Princeton University Athletics
PRINCETON ATHLETIC PARTNERSHIPS
June 16, 2000 | General
Before the 1995-96 women's basketball season, newly hired head coach Liz Feeley and her staff sat down one afternoon to discuss ways of increasing attendance at their games. Taking a lead from other schools, they decided to form a membership club for children. To initiate membership, they ran three free basketball instructional clinics in the fall before their season, and from that database they recruited their first year's enrollment of 25. The inaugural members received free admission to all women's basketball games, the opportunity to be ball girls at the games and monthly mailings prepared by the basketball staff.
The Cub Club benefits later would include men's basketball games and eventually would become a department-wide community outreach program. Now managed by the Office of Athletic Development, Cub Club membership has surpassed 400, including members from as far away as Wisconsin. With membership to the Club, children receive free admission to selected home football, men's basketball and men's hockey games and season passes to women's basketball and men's and women's lacrosse games. They also receive T-shirts, monthly newsletters and invitations to pregame parties throughout the year.
"The kids love going to the parties," says Tiger Cub Club mom Jenny Dally. "My husband likes to take the boys because he enjoys watching the games. It seems to be a very successful program."
The club even bridges generations of Princeton Tiger fans. Christian Mattia, the 10-year-old son of a Princeton Varsity Club member, says, "I look forward to the football, soccer and softball games."
This community outreach effort could not have reached its current magnitude without the help and support of it sponsor, First Union. When First Union, then CoreStates, signed on as an athletic sponsor in 1997, they wanted their support of Princeton Athletics to be utilized in a way that helped the surrounding community. Every year the First Union Foundation specifically designates a portion of their charitable gifts to the Tiger Cub Club, which in turn is used to fund events that are open to the children of several urban youth outreach programs supported by First Union.
"First Union believes that giving back to the communities it serves is more than a corporate responsibility -- it's the right thing to do," says Fran Durst, First Union's assistant vice president. "First Union is proud to support Princeton University's Tiger Cub Club by making its opportunities and activities available to urban youth. The Tiger Cub Club not only provides wholesome recreational opportunities, but it also expands the educational horizons of these young people at a time when it can have great impact."
by Kedi Finkbeiner