STOCKTON, Calif. – Pacific Athletics had a 52 percent increase in donors and raised more than $226,000 for its programs in the annual day of giving event over 24 hours on April 25-26. One thousand two hundred nine donors made gifts to the Pacific Athletics program, surpassing the 1,000 mark for the first time. The dollar amount donated was a 48 percent increase over the previous year.
 
The athletics success was part of University of the Pacific's overall Pacific Gives program. University of the Pacific had its largest ever Pacific Gives fundraiser with more than $1.78 million raised from more than 3,500 donors, a more than 20% increase in participation over 2022.
 
Amongst athletics, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field led the way with 190 donors.
 
"These donations greatly boost our program," said Head Coach Josh Jones. "The money will support our preseason trip to Hawaii, which is really important for team bonding, as well as purchasing any new gear or special equipment the team needs."
 
The Pacific Gives ambassador program was a driving force in the day's success as individuals had the opportunity to sign up as advocates and help promote the day with their own personal giving links. With over 300 ambassadors signed up, two athletics ambassadors, including a student-athlete and head coach, finished amongst the top four on the ambassador leaderboard, bringing in a combined 193 donors.
 
Dalee Higgins, a student-athlete on Pacific's Women's Cross Country and Track & Field teams, finished in third place amongst all ambassadors recruiting 105 donors through her personal giving link to support her programs. Higgins heard about Pacific Gives during a presentation given to her team, and that is all it took for her to get involved.
 
"Pacific Gives just sparked something in her, and Dalee got involved right from the start," Jones said. "She had 20 or 30 donors immediately and just kept after it. I was very pleased that she was so excited about this effort."
 
Adam Reeves, Pacific's men's soccer head coach, finished fourth place on the ambassador leaderboard, recruiting 88 donors to support his program on Pacific Gives.
 
Reeves, head coach of men's soccer since 2019, has been a persistent fundraiser who has worked to benefit Pacific Gives, the Orange and Black Ball and athletic fundraising in general.
 
"Coach Reeves' efforts relative to Pacific Gives are a great representation of his commitment to the Pacific Tigers," Director of Athletics Janet Lucas said. "He has consistently worked for the betterment of the entire Pacific athletics program."
 
Men's Tennis also had a strong showing as 95 donors helped to unlock an additional $20,000 gift thanks to the generosity of Matt '86 and Michelle '90 Ginn after the team raised $20,000. The program ended with $42,200 raised in 24 hours.
 
Missed out on participating in Pacific Gives and would like to support one of our
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