour fund raising challenge #27Brew2.

80% of targeted gifts will go the designated team and 20% to the general Brewers Fund to support facilities and services that benefit all student-athletes.

In addition to the funds actually raised through Brewers Fund donations, additional funds will be generated through three challenges:

• A $10,000 gift will be added to the Brewers Fund if the event exceeds its goal of 3,700 donors;
• The team that gets the most donors will receive an additional $5,000; and
• President Elizabeth Bradley will make a $5,000 gift to the team that shows the greatest improvement over last year’s Challenge.

Funds raised last year are supporting Vassar RISE, a development program that provides education, support, and opportunities for student-athletes to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially—in and outside the competitive environment. Funds were also used to create a new awards display that celebrates student-athletes’ successes. And some of the money has been used for enhanced training services and team travel, including the women’s rugby team’s December trip to Charlotte, NC, where the Brewers won the USA Rugby Division II National Fall Championship—the first national team title in Vassar history.

Michelle Walsh, Director of Athletics and Physical Education, notes that the Brewers Fund not only supports vital programs and facilities but also serves as a way to connect student-athletes, alums, parents, and other friends of Vassar athletics.

“Last year’s giving challenge was wildly successful, not just in terms of dollars and donors, but also in terms of the level of engagement with our supporters,” Walsh says. “Our current student-athletes and staff were honored and overwhelmed by this response. This effort lets our student-athletes know that they’re part of a much larger community while also providing them with much-needed support to enable them to be as successful in competition as they are in the classroom.”

Annie MacMillan, a Liberty League all-star volleyball player and president of the Student Athletes Advisory Council (SAAC), says she and her fellow student-athletes are grateful for all the support the donors to the Brewers Fund have shown them. “The incredible opportunities we’ve had as student-athletes at Vassar are made possible because of continued support for the Brewers Fund,” MacMillan says. “This generous support has greatly enhanced our collegiate experience. The Brewers Fund ensures our student-athletes can continuously pursue excellence not just on the court or the playing field but in the classroom and the community.”

To learn more, visit vassar.edu/27brew2.