National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2003
« back to 2003 | Back to NCAA News Archive Index
|
The NCAA News
The University of Nebraska at Omaha could very well be the first to claim that its women's athletics programs are "soler" powered.
That's because the Mavericks at Nebraska-Omaha and the surrounding community are on their feet once a year to raise money for women's athletics.
Back in 1985, severe budget cuts had slashed the athletics department budget by two-thirds and money was scarce.
Athletics administrator Connie Claussen heard about a fund-raiser put on by a school on the West Coast -- a women's walk. In 1986, Claussen orchestrated the first of what would become an annual event that now provides the primary source of financial support for Nebraska-Omaha's women's athletics programs. Eighty-five participants netted around $12,000 in donations that year.
On April 12, 2003, the 18th edition of the Diet Pepsi/UNO Women's Walk for Athletics hosted more than 1,000 women and eclipsed its $200,000 goal. More impressive, this year's total in donations and pledges put the event over $2 million raised to help fund women's athletics since the walk's inception.
By her own admission, the event has grown well beyond Claussen's expectations.
"When I started this event back in 1986, my goal was to eventually get to where we could raise $100,000 in a year, but this is great," she said.
The money raised during the walk goes directly to support women's athletics. Pepsi Bottling Company has served as a sponsor of the event for the past 15 years and has been a title sponsor for the past 13 years. As important as providing a recognizable name for the event, the company kicks in a $25,000 annual donation, which helps fund the cost of organizing the walk.
"Every dime raised goes into our scholarships for student-athletes," said Cherri Mankenberg, an associate athletics direc tor at the school who took over for Claussen and has since retired.
One would think the enticement of helping a deserving female student-athlete would be enough to nudge even the laziest of folks to lace up the tennies and raise at least the requested minimum donation of $50, but event organizers also provide prizes to lure participants and pump up the enthusiasm. This year, First National Bank of Omaha, a platinum-level ($10,000) sponsor for the past three years, provided a brunch for participants at the end of the 30-minute walk. Prizes, some of which were based on the amount raised, included a Schwinn Airdyne bicycle, airline tickets, grocery store gift certificates, Arby's meal passes and gift certificates for flight instruction.
Mankenberg said part of what helps make the walk a success year after year is that athletes and coaches do a good job of thanking the community and expressing their appreciation for the support.
But beyond the heartfelt thank-yous, a tangible form of appreciation can be found in the growth and success of Nebraska-Omaha's women's athletics.
"Our fund-raiser, along with the school adding men's hockey, has helped us add five women's sports in the last seven years," said Mankenberg.
Two years ago, Nebraska-Omaha's softball team earned the Division II national championship, and last December the women's soccer team made an appearance in the national championship game.
© 2010 The National Collegiate Athletic Association
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy