Division II reached another record contribution total for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2008-09, pushing the division’s overall contribution since 2003 past $1 million.

The Division II SAAC, which has coordinated donations from institutions, conferences and governance groups annually since 2003-04, collected an all-time high of $359,187 during the 2008-09 campaign, more than $43,000 above last year’s total.

Division II is the single-largest grass-roots provider to the national Make-A-Wish fund (Division II is among just 10 groups – mostly corporate entities – in the foundation’s $250,000+ advocate level). The division has raised its contribution every year and has regularly eclipsed campaign goals.

“I can’t say enough about how effectively our Division II SAAC members work annually to keep raising the bar,” said Division II Vice President Mike Racy. “Setting another record in this of all years when the economy is forcing everyone to cut back is simply remarkable.”

The Division II SAAC relies on conference and institution SAACs to raise awareness and generate interest in the campaign. While most of the fund-raising initiatives are modest, ranging from spare-change drives and jeans days to bake sales and raffles, they collectively make a significant impact.

“Our committee has found that when student-athletes put their minds to an initiative, great things tend to happen,” said Angelo State baseball student-athlete Christopher Odom, who currently chairs the DII SAAC. “While some people might be surprised at the amount that is raised from year to year, I am not surprised that Division II student-athletes are the primary contributors to the success.”

The Northeast-10 Conference led all Division II conferences with more than $35,000 raised. The league was one of three (Pennsylvania State Athletic and Conference Carolinas) in which all members participated.

The East Coast Conference contributed $27,875, much of that coming from Dowling College, which led all Division II institutions with more than $17,000 raised. Dowling received contributions from each of its athletics teams and created innovative ways to raise funds.

“I’m more proud of what our student-athletes have done with this initiative than with anything I’ve seen from them athletically, academically or philanthropically since I’ve been at Dowling,” said Vice President of Athletics and Institutional Advancement Rick Cole Jr. “It has been truly inspiring.”

The 2008-09 Division II total also was buoyed by more than $97,000 in championship fines that were applied to the fund. Division II decided years ago to devote dollars collected from nullification penalties regarding championships eligibility, student-athlete reinstatement and championship misconduct fines to the Make-A-Wish drive rather than redistribute them to the membership.

Make-A-Wish conference leaders, 2008-09

Northeast-10               $35,798
East Coast                  $27,875
Peach Belt                  $21,221
Sunshine State            $19,636
Pennsylvania State      $17,446
Lone Star                    $13,734
California Collegiate    $13,045
Central Atlantic          $12,218
Northern Sun              $10,672
Gulf South                  $10,439
Conference Carolinas  $10,379