SUPERIOR, Wis. - Tuesday, June 2 was the 6th Annual Superior Day of Giving for the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Yellowjacket Athletics was once again an active participant, but did things a little differently in 2020.

Instead of focusing exclusively on a social media campaign, Yellowjacket Athletics employed a five-hour live telethon, broadcast live through its online streaming partner, the iFan Sports Network. Teams targeted specific items they sought to raise funds for, and coaches and department staff members actively worked with alumni and friends to make the donations and funding come to fruition.

The result was overwhelming, with a record number of donors taking part and gifts coming in - during the 24-hour period, Yellowjacket Athletics received gifts from 91 donors totaling $41,625.

"We are extremely grateful to our network of donors for continuing to show their support for our department and its mission, while making a positive impact on our student-athletes," UW-Superior Athletics Director Nick Bursik said. "Our staff has been fortunate to be able to speak to most of the people who made a gift to our department through the Champions Club, and we are very clear that first and foremost, their gift is a major contributor in our effort to provide a great student-athlete experience at UW-Superior. We wouldn't be able to do the things we do without the support of our network, which only continues to grow each and every year."

The following items were funded through donations received during the Superior Day of Giving:

Baseball: games scheduled for US Bank Stadium
Cross Country: lighted running vests
Golf: indoor golf simulator
Men's Basketball: holiday tournament trip to Las Vegas
Men's Hockey: team apparel; training equipment
Men's Soccer: long-sleeve uniforms; team retreat
Softball: team retreat
Tennis: team retreat
Track and Field: team retreat
Volleyball: team shoes
Women's Basketball: team retreat
Women's Hockey: team apparel; training equipment
Women's Soccer: team retreat; sideline parkas
Athletics Department: strength and conditioning equipment; athlete fueling station

The Superior Day of Giving may have come to an end, but people still have the ability to make a donation to Yellowjacket Athletics and become a member of the department's Champions Club.

"Raising funds to benefit our student-athletes is something we do every day of the year, so even if people missed out on the Superior Day of Giving, they can absolutely still make a donation to the Champions Club and know they are making a difference in the experience of our student-athletes," Bursik said.