ODESSA, Texas —
Earlier this month, the University of Texas Permian Basin launched their Champion’s Fund for the 2024-2025 season.
“The Champion's Fund is very important in supporting our student, athletes and athletics overall. Here at UT Permian Basin athletics are very costly and it brings so much fun and excitement here to our community and to the campus. But it cost millions of dollars to run the athletics department, so this champions fund is a group of boosters who want to join us in seeing the athletics department be successful,” said Jacqui Gore, Vice President for External Relations at UTPB.
The Champions Fund exists to strengthen all 14 NCAA sports programs at UTPB. With a $1 million fundraising goal, the fund will provide essential resources to help student-athletes excel in the classroom and in their prospective sports while also growing community support for UTPB Athletics. Gore says that supporting these student athletes can also mean investing in the future workforce of the Permian basin.
“It's so exciting to see the growing support for UTPB athletics... So, if you haven't yet supported athletics, please join us. These student athletes are future workforce here in the Permian Basin. They come here from all over the United States, and they really love this community. They see the support that the community gives them and many of them choose to make this their home and find a job here,” Gore continued.
But the support for the fund doesn’t just come from big donors and organizations, individual community members can also pitch in to help.
“Individuals joining us are fantastic because we want these individuals to get to know our student athletes and start to follow their games and really be good to know them as people who have businesses and different organizations who want to come on board. They too can get involved and to know our student athletes,” Gore added.
As part of the campaign's kickoff, longtime UTPB supporters Kirk and Brenna Edwards announced a generous pledge to match the first $100,000 raised and Gore says that they are close to getting to that milestone. If you'd like to learn more about the Champion's Fund you can visit UTPB's website to learn more.