Feb. 7, 2018
THE FLATS – In just one month, Georgia Tech’s Football Recruiting Challenge has netted more than $315,000, easily surpassing its initial goal of $200,000 in donations, the Georgia Tech Athletic Association announced on Wednesday.
Georgia Tech’s Football Recruiting Challenge was unveiled publicly on Jan. 6, spearheaded by an anonymous donor that stepped forward with a generous gift of $200,000 on a match-funded basis, pledging to match 50 percent of the first $400,000 committed for the two-year program.
Tech set an initial goal of raising $200,000 by Wednesday, Feb. 7 (the first day of the NCAA’s late signing period). That $200,000 would be matched by $100,000 from the anonymous donor, which would fund the first year of the recruiting enhancement initiative.
The initial goal was reached easily, with 320-plus donors contributing more than $315,000 through Tuesday. That will allow Georgia Tech football to begin the process of hiring four new positions within its recruiting staff – three analysts tasked with talent identification (one for offensive players, one for defensive players and one early-stage specialist, who will focus specifically on identifying prospects in the freshman and sophomore years of high school), as well as a brand development specialist, who will help promote the Yellow Jackets to prospects via digital and social media.
“We were tremendously under-staffed in our recruiting office compared to our peers,” Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said. “We’re thankful for (director of athletics) Todd Stansbury and our administration realizing what needed to be done, the anonymous donor who stepped up to issue a matching contribution and for our fans, who stepped forward for this purpose.”
Additionally, with nearly $500,000 committed to date (more than $315,000 in donations from individual donors plus the 50-percent matching gift from the anonymous donor), Georgia Tech needs less than $85,000 in additional donations to fully fund the two-year initiative.
The success of the Football Recruiting Challenge has been spurred by a wide range of donors from varying backgrounds. Of the approximately 320 people who contributed to the grassroots campaign, 80 are first-time donors to Georgia Tech athletics. Contributors represent 23 states and members of every Georgia Tech alumni class since 1965.
Click HERE to learn more about Georgia Tech’s Football Recruiting Challenge, including specific goals outlined by Stansbury and Johnson, and to contribute online.
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