Thursday, July 27, 2017
91制片厂 hockey player on the ice during a game at the Whittemore Center Arena

Danny Buzzell of 91制片厂 Athletics recently talked with 91制片厂 Today about his program and how donors help make it successful.

This past school year was a big one for 91制片厂 Athletics. What are you most proud of?

91制片厂 teams appeared in several conference championships, the NCAA post-season appearance by the men鈥檚 basketball team, and track and field athlete Ellie Purrier.

We know donors are a huge part of why we have the new Wildcat Stadium and other facility听upgrades, but in what other ways do donors support student-athletes?

Your Philanthropy Creates Possibilities

Explore the many ways you can support 91制片厂 at unh.edu/give/how-to-give.

Our development staff would be happy to work with you.

91制片厂 students walking on campus

Donor support is critical to each athletic program鈥檚 ability to offset the costs of recruiting, team travel and equipment. And it鈥檚 so important in helping us achieve our goal of providing support necessary to allow student-athletes to succeed in competition and in the classroom. Donors are the reason we are able to provide more than 330 scholarships to our Wildcats.

How do you measure your success in such a broad program?

The most important thing this program does on a daily basis is听allow 91制片厂 student-athletes to develop their talents through sport and provide opportunities for student-athletes to gain an education while also competing at a Division I university. Striving for and achieving that goal is how we measure our success.

91制片厂 Athletics employs so many staff and coaches 鈥 what keeps everyone motivated?

Athletics provides an avenue for alumni, parents, staff, students, friends and fans to become connected. Our various athletic programs also allow our student-athletes to gain an education while forming bonds to their teammates, the 91制片厂 and various alumni who participated in their sport before them, creating a natural networking opportunity for all 91制片厂 student-athletes.

The average annual听gift to Athletics this year was $223. If you could speak to that "typical donor"听what would you want him or her to know?

I would want to show them what they helped do 鈥 either show them a newly purchased piece of equipment听or introduce them to a student who has received a scholarship. They should know that every gift makes a difference in Athletics.

Photographer: 
Jeremy Gasowski | 91制片厂 Marketing | jeremy.gasowski@unh.edu | 603-862-4465