Golden Flashes Club Closes Record-Setting Year
7/5/2023 3:26:00โฏPM | General, The Golden Flashes Club
KENT, Ohio - The Golden Flashes Club (TGFC), the fundraising and philanthropy arm of the Kent State Athletic Department, wrapped up a record-setting year, raising the bar in several key categories over the 2022-23 fiscal year.
"I'm really proud of our TGFC team and all the hard work we have done," Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Advancement Maggie McKendry said. "What we've done this year has never been done before. We keep setting ambitious goals and we keep setting new records. We're looking forward to doing it again."
After setting a record in 2022, TGFC surpassed that number again in 2023 with 2,329 unique donors. Those donors came through with the highest cash in fundraising since 2017 with over $1.5 million cash raised. The Varsity K Club, comprised of former Kent State student-athlete letter winners, also grew to a record high as over 200 new members joined the alumni arm of The Golden Flashes Club. The Athletic department staff giving campaign was also a success garnering 100% of the Athletic staff participating.
"The continued growth of The Golden Flashes Club is exciting," Vice President, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Randale L. Richmond said. "It plays a huge role in providing the resources necessary to accomplish everything we laid out in our strategic plan. I am reassured that our alumni and donors are as excited as we are about what we are building at Kent State."
The Crowdfunding numbers, which include Giving Tuesday in November, raised $403,908 in athletics giving, $75,708 of which was matched by the Foundation through challenges and participation boosts. Eight new endowments were created in 2022-23 which adds to the nearly 100 scholarship endowments valued at $8 million that TGFC oversees.
Building on the momentum of a record six new named spaces last year, TGFC continued to add named spaces including one dedicated to our beloved Super Fan on the MAC Center court floor. In addition, under McKendry's watch, TGFC has spearheaded facility upgrades and capital campaigns such as the weight room upgrades, the Devine Diamond softball complex development, the Gymnastics gym renovation, the new track at the Field House, as well as the women's locker room remodel. Her leadership has guided TGFC to multiple years of record-setting success.
It's not just hospitality areas and game day events, 20 of which TGFC hosted this past year. TGFC is about a coordinated, philanthropic effort to best support Kent State student-athletes and programs and how to reach and engage fans, former student-athletes, alumni and building relationships with Corporations and local businesses. Each of the 19 sports now has an individualized fundraising and communication plan.
Under McKendry, The Golden Flashes Club is staffed by Brian Grubich, who serves as the Associate Director for Athletic Advancement; Paul Krouse, the Director of The Golden Flashes Club; Kate Lewis, who serves as the Director of Athletic Advancement Operations, and Scolin MacLean, the Director of Creative Solutions for Athletic Advancement.
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