March 16, 2006
Normal, Ill. -
Like most fundraisers, when Aaron Leetch and the rest of the Illinois State University Athletics Development staff think of an annual campaign like the upcoming 2006 TRC Annual Fund Drive, they think of numbers ...but not the numbers most people think they would think about. To Leetch and company, the important numbers are these: more than 350 student-athletes competing in 19 sports in one athletics program.
"It's about the student-athletes," said Leetch. "Don't get me wrong: we're all competitive here and want to win. But the most important thing that happens in intercollegiate athletics at Illinois State is how it impacts the lives of our student-athletes. It's about supporting them and helping them to succeed in all areas of their lives."
Leetch, Illinois State's associate athletics director for development who is leading this year's TRC Annual Fund Drive, believes right now is a great time for donors to get on board with Redbird Athletics.
"Our donors make an investment which directly benefits individual student-athletes in their academic work, their athletic competition and their dedication to their community," said Leetch. Illinois State, which traditionally has had a high graduation rate for student-athletes, also set a new athletics department standard this year when student-athletes combined for more than 1,000 hours of community service--the annual goal--in just one semester.
Leetch would love results like those in the 2006 TRC Annual Fund Drive, which kicks off its external phase Saturday with a workshop for the more than 70 volunteer TRC members working on the campaign. Those volunteers are organized into 10 teams including teams in Chicagoland, Decatur/Springfield, Peoria and Pontiac. They will be reminded that there are numbers more important than wins and losses in intercollegiate athletics.
"Competitively, we know we can do better and we're all working hard to do better," said Leetch. "Our donors know that most of our student-athletes will not be going on to the professional level as athletes. They know that most of our student-athletes will go on to be professionals in education, business, communication and service professions. They know those student-athletes will make a difference for their communities as well. And they know how important that is."
Leetch, and athletics development colleagues Randy Welniak, Doug Banks, Larry Morlan and Annie Campbell have been preparing for the campaign, which runs until May 20th. The standards they have set for the campaign ride on the ability of the TRC member volunteers to recruit new members. The goals include recruiting 400 new members and $150,000 in new revenues, with some of the new revenues coming from the "110 Percent" program which encourages current members to renew at a higher rate.
Jack Currin, one of the team captains and a veteran TRC member, believes there's a bright future ahead for Redbird Athletics and TRC will play a large role in that success. He also appreciates ISU Athletics' leadership, which starts with Dr. Sheahon Zenger, director of athletics.
"We have a strategic plan which the entire athletics department helped develop," said Currin. "Sheahon has been through this kind of building process at Kansas State. Randy, Aaron and Doug all have been successful with this kind of campaign at other institutions which are doing well. But the most important thing they bring to Redbird Athletics is their knowledge, excitement, enthusiasm, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves and work with everybody."
Recent Illinois State graduate Sarah Loomis has a Missouri Valley Conference championship ring for women's golf and was part of the leadership team for the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) as a Redbird student-athlete. She is in the early stages of starting her professional career, but is making time to be a team leader for the TRC Annual Fund Drive.
"When I was a student-athlete and part of SAAC, I got to know just how important TRC donors are to student-athletes and our opportunity to succeed," said Loomis. "I enjoyed my experience as a student-athlete thanks to the people in Redbird athletics and the support they receive from donors. Now, we're trying to reach out to as many people as possible to tell them what TRC and Redbird Athletics are about, and to let them know how they can help."
Currin agrees with Loomis' strategy.
"When you get the opportunity to tell people about our student-athletes, they are ready to agree that Illinois State has what you want in student-athletes," said Currin. "With new people, it's letting them know what we have. With current members, we're emphasizing the importance of renewing at 110 percent because now is a time to step up and support what our student-athletes are doing."
Over the long term, Loomis claims that reaching out always works out.
"It's like building a spider web," said Loomis. "One person reaches five, and those five reach five more and on it goes until you have something really strong. I can say from my own personal experience that TRC really does support student-athletes in the best possible way. That's why I'm confident that, once we get the message out, people will want to participate."
Those interested in becoming TRC members can call (309) 438-3803 for more information.
