WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Last night, Catholic Athletics once again completed the most successful Cardinal Giving Challenge in history, raising a record-breaking $840,967 thanks to the help and generosity of 3,354 donors.

For the third straight year, the Giving Challenge was a week-long event and Athletics saw an incredible increase of $66,530 from last year's total of $774,437, an increase of nearly nine percent.

This year, nearly every program had a donor specific goal that unlocked additional funds to the respective programs. Over $140,000 in challenge gifts were unlocked throughout the week. 

"The commitment our donors show to our student-athletes and our Catholic Athletic department is absolutely jaw dropping," said Kevin Robinson, Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. "When our student-athletes and coaches see our alumni, parents and friends step up and give at such generous levels it lets them know how much our community cares about their experience. We are showing a commitment to building a legacy of community, care and philanthropy. Thank you to all who gave during the challenge, your generosity is felt by all 750 of our student-athletes and our staff. We are showing why we are one of the elite athletic communities in all of Division III".

The baseball program eclipsed $100,000 for the second consecutive season and surpassed last year's record-high total by raising $163,431 to once again be the top fundraising program during the challenge. 

The men's basketball program brought in the most donors out of all the teams with 494, which is over 130 more than the next closest team. The program brought in the second-most money out of all the teams, raising $91,628 which was nearly 10 thousand more than last year's challenge. Softball had the most donors out of the women's programs with 360 while raising $46,460.

In total, 22 programs raised $10,000 or more during the challenge while eight programs raised more than $30,000 and four raised more than $50,000. After baseball and men's basketball, women's basketball ($57,736), football ($54,725) and softball ($46,460) rounded at the top five in terms of money raised. 

In addition, the department came in right around its goal for the Athletics Annual Fund, bringing in $76,610 from 47 donors. This fund is used to support various initiatives throughout the department, including the Bird Feeder, Athletic Training, Mental Health and Strength Training.