Welcome to Fundraising Friday: AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
The estates of New York City native Pierre “Pete” Labat, who died in 2023, and his wife Catherine, who died in 2021, have gifted the University of Maine Foundation $16 million earmarked for the athletic department, UMaine announced last week. As reported by the Bangor Daily News, it is the largest single gift from an individual to support UMaine athletics in the university’s 159-year history. UMaine director of athletics Jude Killy said some of the funds from the Labats' gift will be used to “enhance the student-athlete experience” and support the coaches and the staff in the recruitment and retention of athletes. Labat played for the memorable 1961 Maine football team that went 8-0-1 and won the Yankee Conference championship, one of just two undefeated teams in the history of the program.
Western Michigan University's men's soccer program has received a record-setting $400,000 donation from an anonymous former player, marking the largest gift in men's soccer program history. According to a WMU announcement Tuesday, the contribution will be directed toward non-facility-related projects to enhance the recruitment and retention of student-athletes and staff. The funds will specifically support initiatives to bolster a championship culture and support student-athlete holistic development. The WMU men's soccer team has amassed 11 consecutive winning seasons under head coach Chad Wiseman, highlighted by back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a 2022 Mid-American Conference tournament championship, and the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles. The anonymous gift will further enhance the program's ability to compete at the highest level on a national stage, the school said.
Total amount of these gifts:
$16,400,000
