Welcome to Fundraising Friday, AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
The University of California announced July 1 that men’s water polo and men’s swimming and diving have become the fourth and fifth Golden Bears sports to become fully endowed thanks to a $26 million gift from alumni and longtime Cal supporters Ned and Carol Spieker. As reported by Sports Illustrated, the largest gift in Cal athletics history will allow the two sports programs to join rugby, women’s golf and men’s golf as Cal’s fully endowed varsity sports. It is part of Cal Athletics’ goal of building endowment programs for all of its 30 sports programs. Cal’s men’s water polo team won three consecutive national titles from 2021 through 2023, and the men’s swimming and diving team has finished in the top two nationally for 15 consecutive seasons, and won back-to-back NCAA championships in 2022 and 2023, SI reported. Ned Spieker played water polo at Cal before graduating in 1966, and the Bears’ water polo coach will now carry the title of Ned Spieker Men’s Water Polo Head Coach over the next 20 years.
Welcome to Fundraising Friday, AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
The University of California announced July 1 that men’s water polo and men’s swimming and diving have become the fourth and fifth Golden Bears sports to become fully endowed thanks to a $26 million gift from alumni and longtime Cal supporters Ned and Carol Spieker. As reported by Sports Illustrated, the largest gift in Cal athletics history will allow the two sports programs to join rugby, women’s golf and men’s golf as Cal’s fully endowed varsity sports. It is part of Cal Athletics’ goal of building endowment programs for all of its 30 sports programs. Cal’s men’s water polo team won three consecutive national titles from 2021 through 2023, and the men’s swimming and diving team has finished in the top two nationally for 15 consecutive seasons, and won back-to-back NCAA championships in 2022 and 2023, SI reported. Ned Spieker played water polo at Cal before graduating in 1966, and the Bears’ water polo coach will now carry the title of Ned Spieker Men’s Water Polo Head Coach over the next 20 years.
The University of Alabama Birmingham announced Tuesday that Emmett and Catherine McLean have helped continue momentum of the Bartow Arena renovation with a $250,000 commitment toward the project. Emmett McLean currently serves on the Executive Committee of the UAB Athletics Foundation Board, and Emmett and Catherine are long-time supporters of UAB, members of the Champion Club, and season ticket holders for football and men's basketball. The $14.6 million Bartow Arena renovation project is intended to feature an entrance lobby expansion, club-level lounge and club-level seating for enhanced viewing experience, replacement of some lower bowl seating with new seating to elevate the fan experience, and concourse improvements including lighting and updated restrooms.
Total amount of these gifts:
$26,250,000
Running total for 2025:
$417,058,500
Total amount tracked by AB Today in 2024:
$943,830,339
