BRONX, N.Y. – Fordham Athletics celebrated a record-setting Giving Tuesday last week, raising more than $460,000 in support of the department's 500-plus student-athletes. 
 
In total, Fordham Athletics raised $464,168, a Giving Tuesday record, from 942 donors, also a high-water mark for the event.  Those totals constituted a 23.4 percent year-over-year increase in participants and an 18.1 percent increase in funds raised.
 
"Thank you to all of our donors for helping us achieve this historic success," said Athletic Director Ed Kull. "Across our 37 varsity and club programs, athletics made up 64 percent of the total amount donated to Fordham on Giving Tuesday. When I started at Fordham we only had 1,000 total donors. It's amazing to see us almost hit that number in 72 hours. This success represents the new day and culture here at Fordham Athletics. Incredibly, we were able to reach these numbers with just two athletics development staff. Thank you to Kara Field and Austyn Finnk for their hard work on this campaign. All Rams should be proud of this tremendous accomplishment!" 
 
Fordham Men's Basketball led the way for the department on Giving Tuesday, raising nearly $75,000 to support operations throughout the season.  The Rams' track and field & cross country teams tallied the department's highest number of donors, as 101 different individuals made a gift in support of the program.
 
In addition to the aforementioned Giving Tuesday totals, Fordham also received a $1.25 million gift from Dennis Ruppel, FCRH '68, and his wife Patricia Ann Ruppel in support of Fordham's efforts to build a boathouse on Eastchester Bay that will serve as a base of operations for the University's rowing and sailing teams.  
 
"The Ruppels' support of our rowing and sailing programs has gone above and beyond for years," said Kull.  "We so thankful for their continued support and can't wait to make their vision on Eastchester Bay a reality."