FundRaising Going Well
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:57 am
Sounds like the fundraising is going very well for Ice Arena Renovations.
Article says that BG will exceed its goal of the top-tier and be able to have a very nice arena. Thats great news!!
From the Sentinel-Tribune:
BG hockey fundraising receives position reaction
Written by By KEVIN GORDON Sentinel Assistant Sports Editor
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 10:02
Mike Pikul and Jack Vivian are familiar with the tradition of the Bowling Green Falcon hockey program.
They helped build it as a player and as a head coach, respectively.
Now, they're trying to raise money to help restore the program's winning tradition.
They're members of the "The "Bring Back the Glory" fundraising campaign and said the project is off to a good start.
The campaign already has received two major donations - $500,000 from BG native and Olympic figure skating champion Scott Hamilton and $250,000 from Vivian, the first head coach in Falcon history.
Committee members are meeting Saturday in BG to finalize their donations to the campaign and to prepare for the next phase of the campaign.
The next phase has the committee talking to Falcon hockey alumni, community members and supporters of the program who could be major donors.
Vivian said the campaign is expected to have raised $6-7 million by the end of the weekend, thanks to the donations of the committee members and the $4 million appropriated by the university and the state earlier this year.
The $4 million will be used for the renovation of the arena's infrastructure and ice-making equipment. The renovations are scheduled to start next month.
The campaign, announced in September, has a $5 million goal, including $2 million for scholarships in the first 18 months.
"The reaction from everyone ... Falcon hockey alumni, community members, supporters of the program," has been very positive," said Pikul, who is co-chairing the campaign with former teammate Garry Galley. "What the committee is doing now is raising the funds to endow the scholarships to solidify the program for many years to come."
The two played defense on the Falcons' 1984 NCAA championship team. Pikul's two daughters are attending BG, while Galley's daughter also is attending the university and his son will be a goalie for the Falcons starting with the 2011-12 season.
Hamilton is the committee's honorary chairman.
Saturday's meeting is being held in conjunction with a reception that night for former Falcon defenseman Ken Morrow, who played on the gold-medal winning United States Olympic hockey team in 1980. After the Olympics, he signed with the NHL's New York Islanders and helped the team to four straight Stanley Cups (1980-83).
The reception is from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Mileti Alumni Center. Morrow also will be recognized at the Falcons' home game that night at 7:05 against Michigan State.
"We've identified and have developed or established a list of alumni and community members as we move forward that we certainly want to contact and have discussions with," Pikul said. "It's still a five-year program.
"There are two parts to this, a short-term part and a long-term part. At the end of five years, what we're looking at is not being an end, but we want to make sure the journey continues to solidify the program for many, many more years."
Vivian, said the full plan to renovate the arena will take $10-12 million to complete. He added a moderate plan will need $7-8 million and a minimal plan would require $4.5 million.
Based on what the committee's heard so far, Pikul and Vivian believe they'll raise more than enough money for the top of the line plan.
"We don't have ($34.8 million) like Miami or $50 million like Notre Dame, but we're going to have an arena that looks great and is Bowling Green in every way," Vivian said.
"There's a plan and we're following it. It's not going to be easy and it's going to take some tenacity. We'd like to have the money right now, but it takes time and you want to show donors the tax advantages and the benefits that they'll receive because it's going to benefit everyone in the long run."
Miami moved into a new 4,000-seat arena for the 2006-07 season. ND is scheduled to begin play in a new 5,000-seat in the fall of 2011.
"The high end, absolutely, that's what the alumni want, to be able to attract the elite players and to get the program back to the elite level," Pikul said.
"I wouldn't venture a guess, but as an alum and a member of a close-knit organization with hockey, I think we would exceed our goals that have been communicated and set," Pikul said.
Pikul and Vivian have been encouraged by BG's play on the ice, even though it has won only five games overall and is next-to-last in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
"We knew it was going to be a tough year, based on everything that had happened É whether the program would even survive," Pikul said. "They've been in most games. They've been competitive. They work very hard and that's all that we can ask at this point in time.
"I'm very positive about where we started and where we are today," Pikul added. "We've got the right people in place. We're moving in the right direction to solidify the program for many years to come and to get it back to the elite level."
Article says that BG will exceed its goal of the top-tier and be able to have a very nice arena. Thats great news!!
From the Sentinel-Tribune:
BG hockey fundraising receives position reaction
Written by By KEVIN GORDON Sentinel Assistant Sports Editor
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 10:02
Mike Pikul and Jack Vivian are familiar with the tradition of the Bowling Green Falcon hockey program.
They helped build it as a player and as a head coach, respectively.
Now, they're trying to raise money to help restore the program's winning tradition.
They're members of the "The "Bring Back the Glory" fundraising campaign and said the project is off to a good start.
The campaign already has received two major donations - $500,000 from BG native and Olympic figure skating champion Scott Hamilton and $250,000 from Vivian, the first head coach in Falcon history.
Committee members are meeting Saturday in BG to finalize their donations to the campaign and to prepare for the next phase of the campaign.
The next phase has the committee talking to Falcon hockey alumni, community members and supporters of the program who could be major donors.
Vivian said the campaign is expected to have raised $6-7 million by the end of the weekend, thanks to the donations of the committee members and the $4 million appropriated by the university and the state earlier this year.
The $4 million will be used for the renovation of the arena's infrastructure and ice-making equipment. The renovations are scheduled to start next month.
The campaign, announced in September, has a $5 million goal, including $2 million for scholarships in the first 18 months.
"The reaction from everyone ... Falcon hockey alumni, community members, supporters of the program," has been very positive," said Pikul, who is co-chairing the campaign with former teammate Garry Galley. "What the committee is doing now is raising the funds to endow the scholarships to solidify the program for many years to come."
The two played defense on the Falcons' 1984 NCAA championship team. Pikul's two daughters are attending BG, while Galley's daughter also is attending the university and his son will be a goalie for the Falcons starting with the 2011-12 season.
Hamilton is the committee's honorary chairman.
Saturday's meeting is being held in conjunction with a reception that night for former Falcon defenseman Ken Morrow, who played on the gold-medal winning United States Olympic hockey team in 1980. After the Olympics, he signed with the NHL's New York Islanders and helped the team to four straight Stanley Cups (1980-83).
The reception is from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Mileti Alumni Center. Morrow also will be recognized at the Falcons' home game that night at 7:05 against Michigan State.
"We've identified and have developed or established a list of alumni and community members as we move forward that we certainly want to contact and have discussions with," Pikul said. "It's still a five-year program.
"There are two parts to this, a short-term part and a long-term part. At the end of five years, what we're looking at is not being an end, but we want to make sure the journey continues to solidify the program for many, many more years."
Vivian, said the full plan to renovate the arena will take $10-12 million to complete. He added a moderate plan will need $7-8 million and a minimal plan would require $4.5 million.
Based on what the committee's heard so far, Pikul and Vivian believe they'll raise more than enough money for the top of the line plan.
"We don't have ($34.8 million) like Miami or $50 million like Notre Dame, but we're going to have an arena that looks great and is Bowling Green in every way," Vivian said.
"There's a plan and we're following it. It's not going to be easy and it's going to take some tenacity. We'd like to have the money right now, but it takes time and you want to show donors the tax advantages and the benefits that they'll receive because it's going to benefit everyone in the long run."
Miami moved into a new 4,000-seat arena for the 2006-07 season. ND is scheduled to begin play in a new 5,000-seat in the fall of 2011.
"The high end, absolutely, that's what the alumni want, to be able to attract the elite players and to get the program back to the elite level," Pikul said.
"I wouldn't venture a guess, but as an alum and a member of a close-knit organization with hockey, I think we would exceed our goals that have been communicated and set," Pikul said.
Pikul and Vivian have been encouraged by BG's play on the ice, even though it has won only five games overall and is next-to-last in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
"We knew it was going to be a tough year, based on everything that had happened É whether the program would even survive," Pikul said. "They've been in most games. They've been competitive. They work very hard and that's all that we can ask at this point in time.
"I'm very positive about where we started and where we are today," Pikul added. "We've got the right people in place. We're moving in the right direction to solidify the program for many years to come and to get it back to the elite level."
