Endowment

From the desk of head coach Doug Van Everen Dear Supporters of Army Gymnastics,

In 2005, we began the Army Gymnastics Endowment Campaign under the leadership of Major General (Ret.) Neal Creighton, Class of ‘53, who served as our Endowment Campaign Chairman. At that time, we were a committee of about 15 individuals (comprised of willing alumni, generous donors such as Lou Gross (Lou Gross Sport Center), and other smart individuals who contributed necessary expertise and energy to our committee). Our goal then, and it remains so today, was to generate, through donations, enough revenue to endow Army Gymnastics into perpetuity. As I think back on our decision to embark on an endowment campaign, I am both awed by our boldness and inspired by our success.

Our endowment campaign was the first of its kind for Army Athletics. Because of this, we were also on the forward wave in helping educate alumni and donors about why an endowment is necessary in today’s intercollegiate sports environment. The experience we gained though the thousands of conversations and engagements we had with others helped to shape us as a committee and strengthen our resolve to expand our education and grow our outreach to alumni, donors and friends.

Here are things we want our alumni, donors and friends to know:

· Army Gymnastics sports a proud tradition at West Point that began in 1926 and remains just as vibrant and strong today.

· West Point serves to produce leaders of character for the U.S. Army and the nation. Army gymnastics has certainly produced its share as 51 percent of former gymnasts have stayed on active duty in their career path, retiring after 20 or 30 years for a full military career, while others have served both in and out of the military in virtually every agency and corner of the government. Still others have become doctors, lawyers, educators, astronauts, consultants, and corporate executives.

· The team produced 39 generals, 170 colonels and over 200 field-grade officers of lower rank.

· Defense budget monies are not used in any significant quantity to fund Army Athletics. The current Army Athletic Association (AAA) allotment has 35% of the AAA budget coming from USMA funds and 65% coming from generated funds (Generated funds include ticket revenue and the AAA gift shop).

· The Gymnastics Endowment continues to be the most successful of its kind at West Point. Our endowment is nearly $3.7Mil. These funds enable us to retain the critical talents of a third coach in the gym, sustained recruiting efforts and provided unique training and competition opportunities for our gymnasts.

Without doubt, Army Gymnastics has proven itself the leader in building an endowment program that brings success to an Academy sports program. We intend to continue “leading the way” with your continued support. If you have questions about how to make a donation, or what your donation gets you (such as your name on one of our viewing stand chairs or listed on our donor wall), please reach out to me.

We hope this letter finds you well, and we hope you will continue to support Army West Point Gymnastics.

Go Army!!!

Doug Van Everen Head Coach Army West Point Gymnastics

Army West Point Athletics