UConn athletic donations have risen to $23.6 million, AD David Benedict says
UConn athletic director David Benedict says philanthropic donations to the athletic department have risen to $23.6 million in the 2022 fiscal year.
Benedict addressed Huskies fans in a letter on Wednesday, thanking them for their support. The donation amount represents a 12% increase from the 2021 fiscal year– with help from 6,125 donors, according to the letter.
The $23.6 million total is the third highest in UConn’s history.
Benedict went on to express his confidence in the decision to join the Big East, highlighting that UConn won seven conference championships during the 2021-22 season. He also mentioned the opening of new facilities, including the on-campus hockey arena.
“Burrill Family Field, Elliot Ballpark, and the Rizza Performance Center are some of the finest facilities in the country and would have continued to exist only on blueprints and imagination had it not been for the philanthropic spirit of UConn Nation. During the upcoming academic year, we will add another magnificent destination to the athletics neighborhood on campus with the opening of our new hockey arena,” Benedict wrote.
Construction began on the arena in May 2021, and it will become the newest “state-of-the-art” facility on the southwest portion of the Storrs campus.
“While we have worked together to support our programs at an elite level, more work needs to be done for us to achieve our mission of providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes,” Benedict’s letter read. “Actively supporting our student-athletes in the areas of mental health services, nutrition, academic advising, student-athlete development, and continued facilities enhancements is of the utmost importance, and we need to continue to count on you to help us deliver in these areas.”
