March 13, 2006
Friends,
You will be receiving the 2006 Baylor Bear Foundation brochure in the coming days and if you have not heard about our theme for this year it is "The Time Is Now." Baylor Athletics is enjoying unprecedented success and we need to leverage the accomplishments of our coaches, staff and student-athletes to create the financial infrastructure that will form a strong foundation upon which the future of our athletic program will be built.
We recently sent out 2006 football season ticket information and have already received a very positive response. This season will be the most anticipated since Baylor joined the Big 12 Conference and the opening game against TCU is one that fans from both schools already have on their calendar. Also, be sure to mark your calendar for the annual Green & Gold Spring Football Game on April 8 beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Thank you to all of the fans who attended the Big 12 Basketball Tournament in Dallas. We had wonderful Baylor turnouts for both the men's and women's games and appreciate our fans' enthusiastic support of the teams. The future of both of these programs is very bright in large part due to your support!
The NCAA women's basketball selection show will be televised live by ESPN beginning at 6:00 p.m. (CST) on Monday, March 13. If you live locally, Damon's Restaurant in the Waco Hilton Hotel will be hosting a watch party for Lady Bear fans.
I had one timely and important question this week that warrants a detailed and lengthy response, so here it goes:
I saw on one of the websites that some fans are questioning Baylor's fundraising and marketing. Can you give us a report? Why don't we raise as much money as some other schools in the Big 12.
Wes
Whitney, Texas
Thank you for the questions. Let me start with marketing. Our coaches and marketing staff have worked very effectively together this year to grow our season ticket base and student support. Baylor achieved record season ticket sales in football, women's basketball and softball. In addition, men's basketball is making progress in terms of attendance and baseball season tickets increased this year for the first time in five years. Overall, there have never been as many Baylor season ticket holders across all sports as this year! Thank You!!!
We are equally excited that student attendance is also on the rise across all sports thanks to the great work of our coaches, staff and student-athletes. Below is an e-mail that we recently received from one of many students who has taken advantage of the Golden Bears Rewards Program.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cunningham, Steve
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 1:25 AM
To: Jordan, Bobby
Subject: thank you
Thank you, I usually don't like going to sporting events and I never thought I would go here at Baylor. It was this Golden Bears rewards program that made me go in the first place just to receive a prize. But now me and my friends look forward to game days because we ended up having such a good time at all of the basketball games we were able to go to, so thank you very much for this program. I don't normally write letters like this but I'm tired haha, so thanks for offering something to give us time to not think about school.Steve
On the athletic development front, Baylor experienced its most successful year ever following the launch of the Victory with Integrity campaign in February 2005. More than $15.4 million was raised in the following 12 months toward the $90 million campaign goal. The Bear Foundation had its best fundraising year ever following the campaign kickoff while nearly nine million dollars was raised for capital projects identified in the campaign. It was also a prosperous year for the athletic endowment which grew by more than $1.5 million.
These gifts have allowed us to complete the Grant Teaff Plaza and Letterwinners Plaza projects and proceed with the Lt. Jack Whetsel Jr. Basketball Practice Facility which is scheduled to be completed August 1. We are also making progress on the football practice facility and have a lead gift and donation of land for the new equestrian facility.
In addition, while not directly part of the campaign, a naming gift has been received for the Paul L. Foster Success Center which benefits student-athletes at Baylor and significant funding for the Baylor Ballpark Fund and women's basketball locker room has also been secured. While we are excited about the progress that has been made and grateful to our generous benefactors, we have a long way to go to reach the number of donors and fundraising level of other Big 12 schools. For example, we have 3,000 donors to the Bear Foundation while the Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation has 26,000 contributors.
The best way to make a difference is to join me in making a sacrificial gift to the Victory with Integrity campaign by calling the Bear Foundation at 254-710-4214 or donate on-line at BaylorBearFoundation.com. The next best way to help is to encourage friends and family to do likewise or serve as a Bear Foundation volunteer and make a difference in the future of Baylor Athletics and its student-athletes! The following is a more comprehensive review of the first year of "Victory with Integrity."
http://baylorbears.collegesports.com/genrel/021606aaa.html
Sic'Em Bears!
Ian
