Illinois State Athletics To Launch The Battle Bird Society

NORMAL – Illinois State Athletics is proud to officially launch The Battle Bird Society, an exclusive giving program aimed at providing impactful resources for the entire athletics department. This annual leadership society will provide additional opportunities to ISU student-athletes and programs as they compete for championships in all 19 sports.

The college athletics landscape is ever-changing, constantly evolving and challenging for athletics departments around the country. Whether it's the transfer portal, NIL, or the amateurism model itself, college athletics looks much different than it did just 10 years ago. As ISU Athletics continues to navigate the course ahead, its mission remains the same: to achieve academic and athletic excellence and prepare today's students to become tomorrow's leaders.

"We are excited to officially launch the Battle Bird Society and look forward to the opportunities it will provide for our student-athletes and programs," Illinois State Interim Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said. "This annual leadership society will allow us to raise dollars specific to helping all 450+ student-athletes and our 19 varsity sports. The landscape of college athletics seems to be changing daily, however, this initiative will allow us to continue providing the necessary support for our student-athletes, coaches, and programs to win championships."

The Battle Bird Society is named for the Battle Bird, a prominent part of ISU Athletics gameday tradition that lives on during each home athletic competition. The touching of the Battle Bird ceremony signifies a dedication to Illinois State and a common bond to the school's other student-athletes, past and present. 

This society will be the backbone of enhancing the student-athlete experience and elevating ISU programs to new heights. The Battle Bird Society will continue to support Redbird student-athletes, always with a clear vision and goals for impact:

Battle Bird Society Vision Statement 
•    Promote a culture of athletic and academic excellence
•    Compete for championships
•    Enhance relationships with our alumni, students, fans, partners, and donors
•    Grow our resources through external relationships and private giving
•    Prepare our student-athletes for life after ISU

Battle Bird Society Areas of Impact 
•    Capital Projects
•    Facility Enhancements
•    Team Travel
•    Health and Nutrition
•    Coaches and Staff Retention

Battle Bird Society Financial Commitment 
Donors to the society can provide gifts of at least $5,000 annually, which can reoccur each year for up to five years (Ex. $5,000 pledged over five years = $25,000). Gifts occurring on an annual basis will allow us to provide additional resources for all sports. The funds can be used to support any departmental needs outside of scholarship support including but not limited to capital projects, coach and staff retention, team travel costs, and much more.

For more information on The Battle Bird Society and how to support it, contact Illinois State Associate AD for Revenue Generation Nathaniel Smith by email at nwsmit2@ilstu.edu or by calling (309) 438-3803.

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