Indiana University Athletics
Scott Dolson on a Record Breaking Year
9/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Varsity Club
Sept. 28, 2005
As we begin another exciting year in IU Athletics, I would like to express the gratitude of the IU Varsity Club, the Athletic Department and its student-athletes for the role you play as a valued supporter. Without the generosity of donors like you, our accomplishments would not be as great.
2004-05 was a landmark year for the IU Varsity Club, and I would like to share some of what made our year and the year of our student-athletes so remarkable.
Highlighted by the Glaubinger Foundation's $10 million gift to the IU Athletic Endowment, Varsity Club donors generously gave a record $11.5 million in gifts and pledges to the endowment, adding three endowed scholarships and eight named scholarships. Most of these gifts qualify for matching funds through the IU Bloomington Matching the Promise campaign - thus, doubling the impact of the gifts.
Thanks in part to the record-breaking year, IU now boasts the largest scholarship endowment in the Big Ten Conference, with cash, pledges and deferred gifts now at $65 million. We received several significant gifts for capital projects as well. Furthermore, overall annual giving has increased 8.3 percent in the last year and 44.8 percent in the last three years. We will continue to work hard to fully fund our annual scholarship costs - estimated to reach $7.75 million this academic year.
The excitement surrounding IU Football and Coach Hoeppner has resulted in a 51 percent increase in IU Stadium Club membership, up to 270 over 178 sold in 2004. We are nearing capacity and expect to be sold out soon. Additionally, our courtesy car program has grown by 7 vehicles to a total of 28 vehicles.
In conjunction with the IU Alumni Association and its local chapters, the Varsity Club held numerous events around the state this past spring in an effort to reach out to Hoosier fans and alumni and to generate enthusiasm for IU Athletics.
Your loyalty has been tremendous and we thank you for your generosity, involvement and enthusiasm. As we face the challenges and opportunities ahead, we are confident that with your continued support IU Athletics will thrive and succeed.
It is our hope that you will share in our accomplishments of last year and work with us as we strive to make 2005-06 just as successful and memorable.
Thanks and Go Hoosiers!
Scott Dolson
Associate Athletic Director, Development
Varsity Club Director
