By Chris Muller

Your NIRSA Foundation raised over $40,000 through the individual and corporate donations, golf tournament, Mark Fletcher Fun Run/Walk, t-shirt quilt raffle ticket sales, and apparel sales at the 2013 Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

Our association is proud and thankful for the myriad of creative ways that NIRSA members contribute to the ongoing success of our community and profession:

  • Over 125 individual donors contributed over $26,000 through the “Put $100 on NIRSA” and “$20 for 20” campaigns, which celebrated the landmark anniversaries of both the Centennial of Collegiate Recreation and two decades of the NIRSA Foundation.
  • The golf tournament raised approximately $9,000 and had 160 golfers enjoy a windy day at Piute Golf Course.
  • Over 130 entries were received for the t-shirt/apparel competition which generated over $2,000 in sales. Congratulations to Texas A&M University for winning “Best in Show.”
  • An estimated 150 members participated in the Mark Fletcher Fun Run/Walk.
  • A coveted, artist-signed copy of Star Wars: The Complete Saga was won by Darcy Bingham and Deborah Roberts during the online auction.
  • Kelly deMarrais of Indiana University won the raffle for the 2013 NIRSA quilt, which was handmade by NIRSA member Roy Easley.

NIRSA members also contributed in service, as well, with 81 volunteers giving back to our host city during the Community Service Project at Opportunity Village.

This year, the NIRSA Foundation, through the generosity of NIRSA members and corporate contributors, was able to award scholarships as follows:

  • 14 students were selected to receive scholarships to attend the J. Michael Dunn Student Professional Development Workshop.
  • 5 professional were awarded scholarships to attend pre-conference workshops.
  • 9 professionals were awarded scholarships to attend either the Annual Conference, the National Recreational Facilities Institute, or the National School of Recreational Sports Management.
  • 25 students were selected to receive a scholarship to attend the Annual Conference.

Each of the scholarship winners were asked to work five hours at the NIRSA Foundation table. In addition to their contribution of time, over 30% of our scholarship winners began their lifetime of giving to the NIRSA Foundation by becoming “Participant Level” donors with their first gifts of $25 to the NIRSA Foundation.

The NIRSA Foundation Board would like to congratulate Darcy and Bob Bingham who were awarded the inaugural NIRSA Foundation Leadership Award for their lifetime of support to the Foundation. Please join us in celebrating both Darcy and Bob on their astounding support to the future of collegiate recreation professionals.

Didn’t get the chance to donate at the conference? There are still plenty of ways to contribute. To give, simply click “Contribute Today!” on the NIRSA website. All of the NIRSA Foundation endowments are listed, as well as a general fund.