FBA Giving Challenge 2020

After a week of Bobcat spirit, Women's Basketball has emerged victorious in the 2020 Friends of Bates Athletics Giving Challenge.

Thanks for a great competition and for your support of these important Athletics programs. Go 'Cats!

The Bobcat spirit was strong together and we appreciate everyone coming together to show their support. Thousands of alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students demonstrated their passion for Bates by tuning into the livestream and making their gifts.

Special shout-outs go to Class of 2018 for most gifts overall (118 donors), and Class of 1989 for the most dollars raised ($59,727)!

Thank you for showing us why It's STILL a Great Day to be a Bobcat.

After a week of friendly competition, Swimming and Diving leads the teams with 433 gifts in. Can they hold on to their lead for the next few hours to become the 2020 Friends of Bates Athletics Team champions?! Only time will tell.

With our 1,334th gift from Elena Jay '15 to the Friends of Bates Athletics Challenge in support of Women's Cross Country, we have officially set a new personal record! We have surpassed our challenge results from last year. The Bobcat spirit is strong! Let’s see how far we can go! 

Special thanks to Ira Waldman '73 and the entire Waldman family for their special challenge - we reached 648 donors on May 11, two days ahead of our goal deadline!

Their commitment to Friends of Bates Athletics is allowing the Bates Athletic Department to provide the Headspace app for all student athletes as they navigate these turbulent times. It will also be a valuable tool to strengthen mental preparation once competition resumes and the overall mental health of our teams. 

Go 'Cats!

In true Bates fashion, our community has come together to show It’s STILL a Great Day to be a Bobcat. Even though we have reached our goal of 1,855 donors - let’s keep going! Our students and faculty need your support. Let’s see if we can make this the biggest Great Day ever!

Congratulations Jem Bullock '20 for being the 648th donor to the 2020 Friends of Bates Athletics Giving Challenge and helping us reach our goal!

Livestream Schedule

12pm EDT
Clayton Spencer, President
Sarah Pearson ʼ75, Vice President for College Advancement

12:45pm
Christine Schwartz, Assistant Vice President for Dining, Conferences and Campus Events
Leigh Weisenburger, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid

1:10pm
Brett Allen, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
Rei Hergeth, Head Squash Coach
Peter Lasagna, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach

1:35pm
Alison Montgomery, Head Women's Basketball Coach
Peter Steenstra, Head Rowing Coach

2pm
McKell Barnes, Head Softball Coach
Al Fereshetian, Head Men's Cross Country and Track Coach
Malik Hall, Head Football Coach

2:25pm
Sam Boss, Assistant Director, Community-Engaged Learning and Research
Rachel Forcillo ʼ18, Coordinator of Marketing, Outreach, and Operations
Sadie James ʼ17, Coordinator of Health Education
Darby Ray, Director of the Harward Center for Community Partnerships

2:50pm
Mike Rocque, Associate Professor of Sociology
Tyler Sheikh, Head Men's Soccer Coach
Joe Vari, Head Women's Soccer Coach

3:15pm
Noelle Chaddock, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Jon Furbush ʼ05, Head Men's Basketball Coach

3:40pm
Audrey Burns ʼ17, Assistant Dean of Admission
Jay Burns Pʼ17, Pʼ19, Editorial Director and Editor, Bates Magazine
Johie Seltzer ʼ03, Senior Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Communications and Outreach

4:05pm 
Christina Bell, Humanities Librarian
Jane Costlow, Clark A. Griffith Professor of Environmental Studies
Margaret Imber, Associate Dean of the Faculty, Associate Professor of Classical and Medieval Studies
Kirk Read, Professor of French and Francophone Studies

4:30pm
Paul Gastonguay ʼ89, Head Tennis Coach
Jon Martin, Head Baseball Coach
Becky Woods ʼ89, Pʼ20, Head Nordic Skiing Coach

4:55pm
Neeshi Hullavard ʼ22
Dani Ryder Kogut, Head Field Hockey Coach
Max Rein ʼ20

5:20pm
Peter Casares, Head Swimming and Diving Coach
Vanessa Williamson ʼ05, Associate Head Coach of Swimming and Diving
Dean Reese, Associate Dean of Students for International Student Programs

5:45pm
The Bobcat!
Henry Fall, Head Golf Coach
Micaela Holland ʼ11, Head Alpine Ski Coach
Dean Reese, Associate Dean of Students for International Student Programs