DAVIS, Calif. – After 29 hours of emails, phone calls, text messages, and entertaining (if not comical) social media content, the 6th Annual UC Davis Give Day came to a close just before sunset on another incredible day for Aggie teams and programs. Thanks to the generosity of the UC Davis Athletics community, the results revealed $334,639 in new funding from 1,550 donations.

Although donations to UC Davis Athletics are accepted year-round, Give Day has established itself as a key piece of the funding puzzle for ICA programs. Since its inception in 2017, UC Davis Athletics has received over $1.7 million in total gifts during Give Day, with almost the entirety of the total going towards the 25 varsity sports programs.

Leading the way in participation this year was the women's lacrosse program, whose unique resourcefulness led to 140 new gifts for their program. Recalls head coach, Suzanne Isidor, "We had to travel this year on Give Day to San Diego, and while at the airport, one of our students got on the microphone at Sacramento International Airport and informed travelers that it was UC Davis Give Day. We had a good laugh about it and a few strangers ultimately pitched in on our behalf. It is a moment we will never forget and shows how widespread the love for UC Davis can be." 



It wasn't just the sports teams who benefitted from donor generosity this year, as new support for the Marya Welch Initiative, the Sports Medicine unit, and Sports Performance program was also generated. Making its Give Day debut was the Inclusive Excellence Fund, which provides resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion activities within UCD Athletics. These funds are all vital in providing a quality and competitive student-athlete experience. 

Many donors have made Give Day an annual tradition. Hear a bit more from some of our Give Day all-stars as to why they donate to UC Davis Athletics:

Steve and Phaedra Link - '81, Teaching Credentials '82

The two of us have a deep connection to UC Davis. We met freshman year in the dorms. Our first date was a rainy walk across campus to see "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." We attended classes together. We played on many IM sports teams together. We attended each other's athletic events (track and basketball, respectively), including the Picnic Day synchronized swimming event. We sat next to each other at graduation with "Just about" and "Married" printed on our mortarboards. We got married the very next day in Sacramento with the reception at the old Rec Pool Lodge on campus. We became Lifetime Members of the UC Davis Alumni Association. The following year we supported each other through the rigorous UCD Teacher Credential Program and received Lifetime Teaching Credentials. Our lives together began with UC Davis and continue today as we celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary this coming June.
 

We moved to Hawai'i for 30 years, and though we were more than 2,500 miles away, we always kept in touch with our beloved UCD. Steve brought his girls' track and field team to California for track meets and reconnected with both Jon and Dee Vochatzer. We attended events in Hawai'i, for example, when the Aggies played football at Aloha Stadium. Finally, after early retirement and relocating to Washington State, we became even more active by serving on the Washington Regional Campaign Committee. Being with fellow Aggies who have similar stories of their Davis experiences and connecting with alum, friends, and supporters of one of the finest institutions in the world gives this latest phase of our lives special meaning. We have not come full circle; instead, we have expanded our sphere and continue to grow in so many ways thanks to our association with UC Davis. This is why we give.

Hannah Curran - Women's Water Polo 2010-14 | B.S. Civil Engineering '14 | M.S. Geotechnical Engineering '16

"It's a joy and a privilege to be able to give back to UC Davis. On paper, UC Davis provided me the opportunity that few schools have to offer- the chance to play water polo for a nationally ranked team AND the ability to study engineering (also from a nationally ranked program!). But in reality, it meant so much more and my time here helped shape and grow me in ways I would never have imagined. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for the dedication and support of my coaches, professors, friends, teammates, and the staff. I give so that future Aggies have the opportunity to come, grow, and develop their passions like I did. Go Ags!"
 

All told, nearly 1 of every 3 donations made on Give Day were to support Aggie Athletics programs. The campus-wide giving event is held in conjunction with Picnic Day – UC Davis' annual open house for prospective and current students, alumni, faculty, staff, families, and the greater Davis and regional communities. 

Missed out on Give Day? Not to worry, anyone can contribute to UC Davis Athletics on any day of the year at https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG. For more information on Team Aggie, the Edwards Family Athletics Center, or any other type of support for the Aggies, please reach out to us at athleticsdevelpment@ucdavis.edu or (530) 754-7548.