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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – March Mania is back!
The Lehigh Athletics Partnership has announced the return of the March Mania fundraiser from March 30th to March 31st. March Mania offers Lehigh alumni, families and friends the opportunity to demonstrate their passion and support for Lehigh Athletics or their favorite sport in Lehigh and to help make up for serious budget shortfalls.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the college experience of many undergraduate athletes and may also have an adverse impact in future semesters. Due to the NCAA’s cut in national distributions to member institutions and the cancellation of revenue-generating events and corporate activities in the 2019-20 academic year, there is a greater financial burden on the Lehigh Athletics department to collect operating expenses. Support from our community enables teams to retain staff, travel for competitions and recruitment, purchase essential equipment, and fund important athletic experiences. Our goal is to minimize the unique financial impact of our teams … but we need your help!
The March Mania fundraising campaign started in 2015. It was suspended due to last year’s pandemic outbreak, but the Lehigh Athletics community answered the call. Almost 1,400 gifts totaling more than $ 580,000 were collected on Lehigh Athletics Support Day, last May 28th.
Gifts can go to the sports program of your choice, to multiple sports programs, and / or to the General Unrestricted Athletics Partnership Fund. Each year, the dollars raised through the General Athletics Partnership Fund go to support staff, increase the program budget, and special projects. This year, COVID-19 screening tests are one of the key items this unrestricted fund is designed to cover.
One of the elements of previous Mania campaigns in March was competition between alumni groups of the sports program. This year, the competition is rated based on the percentage of participation in donation among our sports alumni boards during the March Mania donation period. The top five sports alumni boards receive additional funding for their programs. In addition, the sports team with the top dollars and the sports team with the top donors receive additional funding for their respective programs.
Here is the breakdown:
Highest alumni participation rate unlocked through sport –
1st – $ 3,000
2nd – $ 2,500
3rd – $ 2,000
4th – $ 1,500
5th – $ 1,000
Sports with the most dollars will be unlocked – $ 1,000
Sports with most donors will be activated – $ 1,000
Total prize money – $ 12,000
Several generous donors have offered additional challenge gifts to support certain sports programs. You can find these additional challenges on every sport-specific page and on the CHALLENGE Tab of the March Mania website.
Gifts can be made online March 30-31 by clicking on the sports program of your choice or the General Unrestricted Athletic Partnership Fund. Our secure online donation form allows you to make a one-time gift, recurring gift, or pledge with a VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card. Online donations save time and reduce processing costs for Lehigh Athletics.
Donations can also be sent by post. Please make checks payable to Lehigh University and include sports programs or the General Unrestricted Athletics Partnership Fund and “March Mania” on the note line on the check.
All checks can be sent to:
Office for Development and Alumni Relations
306 South New Street
Suite 500
Bethlehem, PA 18015
** Be sure to pay your check to Lehigh University and include the sports program and / or General Unrestricted Athletics Partnership Fund and March Mania on the note line of the check.
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