Thank You Pirate Blue Nation! Donor Matching Day a Smashing Success! - Seton Hall University Athletics
Supporters of Seton Hall Athletics rallied to raise over $200,000 to help continue the development of its student-athletes.
South Orange, N.J. - This week's 10th annual Donor Matching Day, which took place on Tuesday, April 20, was a smashing success with Pirate Blue Nation rallying in support of Seton Hall's student-athletes. In conjunction with Seton Hall Giving Day, Seton Hall Athletics raised over $200,000 in gifts that were made by over 450 donors.
The gifts included $50,000 from an anonymous donor that gave to Pirate Blue once the department received at least one gift from each of the 50 U.S. States, a $5,000 gift from an anonymous donor after Seton Hall alumnus John Fanta '17 made a three-point basket on Instagram Live and a 30 percent match on all gifts from head men's basketball coach Kevin Willard.
"We asked Pirate Blue Nation to step up in support of our student-athletes, and they did so with outstanding enthusiasm," said Seton Hall Director of Athletics Bryan Felt. "It is a testament to the passion that our alumni, fans, coaches and staff have for seeing our student-athletes develop, compete for championships, earn a college degree and go on to succeed in life.
"Thank you so much to each and every person who made a Donor Matching Day gift. Please know that your donation will go a long way towards ensuring that we are recruiting the best and the brightest to Seton Hall, giving them a first-class experience and maximizing their potential."
Donor Matching Day's 50-state challenge once again brought #PirateBlueNation together as Seton Hall supporters across the country gave in support of the Pirates. Once Pirate Blue secured the final state, Mississippi, in the 5 p.m., hour, the successful challenge triggered a $50,000 gift from an anonymous donor.
Earlier in the day, Fanta, who graduated from the College of Communication & Arts and is currently a play-by-play broadcaster for FOX Sports and lead digital correspondent for the BIG EAST Conference, stopped into the auxiliary gym and accepted a challenge from an anonymous donor to make a three-point basket to unlock a $5,000 gift. Fanta was given three chances to make one basket, and he swished the triple on his third shot.
Pirates head men's basketball coach Kevin Willard, who just completed his 11th year at the helm of the men's basketball team and led the team to its sixth straight top-four finish in the BIG EAST Conference and fourth BIG EAST Tournament semifinal in six years, matched all gifts on Donor Matching Day by 30 percent.
The Pirate Blue Athletic Fund directly supports the Seton Hall Department of Athletics and its student-athletes. Pirate Blue strives to embrace and engage the most dedicated Pirate fans within the Seton Hall community to further promote the passion and camaraderie that makes the University so unique. Donor Matching Day is not the only day you can donate; you can make a tax-deductible contribution and join Pirate Blue today online at PirateBlue.com and any day of the year by calling 973-275-6447.
