STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation, in conjunction with the Department of Athletics, announced record-setting fundraising numbers for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The books have officially closed on the second full fiscal year for Georgia Southern Athletics under Athletic Director Jared Benko and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (FY22), the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation raised a record $10.6 million in new pledges and outright gifts.

With the largest gift ever coming from the Anthony P. Tippins Family to jump-start the Indoor Practice Facility project, the Foundation raised more than 68% over the previous record set last year of $6.3 million. 

"We are very grateful and appreciative of Eagle Nation's continued support of our 400+ student-athletes across 17 sport programs," said Jared Benko, Georgia Southern Director of Athletics. "Our donors' generosity affords us the opportunity to provide an elite student-athlete experience as our young men and women pursue excellence on and off their field of play. Securing new fundraising records two years in a row is a tremendous accomplishment and is the culmination of hard work and alignment between campus leadership, our Athletic Foundation staff, and the Athletic Foundation Board chaired by Leonard Bevill.  Our best days are ahead!"

"It truly is amazing to see the support of Eagle Nation," said Erick Reasoner, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and head of the Athletic Foundation. "You cannot reach numbers like we have the past two years without everyone working together and being on the same page. The University, the athletic department, the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation Board of Directors and all of the great fans are making this happen. We are not done; we are looking to increase these numbers and the impact on our student-athletes throughout the upcoming year!"

The Erk Russell Fund, the Foundation's annual fund, is now up to 2,423 members with its stated goal of 6,000 still in sight. Sixty-one major gifts (identified as those of $25,000 or more) were pledged to the Eagles in FY22. The Erk Russell Fund had $3.2 million donated to it, a 60% increase from the previous record. The major gift side saw huge growth, almost doubling the previous year's total ($4 million) and setting the mark for the biggest year ever with over $7.4 million raised. Thirty-five of the 61 major gifts were from donors who had never given a major gift to the entire university.

Over the past two fiscal years, the Athletic Foundation has increased overall giving by $17 million, with over $5 million going to the annual fund and nearly $12 million in major gifts.

While FY22 has ended, the Foundation continues to work on securing pledges and donations in support of Georgia Southern Athletics. To donate, fans can go to Give.GSEagles.com.