In athletics, as in much of life, there’s nothing like teamwork—and the VMI family displayed impressive teamwork during the Keydet Club’s fourth annual crowdfunding campaign, Compete to Win, raising $369,512 for VMI athletics. Held March 25–27, the campaign drew the support of 756 donors from 40 states and set records both in terms of donors and dollars. In addition, 174 of those donors were new to the Keydet Club.
As in years past, supporters were invited to direct their gifts to any of VMI’s NCAA sports teams or to the Athletic Director’s Discretionary Fund, branded as Value Makes Impact. As a special incentive for that particular fund, Jamaal Walton ’07, VMI director of intercollegiate athletics, promised to spend 24 hours in barracks as a cadet if that fund hit its goal of $25,000. Thanks to the total raised—$32,346 from 120 donors—Walton will be making good on that promise.
“Keydet nation stepped up through the Compete to Win campaign with record numbers,” said Walton, who is now concluding his first year at the helm of VMI athletics. “VMI athletics is grateful for the support and generosity of the Whole Damn Team. Value Makes Impact!”
Top choices for this year’s campaign included men’s soccer, which raised $92,429 from 93 donors; football, which raised $47,268 from 132 donors; and wrestling, $37,595 from 89 donors.
In addition to the Athletic Director’s Discretionary Fund, funds exceeding their goals this year included those supporting rifle ($20,000 goal, $23,144 raised), women’s soccer ($15,000 goal, $20,260 raised), water polo ($8,000 goal, $11,884 raised), and wrestling ($25,000 goal, $37,595 raised).
“Compete to Win continues to reinforce the enthusiasm and support around our cadet-athletes and coaches,” said Andrew C. Deal ’12, Keydet Club chief operating officer and Alumni Agencies chief development officer. “The 3-day effort saw a record number of donors and dollars for this effort. The Keydet Club is thankful for the overwhelming show of support from VMI athletics and our staff for making this a successful event.”
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Mary Price Development Writer/Communications Specialist
The development writer plays a key role in producing advancement communications. This role imagines, creates, and produces a variety of written communication to inspire donors to make gifts benefiting VMI. Utilizing journalistic features and storytelling, the development writer will produce content for areas such as Annual Giving, stewardship, and gift planning.
